Expiration date on pepper spray

[internet troll]

Most of us here understand the worth of having a firearm in the home in case you ever need it. They are good for self defense. The brand, type of gun etc...... doesn’t matter much in an emergency as long as it works when you need it.

In addition to a firearm, pepper spray is a compliment that can be useful. I keep a can of it on hanging above the front door in case a family member answers the door and someone tries to force their way in. The mace is hanging right there and my wife, son or myself can easily and quickly grab it.

I looked at the can today and saw that it expired two years ago. Poor attention on my part. I bought another can tonight and hung it up. I took the old can out back to spray it and see if it still worked.

And got nothing...... not even a pfffffttttt. If it was needed it would have been worthless. So just a heads up. If you use pepper spray in any capacity check the expiration date. Unlike some expiration dates on products, it’s not a suggestion. Paying attention to the date could be the difference between it working when you need it or going “oh shit” when you try to spray it.

[Remington788]

I was expecting you to say it worked fine.
I wonder what happened that the aerosol leaked away.

[Bug44]

Pepper spray won't go bad. However the aerosol can and will eventually leak out. I recommend if you do carry pepper spray to test it once in a while. Give it a short spritz in a safe direction to see if your can still has pressure.

As for the to spray itself it will stay just as hot as the day it was made...
I have a few good old cans past date. I also know of cops taking their old expired cans and using them on ground hog holes.

As long as your can is under pressure your good to go

[Gunsnwater]

Amazon has refillable aerosol cans. 26 bucks. 90psi.

[gnbrotz]

Amazon has refillable aerosol cans. 26 bucks. 90psi.

And you get bulk liquid pepper spray from....?

[Berncly]

Most of us here understand the worth of having a firearm in the home in case you ever need it. They are good for self defense. The brand, type of gun etc...... doesn’t matter much in an emergency as long as it works when you need it.

In addition to a firearm, pepper spray is a compliment that can be useful. I keep a can of it on hanging above the front door in case a family member answers the door and someone tries to force their way in. The mace is hanging right there and my wife, son or myself can easily and quickly grab it.

I looked at the can today and saw that it expired two years ago. Poor attention on my part. I bought another can tonight and hung it up. I took the old can out back to spray it and see if it still worked.

And got nothing...... not even a pfffffttttt. If it was needed it would have been worthless. So just a heads up. If you use pepper spray in any capacity check the expiration date. Unlike some expiration dates on products, it’s not a suggestion. Paying attention to the date could be the difference between it working when you need it or going “oh shit” when you try to spray it.

Good post, good reminder.

All pepper spray should be replaced every 2 years for maximum reliability.
All canned pepper spray will eventually lose pressure over time and become ineffective.

Some cans, like Fox Labs, are marked with the date of manufacture, and others are marked with the date of expiration.
Always check your stuff and mark your calendar to replace your canisters.

[TooBigToFit]

And you get bulk liquid pepper spray from....?

Actually, a semi common thing...

https://www.officerstore.com/store/p...ationId=111638

Whether you should trust your safety to a home made doohickey that probably only sprays in certain orientations, probably puts out a weak mist with no range that is probably going to hurt you more than an attacker, and probably won't hold a seal, is another question.

[Walleye Hunter]

I wonder if pepper spray works on lantern flies.

[father-of-five]

Pepper spray won't go bad. However the aerosol can and will eventually leak out. I recommend if you do carry pepper spray to test it once in a while. Give it a short spritz in a safe direction to see if your can still has pressure.

As for the to spray itself it will stay just as hot as the day it was made...
I have a few good old cans past date. I also know of cops taking their old expired cans and using them on ground hog holes.

As long as your can is under pressure your good to go

Yes. I have one with an expiration date of 2008 that still has good pressure.

[Walleye Hunter]

For someone to even ask this question tells me that they have not held onto spray paint, PB Blaster, WD-40, hair spray or other aerosols for long periods of time. If an aerosol can is over a year old there is a good chance that there is nothing left there but the stuff you wish you could get out. It has been demonstrated to me that you can re-invigorate leaked out cans with an air compressor and a small needle but I do not have a needle small enough to do it myself.