The CDC was just caught using expired disinfectant in their labs, which got me thinking… Disinfectant

expires?! WHAT?!

Howdy gang, Trace here with some DNews for ya! The CDC's use of expired cleanser was

discovered after 75 employees were accidentally exposed to live anthrax last month, and the

USDA stepped in to look at their procedures to see who screwed up. Most labs use bleach

as their disinfectant, because the active ingredient, hypochlorous acid, [a]causes the

proteins in bacteria to unfold and the bacteria die. Bleach is what was being used by the

CDC in their labs -- and it has an expiration date of only six months from date of manufacture,

so probably three to five months once you get it home. It expires because the sodium

hypochlorite decomposes over time. The cooler the storage area the better, but bleach manufactured

and stored in the warm summer months, WILL degrade faster.

Expiration dates are used by manufacturers not to tell you, "time to throw this away,"

but more to say, 'we cannot guarantee this product is perfect anymore.' The dates are

usually printed on the product, and there are LOTS of them.

The latex in a condom has an expiration date of five years, because the latex needs to

be moist… moist… moist… to work. And after five years, the brand can't guarantee

the latex hasn't degraded from drying. If it has spermicide, it's even shorter, only

three years. Like with bleach, spermicides' active ingredient degrades over time. Sunscreen

also expires, mainly because the tiny particles inside the solution clump together as the

sunscreen ages, this decreases the effectiveness and causes the sunscreen to eventually become

crappy.

Mascara expires after two or three months, so if you're going to splurge on that fancy

lash-lengthening formula, use it all. Why? Because your eyes are dirty, once it has been

used, the mascara becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. After the date, the bacteria

could have build up enough to cause eye infections like conjunctivitis -- or pinkeye. And you

should DEFINITELY get rid of a loofa after THREE TO FOUR WEEKS! Bacteria folks. It's

growing on stuff.

It's all about the active ingredients. Anti-acne creams usually break down within three months

of first opening, sometimes sooner, if they're natural. Hair gel and hairspray lasts two

to three years. Soap usually expires in 18 months to two years; especially if it contains

essential oils! Soap is made of lye -- a generic term for an alkaline solution -- and a collection

of fats. Over time, the lye gets less potent and the fats degrade… sensing a pattern

here? Exactly.

It's not just bathroom stuff, motor oil is organic, it used to be tiny plants and animals

remember? FOSSIL fuels! Like all the other things, once it's open the air begins to break

it down and after 90 days it's expired; unopened it can last as maybe five years. Alkaline

batteries last five years, too. The chemicals inside batteries will only hold a charge for

so long -- and because their elements are different, lithium batteries can as 10 years.

There are a LOT of things with expiration dates, and while you might not have to pay

attention to them all the time, it's good to take note. The CDC bleach, by the way,

would still be okay to use up to nine months after manufacture, but every month more of

the acid is depleted. Hopefully, the CDC will pony up for some new cleaner, and so should

you. Kinda makes those trips to Costco seem… well… silly… don't it?

There are two things that I found that never expire. Honey, and nail polish remover. Yep.

So that's good to know I guess. What other things have surprising shelf lifes?

Tell us yours below, and if you love exploring your world as much as we do you should check

out Audible.com! They've got hours of audiobooks on space, biology, history and more. But if

you like listening to people talk about the world around them try :The Autobiography of

Mark Twain, Volume 1." It was AMAZING. He dictated the whole book back in 1904 so it's

like listening to him talk, literally. Double meaning there… ha! Anyway, you can find

this and 100,000 other audiobooks on Audible and download a free book of your choice by

going to AudiblePodcast.com/DNews! Check it out, and please subscribe for more DNews.

Y'all are great. Thanks for watching.