Does Carpet Cleaner Expire? Cleaning agents rank low on the list of things we typically check for expiry dates. It may seem trivial, but the expiry date on your carpet cleaner goes a long way in determining its effectiveness since the ingredients may not be as effective over time. Many people at some point have used carpet cleaners past their expiry date, but they still seemed to work fine. So presently, it begs the question: do carpet cleaners truly expire?
Yes, carpet cleaners come with expiry dates and they can expire. At this juncture, it’s safe to say that everything you take off the shelf in your local store has a well-defined shelf life, and that includes carpet cleaners(shampoos). In most cases, the shelf life describes the period for which the product will function as intended. Outside this period, they may/may not still be effective.
This explains why you can still pick up a carpet shampoo a few months past its expiry, use it normally and it would still work great. However, we advise that you do not use an expired carpet cleaner:
- To safeguard your health in case the ingredients have begun to break down, releasing toxic fumes which you might inhale.
- To extend the life of your carpet because now, the expired carpet cleaner may bleach or discolor the carpet.
However, if you can’t seem to find the expiry date on the carpet cleaner container, read on to find out how to determine if it’s expired.
How Can I Tell That My Carpet Cleaner Is Expired?
It’s rare not to find expiry dates on cleaning products. But if you look everywhere and can’t find it, or if it’s unreadable, a handy rule to keep in mind is that most carpet shampoos can last around one year after they’re opened.
The next best way to determine that your carpet shampoo has expired is by carrying out a simple test on a small patch of carpet. Follow the steps outlined below:
- Open the shampoo and use its cap measure one capful of shampoo into a cleaning container.
- Add half a liter of water then mix the carpet shampoo.
- Dip a cleaning brush in the mixture and scrub a small dirty area on the carpet. Does it appear to clean up? Your answer would determine if the carpet cleaner is still effective or if it’s past its expiry date and needs to be disposed of.
What To Look For in a Carpet Cleaner?
So you’re in the market for an excellent carpet cleaner. There are a few things you should keep an eye out for so that you can get only the best for your needs and value for your money. Let’s dive in:
Ingredients
The composition of a carpet cleaner can go a long way in determining whether your carpet sparkles after each wash or it takes on a dull hue instead. To increase their effectiveness, most carpet shampoos include surfactants which help to reduce surface tension. With reduced surface tensions comes increased ‘wetness’ for deeper penetration of the carpet fibers. In addition, most manufacturers include ingredients that make the shampoo produce lesser soap sods to reduce the need to rinse more times than is convenient. While it’s easy to see the benefits, this may increase the time required to dry the carpet.
Furthermore, if you have pets at home, you probably have a pet stain or two on your carpet to take care of. In that case, look for a carpet shampoo with an enzymatic composition. The advantage is that these kinds of carpet cleaners break down the proteins in the stain on your carpet – which also constitutes the pet smell in your home, leaving your carpet clean and your home smelling fresh.
Lastly, since we’re all about saving our planet, you can contribute your quota by investing in eco-friendly carpet cleaners with natural ingredients. Most are plant-based and are not one bit less effective than their chemical-derived counterparts. They contain a natural enzyme to give your carpet a deep clean while keeping your living space smelling fresh.
Method Of Application
There are two major methods for applying carpet cleaners depending on whether they are in liquid or powdered form: Wet and dry carpet cleaning. If you would rather handle tiny spot stains yourself, then liquid carpet shampoo will do just fine. Many liquid carpet cleaners are also machine-compatible, so you can use them to clean stains faster and make them dry faster.
On the other hand, cleaning a large carpet can be problematic if it’s thick and won’t dry fast. In that case, the favored method would be the dry method. Powdered carpet cleaners are great for cleaning carpets without using water while being as effective as wet cleaning.
Machine Compatibility
If you have a carpet cleaning machine at home, choose a carpet cleaner that’s machine-compatible. So in addition to being able to use it manually for spot cleaning, you can also use it to clean large areas with your machine. Many carpet-cleaning machine manufacturers have their shampoo, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use another machine-compatible shampoo in the machine. As long as it is made for use for wet applications and is machine-friendly, you can confidently use it.
How Do You Make a Carpet Cleaner Last Longer?
