shelf life

[sleepy]

I found some older cleaner wax that had been sitting on my shelf for several years. My wife says that I have to use what I have before I can buy more Meguires. What is the shelf life for these products?

[Nick Chapman]

Re: shelf life

Just pour it out, and tell her you used it all

[Blueline]

Re: shelf life

Since Meguiar's doesn't put an expiry date on their products, I would suggest you try some and view the results. If it is a liquid and has separated and cannot be made uniform by shaking, then I would follow Nick's advice. I have used some pretty old stuff and it worked fine.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: shelf life

Generally shelf life is in the 3-5 year range, provided the product has not frozen or been exposed to very high heat for long periods of time (such as inside the car for several days in the middle of summer). We often see products lasting much longer than this, however, and you can quickly test to make sure the product is still good: shake it up well and pour some out; it should be a smooth, even consistency and not exhibit a watery or lumpy texture, and there should be no bad odor. Any of those three characteristics would indicate a product that is past its usefulness and should not be used. Otherwise, you're good to go.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: shelf life

Check out this thread...

MGH-4 Hand Cleaner - Still Good After All These Years!

[Nick Chapman]

Re: shelf life

or been exposed to very high heat for long periods of time (such as inside the car for several days in the middle of summer).

Whoa there!

What about us mobile detailers that keep a good amount of supplies in our vans, trucks trailers, etc...? My products stay inside my van 24/7, winter, spring, summer and fall. Texas has some brutal summers also. How can we get past this issue?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: shelf life

Nick, correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the time when you're working on a client vehicle your van's doors are open for easy access to things, no? That alone will keep the temperature well within limits. It's really when those interior temps get crazy hot (a car with a lot of glass can reach 150F inside on a hot, sunny day) and product is exposed to that heat for long periods of time.

You've been doing this for a while now, have you seen anything happen to liquid products like cleaners and waxes - separation of product especially? I'm guessing you haven't since you didn't mention it, and that indicates you aren't seeing prolonged exposure to really high heat. Whereas freezing a product will kill it pretty quickly, it does appear that you need much longer exposure to heat to do so.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: shelf life

Nick, correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the time when you're working on a client vehicle your van's doors are open for easy access to things, no? That alone will keep the temperature well within limits. It's really when those interior temps get crazy hot (a car with a lot of glass can reach 150F inside on a hot, sunny day) and product is exposed to that heat for long periods of time.

You've been doing this for a while now, have you seen anything happen to liquid products like cleaners and waxes - separation of product especially? I'm guessing you haven't since you didn't mention it, and that indicates you aren't seeing prolonged exposure to really high heat. Whereas freezing a product will kill it pretty quickly, it does appear that you need much longer exposure to heat to do so.

Yeah, no problems here, with the exception to the liquid version of #26. Can't seem to keep this product good when it's in the van.

Yes I do keep the doors open when I'm working on a clients vehicle. But the van spends most of it's life with the doors closed, and the heat just builds in there. When you said something about leaving products in a hot vehicle, I got scared But #26 is the only product that I have been unable to keep in my van......oh and that sponge clay thing ADS sells. That thing just melts after about 2 days in the van

Nick

[Andrew C.]

Re: shelf life

After looking at Mike P.'s post on the old products and the vintage can of M16 holding up, is it more likely that a paste wax can will last longer than a liquid wax (I know Meguiar's doesn't put expiration dates but just your general experience?)

I have a can of M16 and M26 paste, and I don't think I will go through both of those in the next four years considering I also have NXT and 21 which I use, so I'm just wondering if the paste waxes ever run into problems?


Is separation most of the time with liquid products that are used for correcting paint defects as compared to liquids in the D line like APC, Hyper Dressing, Body Solvent etc... It seems like no one ever runs into problems with D line products separating even with people buying in the gallon size and having products for years.

[sleepy]

Re: shelf life

I had some cleaner wax paste last year that melted. It still worked fine.

[Nappers]

Re: shelf life

I found some older cleaner wax that had been sitting on my shelf for several years. My wife says that I have to use what I have before I can buy more Meguires. What is the shelf life for these products?

Order it and have shipped to your work

I get caught all the time as my wife looks at the online banking all the time but then it's too late

Tell her it may be bad and you have to get more.....

Good luck!

[Nick Chapman]

Re: shelf life

Paste wax is all I keep in the van, aside from some 151. I find that the paste just lasts longer, and even if it melts, it still works just fine.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: shelf life

Order it and have shipped to your work

I get caught all the time as my wife looks at the online banking all the time but then it's too late

Tell her it may be bad and you have to get more.....

Good luck!

I have 6 different bank accounts. She never finds out when I spend money, or how much I end up spending

[sleepy]

Re: shelf life

Order it and have shipped to your work

I get caught all the time as my wife looks at the online banking all the time but then it's too late

Tell her it may be bad and you have to get more.....

Good luck!

This would be awsome idea except my mother-inlaw works in the office!!
I'd be dead for sure!!