How long will colloidal silver last if stored properly? What is the best way to store it? The shelf life of colloidal silver has been proven to last over 10 years when stored correctly! This is dependent on meeting the proper storage conditions. Mountain Well-Being Colloidal Silver comes with a guaranteed shelf life of three years.
It’s simple, to correctly store colloidal silver to last as long as you need, there are three key factors to keep in mind.
A kitchen cupboard or a bathroom medicine cabinet is an ideal spot to keep your bottle of colloidal silver. But honestly, I keep a bottle in my bathroom, kitchen, truck, next to my bed, and in my Camelbak for when I’m on the trail. As long as the conditions above are met, it really doesn’t matter where you keep it.
Where and how do you store your colloidal silver?
Mountain Well-Being guarantees your 100% satisfaction with all our products! If you are not fully pleased with any Mountain Well-Being Colloidal Solutions (colloidal silver, colloidal gold, colloidal copper) for any reason, you may contact us by phone within 60 days for instructions on returning the bottle for a full refund of the purchase price, minus the cost of shipping. For all other products (sulfur, iodine, curcumin, moringa, etc.) you may return the unopened item within 30 days for a full refund of purchase price, minus the cost of shipping. The number to reach our customer service is 828-658-4237.
Mountain Well-Being’s mission is to help people improve their health utilizing Nature’s most precious minerals. We pledge to use the finest raw materials and the latest state-of-the-art technology in creating powerful, life-enhancing products of exceptional quality.
Soothing Silver Gel
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60 Responses
So… if I kept mine in the refrigerator the shelf life might be diminished? It was recommended to me to extend the shelf life…
Thanks.
Hello Tascha,
For the longest possible shelf life (10 years+), it’s best to store colloids at room temperature. If you’ve put yours in the refrigerator for a short time, there should be no problem.
Be well,
Jonathan
My unopened bottle expired this January, can it still be used? It’s atill in original sealed box
Hi Maria,
If stored properly, like the blog post details, then the bottle should still be good for many more years. Minimum should be a decade but potentially much longer than that.
Be well,
Jonathan
Is it okay to store the colloidal silver in a brown plastic bottle or is plastic out altogether?
Hello Kristy,
I always use glass bottles unless I’m traveling and need to put my CS in a non-breakable bottle to go in my luggage. When I use plastic, I choose PETE (#1 recycle number) plastic. Brown would be better than clear, but as long as you don’t store it in direct light, clear will be fine for short term use.
Glass is always best for long term storage and shelf life, but plastic is ok for short term use (months instead of years).
Be well,
Jonathan
How about opened bottles? I use colloidal silver for sinus/cold issues. If the seal is broken and you don’t use all off the bottle. What is the shelf life then if it’s stored properly?
Hello Frank,
As long as you pour out of the bottle and replace the cap immediately, the shelf life should be the same. Make sure you don’t touch your lips to the bottle, and no foreign contaminants get into the bottle. Are you using colloidal silver both internally and in the sinuses? That’s what I’d recommend for sinus issues. Our newest product, Sulfur Silver Sinus Spray, works great if you haven’t tried it yet. You can find it here: https://mountainwellbeing.com/shop/sulfur-silver-nasal-spray/
Be well,
Jonathan
Thanks!
I just use it internal but I will look into the spray. Thanks for your quick response. Take care
Did you still consume it tho Tascha? it’s actually making me curious and I’ve read so many articles about storage but I haven’t encountered anything about it still being okay to drink
Colloidal silver, when made properly, is safe to drink.
How effective is colloidal silver as a mouth wash for mouth ulcers? How long should it take for the ulcer to go?
Hello Peter,
We are not allowed to make any medical claims, but if it were me, I’d swish with colloidal silver at least several times per day. The longer you can swish with it in your mouth, the better.
Be well,
Jonathan
I stored a quart of colloidal silver just as you recommend, in amber glass, dark, room temp. As I am working my way down the bottle I noticed that the color appears to be yellower than at first. That is what started my query about shelf life. Do you have an information about that? Is that an indication of spoilage? What are the indications of spoilage?
