# Can cling-wrap (kitchen cling-wrap) lose effectiveness over time? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 17, 2024, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939 "2024-03-17T05:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/1 "2024-03-17T05:41:39Z")
I found a roll of cling-wrap (specifically, Saran-Wrap) in the back of a cabinet. At a guess, I think it has been there for 2-3 years. But it’s plastic…can’t go bad, right? But, when I used it, it really did not cling very well…almost not at all. And that is on a few tries on different containers. It was still its usual film but but completely lacked the almost crazy amounts of “stickiness” I am used to. I can’t imagine how this could happen though. There is no glue on Saran-Warp. It relies on its nature to be clingy but…it doesn’t cling. What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/2 "2024-03-17T06:01:08Z")
I think maybe, no science I can rely on, it’s just old. Plastic does age. Sometimes not well. I could use your Saran Warp tho’😊 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/3 "2024-03-17T06:05:56Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I could use your Saran Warp tho’😊 Heh…that might be a really interesting product. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/4 "2024-03-17T06:06:59Z")
I would venture to guess that it’s not this particular package that you’re remembering used to cling better, but just Saran Wrap in general. Saran Wrap used to be made with polyvinylidene chloride but in 2004 the formulation was changed to use polyethylene for “[health and environmental](https://journaltimes.com/business/local/ceo-explains-why-sc-johnson-hobbled-saran-wrap/article_55000b9a-88cb-5786-a36e-3835f1d820ce.html)” reasons. Polyethylene does not cling as well as PVDC nor is it as impermeable. I use [Freeze-Tite](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LO2IBD6) which is recommended by Cooks Illustrated. I don’t know what it’s made of, but it clings much better than the modern Saran Wrap formulation, and is thicker. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/5 "2024-03-17T06:11:24Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I use [Freeze-Tite](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LO2IBD6) which is recommended by Cooks Illustrated. Yikes! That is near twice the price of [Saran Wrap](https://www.jewelosco.com/shop/product-details.960188752.html) (Saran Warp may be more 😉 ). $10(ish) to $20(ish). I prefer a good product but that is a steep difference in price. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/6 "2024-03-17T06:14:20Z")
Well, if you prefer something cheap that doesn’t work, I’m sure I could sell you something even cheaper than Saran Wrap. But I love my Freeze-Tite. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/7 "2024-03-17T06:34:29Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I use [Freeze-Tite](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LO2IBD6) which is recommended by Cooks Illustrated. I followed that link and it says: > Currently unavailable. > We don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/8 "2024-03-17T06:34:46Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I would venture to guess that it’s not this particular package that you’re remembering used to cling better, but just Saran Wrap in general. Saran Wrap used to be made with polyvinylidene chloride but in 2004 the formulation was changed to use polyethylene for “[health and environmental](https://journaltimes.com/business/local/ceo-explains-why-sc-johnson-hobbled-saran-wrap/article_55000b9a-88cb-5786-a36e-3835f1d820ce.html)” reasons. Polyethylene does not cling as well as PVDC nor is it as impermeable. ^^^ This. For years now I’ve been buying large rolls of plastic wrap intended for the food service industry, partly for convenience and partly because indeed Saran Wrap doesn’t cling worth shit. The packaging on the large rolls doesn’t indicate what it’s made of other than saying “food grade”, but it definitely clings, and it doesn’t age – my current roll is more than a decade old and the plastic still clings just fine. It does lose its cling if you try to reuse a piece many times, but fresh off the roll it clings fine, no matter how old the roll is. Regarding health and safety, I think it’s a good idea to prevent plastic wrap from contacting hot foods **regardless** of its formulation. If using plastic wrap to cover a dish that’s being microwaved, I stretch it tightly and then quickly remove it when done to prevent it sinking into the food. Or else I just use a casserole dish with a glass cover instead. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/9 "2024-03-17T06:45:08Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I followed that link and it says: Huh, it shows as available for me. I think you’re not in the US, right? Maybe that’s why. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/10 "2024-03-17T06:47:30Z")
It showed me 19 left in stock (I bought one so, assuming that is not a marketing ploy…they now have 18 in stock). I am in the US. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/11 "2024-03-17T06:51:10Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Regarding health and safety, I think it’s a good idea to prevent plastic wrap from contacting hot foods **regardless** of its formulation. Yeah, I agree with this. I don’t heat any kind of plastic in the microwave at all. Freeze-Tite works great for sealing food in the refrigerator. Before heating it I remove the plastic wrap and cover with a plate or something if I want to cover it while it heats. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/12 "2024-03-17T06:51:58Z")
Yeah. My VPN is set for Singapore. I’m wondering what the local (China) clone is? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/13 "2024-03-17T06:55:06Z")
It’s available on Amazon. NM I see the link goes there. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/14 "2024-03-17T06:56:13Z")
Many moons ago (years) I tried reheating things in the microwave with plastic wrap on. The plastic wrap melted every time. Not sure where it went to so the food went in the garbage. Lesson learned. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/15 "2024-03-17T06:59:29Z")
We often use paper “Paper” plates as lids on microwave items. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/16 "2024-03-17T08:27:25Z")
Me too. It decomposed into sort of melted shreds before the food was even fully warm. Never trusted it since. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/17 "2024-03-17T11:36:50Z")
IME yes. It definitely loses clinginess. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cling-wrap-kitchen-cling-wrap-lose-effectiveness-over-time/998939/18 "2024-03-17T19:34:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > For years now I’ve been buying large rolls of plastic wrap intended for the food service industry, partly for convenience and partly because indeed Saran Wrap doesn’t cling worth shit. The packaging on the large rolls doesn’t indicate what it’s made of other than saying “food grade”, but it definitely clings, and it doesn’t age – my current roll is more than a decade old and the plastic still clings just fine. Ditto - I think my last roll lasted 15 years.