Expired Photo-Flo, should I just pitch it?

[not_in_good_order]

I have a bottle of Photo-Flo which is about 2/3 full and expired 10/2008. Should I just throw it away? Should I just use distilled water for the final wash and just forget about a wetting agent all together? Any and all opinions welcome.

 

[xayraa33]

I still got some from 1975 and it works fine.

 

[-doomed-]

I didnt know this stuff expired , i use about a drop per film and still have a ton of it left over

 

[wgerrard]

Unless it's glowing in the dark, give it a try. It reduces water's adhesion to the film, which means the water tends to flow off rather than form the drops that cause spots when they dry.

I know some people don't use it, But, when I forget it, the spots are obvious.

 

[robklurfield]

it's just purified detergent. unless it got contaminated, shouldn't it last forever?

 

[-doomed-]

That was my thinking.

 

[bwcolor]

Also using early 1970s / late 1960s photoflow without a problem. I didn't know that it expired.

 

[not_in_good_order]

Sounds good, I'll use it without concern. Thanks a bunch.

 

[nikon_sam]

I have a bottle of Photo-Flo 200 that was given to me before I was married and this year will be our 25th anniversary...yellow label brown glass bottle...I still use it...

 

[rpsawin]

Sell it on E-Bay as "vintage" and buy a fresh bottle with the proceeds...lol

It should be fine. Good luck.

Bob

 

[sevo]

Concentrate will last forever plus some - I take five to ten years to use up a litre bottle, and the last of it is no worse.

Dilute Photo-Flo is best used one shot, or reused only for a day or two, as gelatin traces dissolved from previous film rolls may turn it into a breeding ground for germs attacking gelatin - which you do not want on your negs.

Sevo

 

[like2fiddle]

I have a bottle of Photo-Flo 200 that was given to me before I was married and this year will be our 25th anniversary...yellow label brown glass bottle...I still use it...

I've got one of these too, only I'm going on 23 years married, and I use it for every film I develop. I don't think many products had expiration dates back then... Maybe I will put it up for sale as "vintage", you never know🙄

 

[robklurfield]

I once saw a guy from a chemical company being interviewed on TV who wanted to demonstrate the safety of Malthion, a rather serious insecticide, I think. He drank a bunch of it and lived to finish the interview. That falls into the category of "don't try this at home kids." Past due Photoflo, no big deal; just don't drink it. And, at 1:200 dilution, how much harm could it cause your film?

 

[Chris101]

I believe the reason it expires is that it is possible for mold to grow in photoflo. If you see any dark particulate, or if the dilute solution develops mold, do not use it.

 

[cfritze]

off-topic malathion drinking link here