Yes, Cleaning Products Expire: 4 Signs It’s Time To Toss Yours

When you have spoiled products on your hands, it’s important to dispose of them responsibly. If your cleaner is made using biodegradable ingredients (it should say so on the label or website), getting rid of it is easy: Simply wash it down the sink with some water and you won’t have to worry about it persisting in the environment.

If you’re disposing of toxic bleach-based products, the process is more complicated. “If your cleaning products contain words like hazard, danger, warning, or caution, they likely can’t just be tossed out in the trash or poured down the sink,” explains Marilee Nelson, environmental consultant and co-founder of Branch Basics cleaners.

In that case, you’ll want to check out the Earth911 database to look for safe disposal sites near you. If you’re spring cleaning and itching to get them out quickly, store in an airtight container and stow them away until you can get them to a site near you. It’s a pain, but it’s important.

“Taking responsible disposal seriously can have a major impact on our environment, as what ends up in our trash ends up in our groundwater and oceans—and eventually finds its way back into our lives in our food and drinking water,” says Nelson.

One final thing to remember: When you’re disposing of multiple cleaning products, do so one at a time and don’t mix them together in the sink or trash. Certain types of cleaners don’t play nicely with each other (bleach and vinegar in particular) and can cause noxious gas to form when combined.