So you found some old Drano products under the sink and you aren’t sure if they’ve expired or not. Can Drano products even expire? How can you even tell if/when a product expires? With Drano specifically, it can be hard to tell because there generally aren’t any expiration dates on the bottle when you buy them.
Although you may not be able to see an expiration date on a specific Drano product, they typically have a shelf life of around two years. There are also several different iterations of Drano products, so the amount of time they’ll last also depends on each specific product.
In this article, we’ll break down what is in each Drano product and how long these products are meant to last. We’ll also leave you with some helpful tips for properly storing your drain cleaning products.
Does Drano Max Gel Expire?
The main ingredient on all Drano products, including Drano Max Gel is sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide works as a caustic to remove the residue from your pipes. Along with this ingredient, Drano Max Gel also uses water, sodium metasilicate (for corrosion inhibition), a proprietary surfactant blend (for thickening), and sodium hypochlorite (bleach).
Like other Drano products, Drano Max Gel has a shelf life of around two years.
Does Drano Build Up Remover Expire?
Drano Build Up Remover uses a natural enzyme powder to effectively unclog your pipes. This product is safe for garbage disposals, the bathroom, kitchen, and any other drain in your home. Because it’s designed for use in most pipes, it’s safe for just about any drain type. It’s okay to leave it sit overnight and also doesn’t contain any phosphates that could harm aquatic life.
Drano Build Up Remover has a shelf life of two years.
Does Drano Dual-Force Foamer Expire?
The Dual-Force Foamer works well in garbage disposals, kitchens, bathrooms, and other drain types. The foam that forms within the pipes works to dissolve dirt and other organic obstructions in the drain that caused the clog in the first place.
Drano Dual-Force Foamer has a shelf life of two years.
Do Drano Kitchen Granules Expire?
This product is only meant to be used in your kitchen. However, if you have a garbage disposal, you should use a different Drano product. These granules use heat to quickly power up and dissolve tough grease clogs.
Drano Kitchen Granules likely have a shelf life of two years.
Does Drano Liquid Expire?
Drano liquid is the original formula used for drain opening. Like the other products on this list, Drano Liquid has a shelf life of around two years before it becomes less effective. These can be used in most drains.
Do Drano Advanced Septic Treatment Pods Expire?
These treatment pods offer one month of treatment per pod and are safe for all septic tanks and pipes. These pods use a concentrated formula of enzymes to break down solid waste, paper products, and other obstructions that may form in a toilet.
These pods likely also have a two-year shelf life.
Does Drano Kitchen Crystals Drain Opener Expire?
These crystals are meant for use in your kitchen drain. The crystals work to break down tough grease clogs as well as anything else that may be obstructing your kitchen drains. Like the other products, this one also has a shelf life of two years.
Does Drano Hair Buster Gel Expire?
This product is meant for bathroom drains and laundry sinks. The formula uses gel to trap and blast through clogs caused by excessive hair buildup in your drains. Just like the rest of the products on this list, the shelf life of Drano Hair Buster Gel is around two years.
Check out our article Does Drano Work on Hair? by clicking here!
What Happens When Drano Expires?
Because there isn’t a specific expiration date given to any Drano products, it can be hard to tell when a product’s shelf life is just about up. However, you can usually tell when a product is past its shelf life because it won’t work as effectively as a newer container would.
If Drano is not working check out this article here!
How to Store Drano Products
Like with most other cleaners, it’s best to keep Drano products in a room temperature, dry location. A good space for this is normally under your bathroom or kitchen sink. Alternatively, you could store it high up in a utility closet, out of reach from wandering hands.
Final Thoughts
Although Drano doesn’t “technically” expire, its shelf life is still important to pay attention to. After around two years, your Drano may not work as effectively as before. That doesn’t necessarily make it a faulty product, but it does hinder it from working like it should.
Read Related Drano Articles:
- How Long to Flush Drano with Hot Water
- Can I Leave Drano Overnight?
- Does Drano Work in Standing Water?
- Is Drano Safe for Shower Drains?
- Does Drano Work on Hair? All You Need to Know
- Zep Liquid Heat vs Drano | What’s Better?
- Why Can’t You Use Drano in a Toilet? (What to Do If You Did)
- How to Dispose of Drano?
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.