Table of Contents
Shelf life of disinfectants
How long a disinfectant can be kept depends on its alcohol content . The higher this is, the more effective the solution. In general, however, the rule of thumb is that disinfectants can be used without hesitation for about 12 months after opening . Especially when used professionally, hand disinfectants should be replaced after a year at the latest in order to be able to guarantee the perfect effect.
Tip: You can find a well-rated disinfectant that protects against corona viruses here . If you don’t like the typical clinical smell of disinfectants, you will find one here that smells of chamomile and lotus.
How to store disinfectants correctly
The shelf life of disinfectants can also be influenced by our behavior: the more often we open the bottle, the sooner the effect of the agent loses. Because the alcohols evaporate quickly in the air. It is therefore helpful to ensure that you only open the container when necessary and then seal it airtight again immediately. Disinfectant dispensers are also well suited for this. These are closed with a rubber sleeve so that the solution only comes into contact with air when the lever is actuated.
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Expired disinfectant – is it still usable?
If a disinfectant has expired according to the MHD or has been open for a long time, the question arises as to whether it can still be used. First of all, to reassure you: Disinfectant is definitely not harmful over time! So if you use an expired product, you don’t have to worry about skin reactions or anything like that. However, it is possible that the lack of alcohol means that the effect of the disinfection is slightly or significantly reduced and the bacteria on your skin are probably not completely killed. Accordingly, additional hygienic hand disinfection is necessary, especially in times of Corona .
If the disinfectant pack was hardly used and was usually locked away in the cupboard, you can assume that it will still be of good service even after the expiry date has expired. If in doubt, the following also applies here: wash your hands thoroughly as well ! If you have dry hands from washing and disinfecting your hands a lot, you will find a particularly well-rated hand cream here.
Also exciting: We should currently clean these everyday objects regularly >>
