Do soap & soap products have an expiration?

[NewJeffCT]

I am asking because I was going through a cabinet the other day and found a bunch of nice baby bath & soap products we had gotten around when my daughter was born 3 years ago. I'm pretty sure some were baby shower gifts. I did not see an expiration on the bottles, but want to know if the soap should still be okay to use?

No big deal to buy new soaps, but it seems a shame to have to throw out seemingly nice stuff.

[JanMichael]

1. I wouldn't eat them!

;)

[NewJeffCT]

3. me either

but, i was wondering if a soap lost it's potency over time, just like how many medications have an expiration.

[Thtwudbeme]

5. This is still me, I just logged JanMichael out

Seriously, I have some soap in my shower right now that is about 35 years old as far as I can remember.

It's fine.

[supernova]

2. Nope

Soap is good well, maybe not for forever, but I would still use something three years old. The soap part should be just fine.

I would check to see if any of the perfumey parts had gone a little rancid, that's all. If you've kept them in a dark cabinet, though, shouldn't be a problem.

[NewJeffCT]

4. yes, dark cabinet

in our little used 2nd bathroom.

[eyesroll]

6. If it smells like soap, use it.

If the perfumes have faded and it smells like nothing, no biggie. Use it.
If it smells like death, chuck it.

Soap just acts as a catalyst for the water to remove dirt from you. Unless it's medicinal/antibacterial, there's no "potency" issue.

[NewWaveChick1981]

7. Soap can go rancid, but if it smells OK,

it's OK. It has a pretty long shelf life unless exposed to high heat and/or humidity. :) I'd say use it!

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Maybe try a patch test on the inside of your forearm

Put a drop of the soap there, rub it around, see if it suds, see if the smell changes for the worse, and check to see if your skin has a negative reaction.

Would give the bottles a shake or two first to remix any ingredients that have separated.

[SOteric]

9. If you're thinking of using it yourself, that's probably fine,

but I wouldn't consider it as a gift for someone with an infant.

Soaps do decompose, though at a very slow rate, but it's not impossible that the soap has collected some bacteria or fungal matter over time which would have a more pronounced affect on an infant. In general, if it hasn't turned back into glycerine, it's okay to use. It may, however, be somewhat less effective.