# Shelf life of aerosol cans

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-aerosol-cans/758102>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 23, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-aerosol-cans/758102 "2016-06-23T00:15:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-aerosol-cans/758102/1 "2016-06-23T00:15:31Z")

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How long can they be kept before they rust thru? I have heard of spray paint cans failing after several years and launching their contents into the room.

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**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-aerosol-cans/758102/2 "2016-06-23T01:31:41Z")

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I just used some 18 year old cans of spray paint. Unused ones were fine, had to invert some used ones for a day or two to get them unclogged.

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**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-aerosol-cans/758102/3 "2016-06-23T02:06:56Z")

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> [@boffking](#):
>
> How long can they be kept before they rust thru? I have heard of spray paint cans failing after several years and launching their contents into the room.

Depends on how they are storred. It gets damp here: my tools and spray cans gradually rust if left in the garage. They rust faster if left with their feet in water. I’m surprised at a “launch” though: mostly pressure cans just fiz at the bottom.