Hi Daniel,
We make our colloidal silver as strong as possible while still keeping the particle size as small as possible. Although our colloidal silver label says 15ppm, it’s actually produced closer to 20ppm. Sometimes when a bottle if halfway used up, some evaporation occurs which can cause the CS to get a little more concentrated. This can make the liquid turn slightly yellow instead of being completely clear. This is not too unusual and is not a sign that your CS has spoiled. A slight yellow color is acceptable, it just means that some more of the ions have been reduced into particles, giving the slight yellow/golden color. Another thing that can cause this is any contaminants getting into the bottle, so make sure to always pour out of the bottle (never put your lips to the bottle) and replace the cap immediately. If dust, backwash, or any other contaminant get in, then the color can change. If it’s a pale yellow, then be assured it is still safe to use. Spoilage is rare and would be seen as black sediment on the bottom of the bottle.
Be well,
Jonathan
What is the quantity to take each day.
Hi Carole,
For colloidal silver, most people only use it as needed, and the average dose is about a tablespoon. It’s best to take several doses repeated throughout the day when needed.
Some people choose to take colloidal silver daily as a preventative, and they generally take about one teaspoon per day. Remember to always hold it under your tongue before swallowing.
Be well,
Jonathan
Is it safe to consume colloidal silver if it was placed in the refrigerator for a few hours, what if the particles are still intact? Is it safe to consume?
Hello Michelle,
Yes, your colloidal silver is definitely safe to consume. Putting CS in the refrigerator won’t ruin it, but it will have a longer shelf life if you keep it at room temperature.
Be well,
Jonathan
If my silver changes odor and taste, almost indescribable, is it still safe to consume?
Hi Julie,
Thanks for your question. Mountain Well-Being Colloidal Silver contains both silver particles and silver ions. Some people can detect a slightly metallic aftertaste (sometimes described as bitter) when they swallow colloidal silver, which is due to the silver ions. It is perfectly normal and actually desired. Sometimes the taste is more obvious than other times, depending on what was on the tastebuds prior to taking colloidal silver. It may taste strong one time and then have almost no taste the next.
As for odor, colloidal silver is generally odorless. What exactly do you smell? It’s very important to keep all contaminants out of the bottle. Never put your lips directly on the bottle. If any backwash or other contaminant get into the bottle, it can react with the colloidal silver and change color, taste and possibly odor. I’ll wait to hear back from you.
Thank you,
Jonathan
It is cool to take CS along with other antibiotics, for example cipro tab.?
Hello Joe,
Yes, it is safe and advisable to take CS along with other antibiotics. There have been studies proving that taking CS with an antibiotic has a more beneficial effect than taking just the antibiotic alone.
For the future, try to use CS at the very first symptom. That way, you may hopefully avoid the need of an antibiotic altogether.
Be well,
Jonathan
I’ve heard that this could cure toenail fungus. Do you know of any cases where it really worked for that? Also, I put mine in travel size spray bottles that are dark in color, because I travel a lot , but they are plastic. How long will it last if it is stored in plastic?
Hello Rose,
We cannot make any claims that colloidal silver “cures” anything. But from personal experience, I can tell you that I have had great results using CS on my toenail fungus. What I did was soak my entire toe under CS for at least 10 minutes at a time. I used a large shot glass, although this was not the easiest thing to do. Alternatively, you can use a spray bottle to spray under the nail while simultaneously lifting the nail from the toe. It took a good month to get the results I wanted.
Plastic bottles are ok for short term use (weeks or months while traveling) but glass is best for long term (years). Clear plastic that has the #1 recycling on the bottom is better than opaque #2 plastic. Dark color is good.
Be well,
Jonathan
I notIced what looked like condensation on the inside of a small amber colored glass spray bottle of CS that I have had in my medicine cabinet for a few years. Is this a sign that the quality has been compromised?
Hi Coleen,
Condensation inside of a bottle that has been sitting for a while is perfectly normal. It would happen to any bottle of any liquid. This definitely does not indicate that the quality of your colloidal silver has been compromised. As long as you store it properly, Mountain Well-Being colloidal silver will be good for at least a decade or longer.
Be well,
Jonathan
Jonathan:
You mention keeping the CS away from electromagnetic energy, but in today’s homes these sources are everywhere including wires in the walls, outlets, etc.. What type of distance are you talking about when you say keeping CS away from them? Thanks.
Hello Leo,
For optimum shelf life, the idea is to keep CS away from any strong electromagnetic fields, such as appliances, computers, routers, etc. Ideal storage locations include a bathroom medicine cabinet, kitchen pantry, bedroom closet, etc. It’s not a critical issue, but can make a difference for very long term storage.
Be well,
Jonathan
Hi!
Can you comment on colloidal copper’s shelf life?
Thanks!
