Care
Does Lubricant Expire? Check the Bottle and Opening Date
Lubricant can have both an unopened shelf life and instructions that apply after opening. Check the bottle and its manufacturer's guidance for both. The date you bought it is not necessarily the date it was made, and a bottle kept for “about a year” needs a more precise check.
Look for the printed date and lot code
Inspect the bottom, label edges and outer packaging. A lot code identifies a production batch; it is not always a date you can decode yourself. If the printed information is unclear, photograph it and ask the manufacturer what it means.
Sliquid, for example, publishes separate unopened and opened-life guidance and identifies the bottom of its bottles as the location of lot and shelf-life information. That is a useful example of the distinction, not an expiry timetable for a different brand or a Dear Tingle pack.
Record when you open it
A small opening-date note can prevent later guesswork. Keep the original label readable and avoid covering the lot code. If the instructions give an after-opening period, record that alongside the printed expiry information rather than treating one as permission to ignore the other.
For a single-use sachet, follow its own instructions. Do not assume an opened packet can be saved for the same period as a resealable bottle.
Follow the storage conditions for that formula
Read the manufacturer's temperature, light and closure instructions. Sliquid's FAQ, for instance, specifies closed containers and particular storage conditions. A label's shelf-life statement should not be detached from the conditions under which the product is meant to be kept.
If the container is damaged, the contents have changed unexpectedly or the date is unreadable, set it aside and ask for advice rather than testing it on your body to find out. Appearance alone cannot verify the remaining shelf life.
Keep the pack contents identifiable
If you received lubricant with a Dear Tingle order, keep its label and manufacturer details. Contact support if the contents cannot be identified. Our pack checklist explains what information should be clear when the order arrives.
Expiry is only one check. Before using the product with a device, review its formula and the device's lubricant compatibility instructions too.