Can Lava Lamps Expire?

Homes or even public cafes with a calm ambiance are more famous these days. Industries are evolving in their unique ways, but as we all believe that old habits die hard.

Lava lamps are like one of those habits that you never want to change. Back in history, lava lamps were created in 1963 by the company name Mathmos. Yes, it might not seem to be a long-gone history as many people still use them.

Groovy Lava Lamps

They are one of the unique types of lamps that people who like to work in closed doors prefer. They say it helps them in changing their mood. You can find a huge variety of these lamps in many different colors. Artistic nature people prefer them at the side of their tables or bookshelf. Well, you can choose the right place for yourself as you like.

In case, if you are unfamiliar with lava lamps, let’s start with a little introduction about their making. This lamp has the bolus of a special colored wax inside a glass vessel. Further, you will see the remainder of it contains clear or translucent liquid. Then, the vessel is placed on a box containing an incandescent light bulb. It has a heat that will cause temporary reductions in the density of the wax and surface tension of the liquid.

They are stylish lamps and mostly designed “to create mood”. These lamps are not meant to work or light up a room. They are merely decorative pieces and not to illuminate the place.

Well, if you are using these lamps already, you know all of them. However, the question that remains the same is “do they expire”?

Maybe yes, as they can become cloudy. But the cloudy lamp has its reasons.

Why the lava lamps become cloudy seems as they have expired?

If you know, you must understand that the bulb can expire and also the lamp. But yes, lava lamps are not just the simple lamps lying on your side table. They are different in many ways, so the answer to this question for lava lamp may also differ.

Now, the two main reasons for these lamps to go cloudy are:

  • They have been shaken or moved whilst hot
  • They have reached the end of life, i.e. 2000 hours

So, yes, lava lamps can expire….

Oh, this is concerning, right?

You don’t have to worry as Mathmos, or any partner company can offer you the bottle replacement for your lava lamp. So, all you need is to find out the right company for replacement and BOOM!!

How do you know about the original & high-quality Lava lamps?

If you have enjoyed the top-notch quality of the lava lamp before, you must be looking for the same high-quality next time. However, getting the bottle from any other company may also raise some suspicions about the company.

So, know that there are different kinds of lava formulations happening behind the scenes. The high-quality formulation will give a better flow of lave, long life, clear liquids and more vivid colors.

The metal parts are thicker, and the higher grade metal allows the hand polish to shine more. They usually have high-quality bulbs, and they direct the heat away from the base to proceed light into the lava. Moreover, any company offering quality will keep safety and security as a top priority. So, if you are looking for the bottle to replace or any other spare parts, you may need to look for the experience and excellence in their work.

How long can a lamp stay on?

Moreover, you may also ask about how long the lamp can stay on. It is crucial as the lamp may not be perfect for surviving the heat for long hours. So, if you are planning on buying one or have the one already in your house, you must only keep it on for 8-10 hours.

Safety is essential, and it is not only about the manufacturers building a lamp with care, but it applies to a buyer too. So, leaving a lamp on for a specific time may lead to more problems. So, do not ignore any of the instructions by the manufacturer.

Rest and Retain nature of the lava lamps

Remember that the lava lamps work on a principle of “rest and retain”. So, always ensure that before you on it, the lamp has rested well and cooled down for a specific amount of time. Otherwise, they might stop working before even you expect. If you are a lousy person, you may use timers to cool off the lamps for a proper time before switching it on again.

How should I recycle the bottle after it reaches the end of its life?

Suppose you are looking for the details about restoring the lava lamp. It is possible that you invited some people at home and the ones who oblivious of the lava lamps, they have shaken it up. So, naturally, it will go off and may also not work properly.

So, you may need to recycle it.

As the Mathmos expert suggests; make a hole in the metal cap with a sharp point. Then, pour away all the liquid.

  • Make sure that lamp is cold and when you are trying to pour away the liquid. So, you must cool off before you proceed further.
  • When you remove the lid, you must also know that it will automatically invalidate the warranty if it still exists.
  • The wax must be solid when you are pouring the liquid away. Moreover, if you want to clean it, add some cold water, but ensure that it does not touch the wax.
  • Clean it with gentle swilling.
  • Now, fill the bottle gently with water as it must not touch the wax directly.
  • Then, turn on the lamp, and the wax will start melting.
  • Add a couple of drops of detergent.
  • Next, you may leave the lamp on and prepare the Epsom salts.
  • Once the wax is fully melted, add the salt solution to it slowly. (this can take a lot of time)

Make sure you add the salt real slow. Otherwise, it can ruin the final result for you. Once you are done, you will see your lamp running in a better condition and looking great again.

Next, if you hesitate to do it by yourself, you need a local recycling center.

How to replace the bulb?

You now understand the complete process of recycling bottles. But changing the bulb may still be a question. We can help you with the steps to follow to revive the lava lamp by replacing the lamp:

  • Leave the lamp functioning for at least four hours
  • Twirl the globe gently
  • Place a lamp on a surface that is neither too cold nor hot.
  • Replace the bulb.

You may also ask, can you replace or recycle the liquid in a lamp?

Well, no, Mathmos do not sell the liquid separately as the bottles are sealed. So, if you won’t change it, you need to replace the bottles.

Why do lamps stop working in the first place?

We now understand that the lamps can expire and also stop working. You also know to take safety measures and follow the instructions. However, nobody asked why the lamp stop working in the first place?

As we explained earlier, the lamp needs to cool off before you start it again. So, the only reason that your lamp might stop working is that it is overheated.

You can solve the issue simply by turning it off for a few hours. So, remember that your lamp is not running for more than 10 hours. Otherwise, the consequences may not be good.

Can lava lamps explode?

With the name lava in it, you can expect it. However, if you know about the simple lights and bulbs, you must know that if they are overheated, explode too. Then, if the plug is wet and you are trying to unplug it, it can explode. So, do not let it get wet or at least avoid unplugging at the moment.

Bottom Line

Ultimately, the lamps are the decorative piece, but these lava lamps require some special kind of care from you. You cannot leave them alone in a room with a bunch of people who don’t know about it. They will shake it up for fun and make your lamp cloudy. Another thing that you may worry about is to give it time to cool off every often and don’t keep them on for more hours.

And about the expiration of the lamps, you must understand that the lamps do have an expiration date. Still, you can always recycle them by the steps provided in an article or contact the local provider. They can help you with the lamp replacement or any other spare parts if needed.


How long can lava lamps stay on?

Lava lamps can generally stay on for around 8 to 10 hours straight. There are a number of contributing factors of course.

Particicular brands will require up to six hours for the lava to flow properly.

It is very important to NOT keep a lava lamp for longer than 8 to 10 hours.

How do you rejuvenate a lava lamp?

There is a good technqiue to rejuvenate a lava lamp.

  1. Take the finger holding the straw and put it over the top so that it catches the liquid, and transfer it carefully to your lava lamp bottle.
  2. Do not shake the lamp.
  3. Wait for around 10 minutes and then repeat.

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