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sandy1616

How do you store your powder detergents?

9 years ago

Larsi, Mama and all others with years worth of powdered detergent.... Do you do anything specific to store it? How long is the shelf life of powdered detergents?

Comments (18)

  • 9 years ago

    I have about a year's worth of Mexican Ariel. I keep it in cleaned plastic kitty litter containers. Each container holds about 20 lbs worth of detergent.

    sandy1616 thanked Jody
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The kitty litter idea sounds easiest. Now I just need to find someone with a cat...

    I never thought of space saver bags.


  • 9 years ago

    Mich will probably be around with ideas..he stores detergent also.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If I have powdered detergent that's 3-4 years old, will it still work? It has been in its open box all that while.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I use.. moisture proof, airtight plastic containers. I actually avoid glass, because I've had issues with the moisture in the past.

    The Oxo Cereal Containers @ Super-Target and Bed Bath & Beyond make great candidates. I'm also really fond of these, from the Dollar Tree of all places.

    http://www.dollartree.com/household/food-storage/Plastic-Canisters-with-Red-Twist-on-Lids-4-qt-/500c512c512p359079/index.pro Look for the Blue Lid ones, in store.

    They close and seal well. And they work :) I've had OxyClean in one of those containers, in a moisture filled room for close to year. Completely free flowing.

    sandy1616 thanked User Post
  • 9 years ago

    OXO plastic containers. I love most things OXO!

    sandy1616 thanked larsi_gw
  • 9 years ago

    Laundry Mitch - do you pour the powder into the container and discard the box? The containers would look more decorative and probably kind of artsy if chosen and arranged right :). Might distract from the fact that I have 8000 detergents.

  • 9 years ago

    Personally if I transfer mine to a container unless its a vintage or discontinued detergent I dispose of the box,

    By the way Mich I have a boat load of those containers as you showed above, tall ones and medium height ones, wish I could find really short ones, I had planned on my son painting them, with the right kind of paint of course and making nice labels, their easy to find, and I want to make my laundry room shelf more uniform. The italian canning jars someone showed on here would be so awesome but with the amount i'd need is way out if my budget.

    sandy1616 thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago

    The Italian canning jars aren't workable for me either. I think the plastic containers could look nice if kept simple, organized well with labels. I need to find a few colors so it looks interesting. I use vintage blue ball canning jars for things on the bathroom counter but would end up breaking them in the laundry room. Too much uniformity makes me almost as crazy as a mess. I like things to look interesting and approachable but organized.

  • 9 years ago

    That's how I feel Sandy, I don't want every container exactly the same, but lately I've got a mess going on..I have about 20 of these.Amiee and the boys surprised me with these last year..I gotta use them...

    Besides Baby Pinky..you know I love them and could never give them up.

    sandy1616 thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago

    sandy1616 thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago

    As you can see its wide mouth canning jars

    sandy1616 thanked mamapinky0
  • 9 years ago

    I love those :).

  • 9 years ago

    Everything I use is a dry powder. I put all of them in the nice containers Charlie's and Nellie's detergents come in.

  • 9 years ago

    I use plastic airtight containers for my oxi and Persil universal powder, but they don't last long as I use both on the regular. I love the smell of persil universal. It reminds me of someone or something that I just can't put my finger on, but I think it may be my grandmothers house. She was obsessed w all things German b/c my grandfather was stationed there and she lived there. I can't ask her as she passed but yea I'm digressing. Lol

  • 9 years ago

    @sandy1616, typically... I'll take the detergents I'm storing, and place them into a multi-layered Ziploc bags. I'm lucky enough to have the space, and they store well this way.


    I always muti-layer them, because it's common to find a small tiny hole in the bag, somewhere.


    Sometime over the years, SC Johnson has really lowered the quality of freezer bags, and I don't trust that one bag will cut it. Three Layers is my magic number ;)


    Also. For what it's worth, I almost always buy store brand Ziploc bags now. They seem to be made better, which is sad.


    sandy1616 thanked User Post
  • 9 years ago

    Another Tip - If you use Powder dishwasher detergent, you can keep it fresh by placing the box in a Ziploc bag.


    Just pour a ample amount into a Gladware storage container with a tablespoon scoop, and refill as needed.


    You won't have any problems with Powder not dissolving or the detergent losing strength.

    sandy1616 thanked User Post