Found out drywall mud has an expiration date the hard way

I was mixing up some joint compound for a bedroom job last week and noticed it smelled like old socks. Checked the bucket and sure enough, it was 18 months past the date stamped on it. Has anyone else run into weird results from expired mud, or was it just my bad luck?

3 comments

3 Comments

wilson.joseph19d ago

Expired mud? That's nasty. Had no idea it could rot like that.

nancyj1119d agoTop Commenter

Oh goodness, @wilson.joseph you really don't want to learn this lesson the hard way. I had a five gallon bucket of all-purpose joint compound I forgot about in my basement for about 18 months. When I finally opened it, the smell hit me like a wall and the top layer had turned this weird greenish color with spots of mold. The whole thing was a total loss because the bacteria had worked its way all through it. I ended up having to wear a mask just to scrape it into trash bags. So yes, that mud can absolutely rot if you let it sit long enough past the date on the label.

wyatt_mitchell2619d ago

Wilson.joseph, yeah it can rot. That smell is bacteria growing in it. I once grabbed a bucket that was two years expired and the mud came out looking like cottage cheese. Had to toss the whole thing and scrub my tools. Learned to check dates before I buy now. Feels like a real rookie mistake but after 15 years of drywall work youd think I'd know better.