Irene
Hello Irene,
Colloidal copper has a shorter shelf life than other colloids. But if you store it correctly, which means at room temperature, away from direct light and away from strong electro-magnetic frequencies, it should last a few years. It’s best to use it up within one year, and always shake the bottle before use. Normally, when used everyday, a bottle of colloidal copper will last from 1-3 months.
Be well,
Jonathan
what colloidal silver to use internally? I have an internal burning.
Hello Sunny,
For internal use, you will always want to choose the liquid colloidal silver. The silver gel, lotion and soap are great for topical use.
Be well,
Jonathan
I have read elsewhere that colloidal silver made at home only lasts about two weeks before it loses its charge. Are you putting yours through some special process to maintain such a long shelf life?
Hello Max,
When colloidal silver is made at home, it is often made using low technology and sometimes only with 9 volt batteries connected together. As a result, the colloidal silver can be of poor quality and not very stable. That’s why some people say colloidal silver only lasts for a few weeks.
However, when colloidal silver is made with state-of-the-art equipment which ensures uniform and minute particles, then the solution can be stable for a very long time. That is the reason Mountain Well-Being colloidal silver is stable for over a decade when stored correctly.
Be well,
Jonathan
Hello if yo see shimmery small particles in th CS is that spoiled? TIA
Hello Julia,
Are you referring to homemade colloidal silver or another brand of CS? Because if you see shimmery particles in CS, then you have very, very large particles of silver. We have never produced a batch with particles that are even remotely close to being visible with the naked eye. I wouldn’t call it “spoiled” but rather very poor quality.
Jonathan
My CS has been in the fridge for about a year now atleast. A friend of mine gave it to me and told me to keep it refrigerated. I have never used it cuz I have been very sceptic about it, but I have a pretty bad infection and I’ll try anything that might help at this point. I just don’t know if its bad or not now. Is it unsafe to use it??
Hello Janet,
For the longest shelf life, you want to store colloidal silver at room temperature. But more than likely, the CS you’ve had in your fridge for a year is still fine. If you don’t see visible particles at the bottom of the container, it should be fine. If it’s Mountain Well-Being brand, then it certainly won’t be unsafe to use, even if stored in the fridge. Worst case scenario is that it may have lost a little bit of potency, but even that is unlikely after only one year in the fridge.
Be well,
Jonathan
I had ordered CS and the mailman jammed it in my mailbox rather than delivering it to my door. It has been close to 100 degrees and when I brought it inside, it was very warm and the bottle was wet (condensation possibly). Will this diminish the effectiveness?
Hello Stacee,
For the longest possible shelf life, you want to store CS at room temperature. But if it briefly gets warm it will be fine. The wetness on the outside of the bottle is surely condensation. Nothing to worry about 🙂
Be well,
Jonathan
I have been sick with sinus and sore throat for almost a week. A friend gave me a tablespoon of colodial silver and now I’m freaking out because it expired in 2005! It came from an unopened, cobalt colored plastic bottle that according to my friend, has not been exposed to extreme temps. It was clear looking on the spoon. Could this make me sick?
Hi Debbie,
I’m not sure what brand you’re using, but a high quality colloidal silver (like Mountain Well-Being) should last for over a decade. Companies generally stamp a 2-3 year expiration date as that’s standard industry practice. But if stored properly, and if it was made correctly, it should be fine. Look at the bottom of the bottle to see if there is any sediment. If there is sediment on the bottom (it will look like fine black sediment) then I would not use it. If there is no sediment, it’s likely fine. Either way it should not make you sick.
To learn about how to properly store CS, please read an article I wrote called Shelf Life of Colloidal Silver. https://mountainwellbeing.com/shelf-life-of-colloidal-silver/
Be well,
Jonathan
What if you forgot and left in in your truck (not been opened) in cold freezing weather?
Hi Janet,
While colloidal gold and copper are ruined if allowed to freeze, colloidal silver can freeze and still be ok, although it is definitely not ideal. Did your bottle freeze completely? If it’s an unopened bottle and did not break, then it’s likely it didn’t freeze. Our bottles are filled to a level where if the liquid inside freezes, then the bottle often breaks. I hope this helps.
Be well,
Jonathan
I had an infection called Cellulitis on my big toe after having an ngrown toenail removed. The antibiotics the doctor gave me came with side effects that made me sick. I stopped using the antibiotics and started using liquid CS as well as CS lozenges a three times a day with no side effects and the prognosis is good. This works as good as bee pollen and both can be stored for a long time.
Hi Edward,
Thank you for sharing your testimonial with us!