If conditions are right, a carpet cleaner can still be effective at its indicated date of expiry. The expiration date of a product indicates the period in which its effectiveness is guaranteed. If you stored it well, there’s a chance that the carpet cleaner you have sitting in your toolbox and past its official expiry date by a few weeks is still effective.
Given that many people use carpet cleaners infrequently, it’s easy to neglect them until it reaches their expiry date. Here are tips to store your carpet cleaner correctly to preserve its effectiveness and make it last longer:
- Store under dry and cool conditions.
- Keep it away from direct sunlight.
- When it’s time to store it, make sure the container is tightly sealed.
What Happens if I Use an Expired Carpet Cleaner?
If you happen to use a carpet cleaner a few months past its ‘best before’ date, nothing dramatic will happen. if you stored it well, it may still be in top condition. The worst that could happen is the cleaning agent would not work as effectively. However, 6 – 12 months past the expiration of the carpet cleaner, it’s better to discard it and purchase a new one. Because aside from being ineffective, you would have put in a lot of effort with little results – it’s a lose-lose situation.
However, it’s a good idea to steer clear of expired cleaning agents. For one, the carpet cleaner may deteriorate, releasing toxic fumes which are inimical to your health. Besides, they may affect the carpet’s color and make it fade prematurely.
What Is The Best Carpet Shampoo To Buy?
The right carpet cleaner can restore your carpet to pristine condition every time you use it, effectively increasing the lifespan of your carpet and giving your home a fresh scent. If you’re in the market for the right carpet cleaner for your beloved carpet, we’ve researched on your behalf so that you don’t have to spend hours looking for the best carpet shampoo to buy. The products in this list are effective against ink stains, grease, red wine stains, etc. Take a look:
Our Favorite: Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover
Folex Instant Carpet Spot remover is an industry leader because of its effectiveness in removing spot stains without adversely affecting the carpet in question. For this purpose, it comes as a spray bottle for easy application on the affected spots on the carpet. However, it is also machine-compatible and can be used with different types of carpet cleaning machines. Folex instant carpet spot remover not only excels at removing spot stains but it can also be used as a carpet shampoo with excellent results.
For use in a cleaning machine, mix one part of the product with four parts of water to form a cleaning solution, then wash and clean your carpet as usual. After the cleaning operation, you won’t need to rinse the carpet with water because the product is neither ionic nor soap-based. And if you’re like many of us, you may wonder if this would make the freshly washed carpet attract dust – it won’t.
Most Eco-Friendly: Carpet Miracle Cleaner & Deodorizer
Carpet Miracle carpet cleaner and deodorizer is an excellent carpet shampoo for folks who want a greener, healthier approach to cleaning their carpet. Unlike chemical carpet shampoos that flood the market, the constituents of this product are completely biodegradable. It contains 0% phthalates and sodium laurel, therefore it’s gentle on the environment, toddlers’ fragile skins, and pets.
Great for Pet Stains: Nature’s Miracle Deep Cleaning Pet Stain and Odor Carpet Shampoo
Only a handful of carpet shampoos can tackle pet stains and odors as well as Nature’s Miracle deep cleaning pet stain and odor carpet shampoo. This carpet shampoo is not only good for removing pet stains, but it can also neutralize the stinky odor that comes with every pet stain. The active enzymes in its composition enable it to break down protein-based pet messes like urine, feces, or vomit so that your living space never smells of pet.
How often should you shampoo your carpets?
It depends. The number of people and pets at home will determine how frequently you should shampoo your carpet. Whether or not you allow shoes into the house, and how frequently you clean spills and spot stains around the house would ultimately determine if you’d be needing to shampoo your carpet yearly or quarterly.
However, while cleaning your carpet regularly seems like the hygienic thing to do, excessive shampooing can deposit soap into the carpet fibers over time, which may attract more dirt and eventually change the color of your carpet(sometimes permanently).
Summary on Does Carpet Cleaner Expire
Carpet cleaners can expire – that’s why they come with expiry dates. However, many products are not necessarily ineffective a few months after the expiration date. Hence, you may still pick up an ‘officially’ expired carpet cleaner and find that it still works great. To give your carpet cleaner the longest shelf life possible, proper storage is essential. However, six months past the expiry of any cleaning product, be wary about using them; simply dispose of them and get a fresh one.
The suggested carpet cleaners are a few of the best in the market today, we trust that they would take care of your carpet cleaning needs.
