Q: At what air temperature is the efficacy of Clorox® Regular-Bleach effected?  How low can the temperature be for proper storage?

A: Thanks for the great question.  Here’s a little background on the shelf life of Clorox® Regular-Bleach.  The active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, naturally breaks down into salt and water, and the hotter the temperature the bottle is stored at, the faster the decomposition.  Generally, bleach stored at room temperature (~70°F) maintains its label strength active level (6% sodium hypochlorite) for approximately 6 months before starting to degrade into salt and water.  Note that for EPA registered disinfectant uses, you should always use bleach at label strength, which usually means no more than 5 months past the purchase date, with the bottle having been properly stored.  Regarding what the lowest temperature is for proper storage of Clorox, the product should not be allowed to freeze.

Readers, how do you store your Clorox® Regular-Bleach?