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Baby oil Use-by-dates

bit of a daft question, but does baby oil have a use-by date?? I have four bottles needing to be used up!!

Snowy

Ps also posted on health & Beauty bit - did a search but couldn't find any info
:j I feel I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe :j

Comments

  • tattycath
    tattycath Posts: 7,175 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I would use it -I have found all sorts of stuff lurking and if it smells ok and looks ok I would use it
    I think alot of this sell-by-date stuff is purely to make people buy more stuff!!!
    I have the same view on food-if it looks and smells ok I use it. i might not alwaysw give it to the kids-it depends what it is.
    GE 36 *MFD may 2043
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  • greenbee
    greenbee Posts: 17,089 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If it's mineral-based baby oil, I can't see that it would go off - not many bugs could live on it. If it's vegetable based, then possibly. Then again, as you're not planning on eating it, I don't see that it could do much harm.

    You can always use it for cleaning if you're unsure about using it on babies.
  • Gingernutmeg
    Gingernutmeg Posts: 3,454 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I've had a bottle under the sink for a couple of years and it still smells fine. I use it for cleaning our stainless steel appliances, and I'll just keep it till it's gone lol! I possibly wouldn't use it cosmetically after that long, but for cleaning and household stuff I can't see a problem with keeping it for ages.
  • Snowy_Owl
    Snowy_Owl Posts: 454 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Thanks - I know that the four bottles are under two years old! Always handy to know that they can be used for cleaning!

    Snowy
    :j I feel I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe :j
  • Gigervamp
    Gigervamp Posts: 6,583 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    tattycath wrote: »
    I think alot of this sell-by-date stuff is purely to make people buy more stuff!!!
    I have the same view on food-if it looks and smells ok I use it. i might not alwaysw give it to the kids-it depends what it is.

    Cosmetics have a use by date on them for your safety! Lotions and creams contain water which bugs need. Add to that a moist warm bathroom atmosphere and you've got an ideal breeding ground for the bugs. The preservation system will only work for a certain amount of time.

    The look and smell test doesn't work for cosmetics. A lot of the bugs are invisible to the naked eye.

    To find out how long an open cosmetic is safe for, look for the open jar symbol. It will have a number in the jar, that's the number of months it will last once opened.
  • kate83
    kate83 Posts: 290 Forumite
    Petroleum based baby oil does go off - but you can smell when it does, it smells horrible, like nasty plastic. As a few others have said, there should be a little picture on the back label of an open jar with a number inside, that's how long it should last once open if stored in a cool, dark place.
    I wouldn't use it on yourself after that time but should still be ok for putting on stainless steel. I know you're not eating it, but a large percentage of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream so best to be on the safe side.

    By the way, sunflower oil (the type you use for cooking) is a great alternative to petroleum based baby oil, it was recommended at my baby massage class as it is absorbed quite quickly, doesn't smell and there's no nasty chemicals.
  • MadDogWoman_2
    MadDogWoman_2 Posts: 2,376 Forumite
    Hi,

    I have a bottle of baby oil it must by coming up to 10 years old now! But it is only used to clean my stainless steel hob and oven.

    It also seems to smell ok.

    MDW
    Proud to be dealing with my debts
    DD Katie born April 2007!
    3 years 9 months and proud of it
    dreams do come true (eventually!)

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