Shelf Life of Thread

Many people have asked us: "What is the shelf life of thread?". Dr. Bob has researched this question and loves sharing with you the information he has gathered.


A good quality thread today will last much longer than thread which was made 15 or 20 years ago. Even the best quality cotton thread of a generation ago did not have the processing techniques available to us today. If I had Mom's or Grandma's thread on the shelf, would I use it today? Probably not. However, I would not hesitate to use King Tut 50 or 60 years from now. That's how far quality thread has come.
The difference is due to a higher quality of cotton and advancements in spinning, dyeing, and twisting technology.
As for polyester thread, the color may fade over the years with exposure to sunlight, but there is no evidence that the thread deteriorates.
The best way to take care of your thread is to keep it free from dust and sunlight. If you follow these two simple rules, Superior Threads products will remain in good condition and ready to use even 40 or 50 years from now.
You may want to consider your thread collection as part of your family's inheritance, because it probably will last a lot longer than we will!