An unsuspecting mother posted about using an expired Vicks VapoRub from the 80s and quickly went viral.
The post garnered the attention of the Vicks VapoRub Twitter account. They expressed their concern for her and many others still using their expired jars of the vaporous medicine.
The tweet that started it all was shared by Heather Chacon.
She said:
"My son has been sick (not Covid) and shout out to my mom, who loaned us the SAME pot of Vicks she used to use on me growing up."
"Expiration date 1-87."
My son has been sick (not Covid) and shout out to my mom, who loaned us the SAME pot of Vicks she used to use on me growing up. \n\nExpiration date 1-87pic.twitter.com/LqWx3LYI2c— Heather Chacon (@Heather Chacon) 1631464122
Chacon confirmed she did in fact use said VapoRub on her sick son.
Rest assured I did use this and it did indeed help. Vintage Vicks for the win.— Heather Chacon (@Heather Chacon) 1631479250
The mention of the rub sent everyone into a nostalgic memory dump of all the times mothers and grandmothers tried to cure our ailments.
My mom swears by Vicks but I assume she's gone through a few containers since then— Jennifer Polk, PhD (she, her) (@Jennifer Polk, PhD (she, her)) 1631465391
My GM would thickly smear that on my chest when I was sick, I would have to hold my pj top open for her making the whole procedure seem more self inflicted. The worse? buttoning my thin cotton top back up just to have it grossly be stuck to my chest with the Vaseline— Alexandra Rosas (@Alexandra Rosas) 1631494930
Children nowadays will not know the horror of trying to sleep with your pjs stuck to your chest with Vicks Vapor rub or the burning pain of having every cut and scratch treated with Mercurochromepic.twitter.com/iCMfonitoD— Mask Nando (@Mask Nando) 1631506800
Samesies. My mom sent along a jar from \u201882 and calls to check I used the right technique (tbsp into boiled H2O, inhaled over 20m via putting a towel over my head over the pot). BTW I\u2019m the global chief medical officer @BabylonHealth and fmr CMO at UnitedHealthcare. She don\u2019t care— Darshak Sanghavi (@Darshak Sanghavi) 1631491291
But the VapoRub Twitter account sent a concerned tweet back to Chacon about using the expired medicine.
They said:
"While we appreciate your mom's confidence in VapoRub, we recommend that you don't use an expired product."
Heather, we're sorry your son is sick, and hope he's feeling better soon. The safety of your family is very important to us, and while we appreciate your mom's confidence in VapoRub, we recommend that you don't use an expired product. Please send us a DM with any questions.— VapoRub (@VapoRub) 1631538767
Another Twitter user chimed in ready to show up Chacon with her bottle of VapoRub from the 1970s.
We\u2019ve still been using this jar from the 70s.pic.twitter.com/RlYTD3gQWe— Amber Oldenburg (@Amber Oldenburg) 1631485398
But that wasn't the only product.
Someone else shared a bottle of Caladryl calamine lotion and another shared a box of Luden's cough drops.
I see your Vicks Vaporub and will raise you an expired bottle of Caladryl calamine lotion that works like a charm. This went from my childhood home, to college with me, and now to adulthood married with kids.pic.twitter.com/6daMgZ4Y8D— Emily L. (@Emily L.) 1631521878
How I slept when that Vicks vapor rub finally hit late at night.pic.twitter.com/rBWXUm80Ej— Jermaine (@Jermaine) 1631531958
After your mom or grandma got finished rubbing you down with that Vicks on your chest and a lil bit under your nose now you sitting on the couch watching the stories and The Price is Right the good old dayspic.twitter.com/E9O30R12F1— DKT (@DKT) 1631531116
Vicks was really trying to do some retroactive damage control.
It's all fun and nostalgic until someone gets VapoRub in their lungs and causes something worse than a cold.
Our product is very safe when used as directed, however, since VapoRub is an oil-based medication, it shouldn't be used under or inside the nose, inside the mouth or swallowed. Any oil-based product can get into the lungs if used improperly. If you have any questions, please DM!— VapoRub (@VapoRub) 1631544804
Since the childhood memories of mothers caring for their children has come flooding back with these tender recollections, another Twitter user is calling for Vicks to bring back their glass jar of VapoRub like we remember it.
Michael Javert said:
"I wish they would bring back the glass jar with tin lid."
"I haven't purchased it since it went away."
"Don't like this newfangled plastic crap they have."
"I want what I remember from my Mother. She died in January."
I'm so sorry for your loss. My mom passed in 2015. She used to put Vicks on my back and damned if it didn't work.— Sondra Harris (@Sondra Harris) 1631565135
Yep, just not the same in a plastic jar! Also I am sorry for the loss of your Mom...— Martha Wall (@Martha Wall) 1631524956
I'm sorry about the loss of your mom. I understand wanting to keep things like that after they're gone. May this bring you fond memories.https://twitter.com/st33lmagn0lia/status/1437333735180054528\u00a0\u2026— \ud83d\udc3e \ud83d\ude37 Mrs. Cellophane \ud83d\udd73\ufe0f\ud83d\udc7b (@\ud83d\udc3e \ud83d\ude37 Mrs. Cellophane \ud83d\udd73\ufe0f\ud83d\udc7b) 1631522397
The people have spoken, and we know Vicks is listening.
Bring back the glass jars!
@cranberrycrow/TikTok
@archvizstudio/TikTok
@kreia_was_right?/TikTok
@tameetok/TikTok
@carrietrodriguezrc/TikTok
@ethanredstrike/TikTok
HuffPost/Facebook
HuffPost/Facebook
HuffPost/Facebook
HuffPost/Facebook
bradbondi/LinkedIn
bradbondi/LinkedIn
HuffPost/Facebook
HuffPost/Facebook
bradbondi/LinkedIn
bradbondi/LinkedIn
HuffPost/Facebook
bradbondi/LinkedIn
bradbondi/LinkedIn
HuffPost/Facebook
HuffPost/Facebook
@daffysaturn2/Bluesky
HuffPost/Facebook
HuffPost/Facebook
@nivula;@kmkelly/Bluesky
HuffPost/Facebook
@ladyvonhammersmark/Bluesky
@GavinNewsom/X
@GavinNewsom/X
@GavinNewsom/X
Eyes What GIF by Bounce
Deep Breath Sigh GIF by Harlem
Work Office GIF by Stepstone