Hydrogen Peroxide Shelf Life Before and After Opening
Hydrogen peroxide shelf life is 3 years unopened or 6 months opened. The shelf life is shorter for more concentrated solutions. Like many household chemicals, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) has a shelf life . Over time, peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen. The shelf life of a bottle of unopened household peroxide is about 3 years, while it’s only good for 1 to 6 months after the seal is broken. Household peroxide is between 3% and 7% hydrogen peroxide in water. More concentrated peroxide solutions, such as the 30% and 35% peroxide used in labs and for hair developer, degrade more quickly. For these solutions, the shelf life is about 1 year unopened, but only 30 to 45 days after opening for peak effectiveness. Factors That Affect Peroxide Shelf Life Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive molecule, which is why it has a shelf life. Hydrogen peroxide is inherently unstable, so it degrades no matter what. However, the rate of decomposition depends on several fac...