The garage is a storage facility in many households for most tools, including cleaning supplies. Storing cleaning supplies in the garage, especially for those who shop in bulk, is convenient because they last long. However, improper storage of laundry detergent can be hazardous for children and ineffective in washing clothes.
Yes, you can store laundry detergent in the garage as long as you do so safely. Since laundry detergents contain various chemicals, it’s wise to keep them in groups depending on compatibility.
Storing incompatible products close to each other poses the risk of chemical reactions that can harm you, destroy clothes, or make laundry detergent ineffective. Also, keeping laundry detergent away from children’s reach is a safe practice you should never fail to do.
Read and adhere to storage instructions on the laundry detergent packaging always. As earlier mentioned, storing incompatible chemicals together can cause explosions and air pollution by releasing toxic fumes. Therefore, proper storage of laundry detergent in the garage will keep your household safe, as we discuss in this post.
Let’s jump in and have a deep insight!
Laundry detergent storage Ideas
The laundry room is excellent for storing cleaning supplies, including laundry detergent. Since laundry detergents mainly contain chemicals, they remain stable when stored in the right environment.
Does laundry detergent go bad in heat? This question can keep you up, especially if you live in hot areas. Temperatures above 25°C can hasten the expiry of laundry detergent or render them powerless for cleaning.
However, keeping them in spaces with high temperatures can cause chemical reactions. As a result, they can become harmful and reduce the cleaning ability. Additionally, keeping laundry detergent away from children is vital because ingestion is poisonous.
Moreover, it’s unwise to freeze them as very low temperatures can gob, lose their cleaning power and cause problems with your washer. Because laundry detergents contain different chemicals, and each reacts uniquely when subjected to different temperatures and environments.
Here is a chart that demonstrates how to store different detergents.
How to store liquid laundry detergent
Although liquid detergents may not be sensitive to moisture, they’re highly responsive to the wrong temperature. However, the truth is that keeping them under high temperatures separates the active components and causes destabilization rendering the detergent less powerful.
On the other hand, low temperatures cause them to freeze and become unstable. In both situations, interruption of the original detergent composition is lost and can cause it to be ineffective when cleaning. In the following section, we look at the best way to store laundry detergent.
Caps should be airtight
Unlike their powdered counterparts, moisture doesn’t threaten liquid laundry detergents. Nevertheless, keeping them in airtight containers, preferably the original packaging, or buying a liquid laundry detergent dispenser is helpful.
Leaving containers that contain liquid detergents opened can cause contamination. Furthermore, microbial contamination transfers to your clothes during washing and can be harmful and cause allergies once they come into contact.
Stable temperature
Temperatures between 10 – 25°C or 50 77F are stable to maintain the stability of your laundry detergent. Since they’re liquid, moisture isn’t much of a concern, but the right temperature is necessary to keep them steady and effective.
How to store homemade laundry detergent
Homemade detergent is convenient as you mix what meets your needs by including only necessary store. Making detergent locally cuts purchase costs, and if you have sensitive skin, it lets you say goodbye to allergies like contact dermatitis.
The process of making detergent at home is simpler than you may think and safe for your health. You need about 3-4 ingredients and buy laundry containers for detergent to store properly. Follow the instructions on products to mix your homemade detergent and keep it safely to extend shelf life as detailed below.
- Use a clean, airtight container as it can be hazardous for children and pets if ingested.
- Make sure the shelf you place the container on is stable and not easily accessible.
- The space you palace your detergent should be normal temperatures – not too hot or cold.
Liquid detergent expiry
When liquid detergent expires, it becomes hard or cakey. This can be due to poor storage, or it’s past the shelflife date. Mostly, homemade liquid soaps turn cakey because they don’t contain anti-cracking properties.
If you decide to prepare homemade detergents, do so in small batches and store them in proper airtight canisters. Liquid detergents are suitable for use nine months from the first usage date, and note that they degrade faster than their powder counterparts.
How to store powder laundry detergent
Powder laundry detergent is effective in washing unless exposed to moisture. Once it comes into contact with moisture or water, you’ll notice clumps when opening the container.
Use a sieve to remove the lumps, transfer the powder to another clean, dry container and close it tightly.
The detergent clumpings don’t dissolve in water and will remain in your machine and leave residue on clothes.
If you buy powder detergent and notice it has a lot of clumps, take it back for a replacement as using it may not effectively clean your clothes.
And remember to always check the expiry date on detergents, especially if you shop in bulk. Most brands have a shelflife of 6 months – 1year, and here is how to store powder detergent properly.
Use an airtight container
Use an airtight plastic container for laundry detergent as it will not allow moisture penetration to avoid clumping. Once powder detergents clump, they’re hard to dissolve in the washer, stain clothes, and leave powder clods in the machine.
Store them in a dry place
Powder detergents must remain dry for effective use. And however, exposure to wetness will tamper with its cleaning prowess. Therefore, for a full washing experience, ensure that where you store powder detergents is dry.
Steady temperature
You may wonder, can laundry detergent freeze? Yes, cold temperatures cause clumping while the heat on powder detergents consumes oxygen, making them ineffective for cleaning. A low temperature of 10 to 25°C or 50 to 77F is ideal for maintaining the original composition of powder detergents and safe use of laundry products.
Where to store laundry detergent
Proper laundry detergent storage temperature will preserve its efficiency. The most common types of detergents are powder and liquid. Because of the chemical combination in both detergents, storage is different for them. And adhering to the instructions on the package will help preserve it.
Use detergents’ original containers for storage. Always close them tightly and place them on high shelves children can’t reach.
If the temperatures are ideal, you can store laundry detergent in the garage or laundry room. Also, you should ensure that incompatible chemicals are away from each other.
What temperature does laundry detergent freeze?
Temperatures below 10°C will cause laundry detergent to freeze and become unstable for the intended purpose of cleaning. Therefore, maintain detergent stability by storing them in spaces with steady temperatures between 10 – 25 °C.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What temperature does laundry detergent freeze?
Laundry detergents will freeze if exposed to temperatures below 10 °C.
Can you use laundry detergent after it freezes?
Yes, you can use laundry detergent after freezing. Although it becomes unstable after freezing, it’s safe to use.
How long can laundry detergent be stored?
Storing laundry detergent should be within its shelf life to ensure its effectiveness. Check the date of manufacture and expiry when buying to determine how long you can keep it.
What happens if you use expired laundry detergent?
Expired laundry detergent is okay, but it will not be as effective as before. Also, it may have little or no scent, but these are minor factors not to use it. Make it a routine to inspect detergents’ date of manufacture and expiry before purchasing.
Does liquid soap freeze?
Yes, liquid soap freezes if subjected to temperatures below 10°C.
Conclusion
You can make a laundry room in the garage to store cleaning supplies, including detergents, and maintain temperatures between 10 – 25 °C. Exposure of detergents to higher or lower temperatures is not recommended as chemical reactions can make them ineffective.
Store detergents properly in airtight containers, away from moisture and under stable temperatures. When using detergent, ensure you handle them with dry hands and always replace the cap after use to avoid spilling, contamination, or ingestion by children or pets.
Also, Read About: what happens if you accidentally swallow laundry detergent?