Be well,
Jonathan
I was wondering if anyone has nebulized colloidal silver (500 ppm)? It is to treat a mycobacterium in the lower part of the lung.
Hi Lesley,
We don’t have experience nebulizing high ppm colloidal silver. Generally, high ppm CS (in the hundreds of ppm) is actually mild silver protein (MSP). You can tell by shaking the bottle…if foam persists inside the bottle for more than a couple seconds, then there is an added protein, usually gelatin or casein (neither of which are acceptable for vegans).
MSP typically contains larger particles of silver, which is not a good thing, and therefore a protein is added to keep the silver suspended. Sometimes the particles of silver are completely encapsulated with protein, which reduces or eliminates the surface area of the silver particles from coming into contact with germs. We do not recommend using MSP as it’s made with inferior technology.
We do have lots of experience nebulizing Mountain Well-Being colloidal silver which is always between 15-20 ppm, contains the smallest particle sizes, and has no additives or proteins added. The results have been excellent!
Be well,
Jonathan
Please comment on storing colloidal silver in spray bottles (all of which, as far as I know, have the plastic tube that carries the CS to the spray nozzle).
By the way, I want to use this for sore throats, disinfecting my granite countertops, and cleaning produce.
Hi Cynthia,
It is fine to store colloidal silver in a glass spray bottle with a plastic tube. A tiny bit of silver will plate onto the plastic tubing over time, but it will be minimal and won’t affect the quality of the colloidal silver.
Be well,
Jonathan
Some people are making soap with colloidal silver. Will the lye heating the silver ruin the benefits of the silver? Would freezing it before adding the lye help?
Hello Deb,
We have an amazing, local soap maker who makes colloidal silver soap and colloidal copper soap for us. In our experience, the heat from the lye does not negatively affect the colloids. Freezing can damage colloidal silver and will completely ruin colloidal copper and colloidal gold, so I would not do that.
Be well,
Jonathan
Thank you Very much! I learned a lot by your answers
How long do the particles stay charged after touching the skin and open air
Hi Randy,
Our liquid colloidal silver is highly effective when used topically on the skin. However, once the liquid dries, it looses about 80% of its effectiveness. So the trick with the liquid silver is to keep it maoist against the skin by using a bandage, gauze pad, etc. Every once in awhile, you’ll want to let the skin air out, but then reapply and keep moist until the skin is healed.
With our topical Soothing Silver Gel, it is made differently and at a higher parts per million (ppm) of silver, so much of its effectiveness continues to work after the gel has dried. It’s still a good idea to use a bandage of some sort with the silver gel, but it’s not as essential as it is with liquid silver.
Be well,
Jonathan
You haven’t said anything about PPM. If the ppm is higher, say 100 PPM, wouldn’t I just consider it to be concentrated and take a smaller dose for the same effect?
You say that CS stored in plastic will break down faster. How much faster is faster? If I am travelling for a month and I keep my CS away from extreme temps and out of the light, will it still be potent?
If I can see that particles are falling out of suspension, can’t I just shake it up and take a dose?
Thank you for your answers.
Hello Dee,
The reason a higher ppm is not desired is because when the ppm is too high, there are too many silver particles in the solution that are constantly bumping into each other, increasing the likelihood of agglomeration, which can create larger particles. That’s why it’s best to keep the ppm below 30ppm.
Colloidal silver stored in plastic will tend to plate out on the surface of the plastic, but this happens gradually. So if you’re talking short term storage of maybe a few months, it shouldn’t be too big of a problem. But for the longest shelf life possible, glass is the best. If you do put CS in plastic, it’s best to use the clear PETE plastic with the #1 recycle code on the bottom of the bottle.
If you can ever see particles in CS, I would not recommend consuming it. You may still be able to use it topically.
Be well,
Jonathan
Can you store colloidal silver in a glass olive oil bottle with a traditional black and sliver pour spout? As long as it’s in the dark?
Hello Ramie,
A dark glass bottle is ideal for storing colloidal silver, however, I would recommend against using an olive oil bottle for two reasons. First, it’s unlikely that you will ever get all of the oil residue completely cleaned out of the bottle, and you definitely don’t want your colloidal silver to mix with any contaminants including oil. And second, you do not want colloidal silver to come into contact with any metal, and the pour spout of an olive oil bottle is likely to be made of metal. It would be best to purchase a brand new amber glass bottle that is 100% clean, or reuse a bottle from an older batch of colloidal silver. Make sure the lid is non-metallic.
I hope this helps.
Be well,
Jonathan