Cleaning & Sanitizing
Hello! Some members have requested ideas for cleaning supplies.
For buckets:
We use regular Dawn dish soap (a small amount) to wash our buckets. We do this “camping” style. Pull out your buckets and begin the the cleanest looking ones. Add a couple drops of dawn and a little water. Scrub the bucket down and pour the water into the next one. Repeat the process until you have scrubbed all the buckets. Rinse with more water and stack upside down in a pyramid to dry. •Make sure your scrubbing brush is only used for cleaning flower buckets and not for scrubbing compost buckets or other surfaces. It should be dedicated. You can periodically run the brush through your dishwasher.
For pruners and snips:
We clean these smaller hand held tools with a bleach water dip or hand sanitizing spray when we’re moving between plants that may be at risk for transferring disease between them. For general cleaning, you can do the bleach dip or run your small tools through the dishwasher on a hot temp/sanitizing setting at the end of the day.
For pots, cell trays, and crates:
We recommend a dunk in diluted Zerotol. You can use a large plastic bin/tote. Zerotol is a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaner. There are different kinds of Zerotol with different instructions for dilution. Read the instructions and follow the safe use and PPE recommendations. Zerotol can also be used for cleaning greenhouse surfaces like benches, and floors if necessary to ward off pests and disease. Again, follow all instructions as outlined by the manufacturer.
We use Zerotol HC
Dilution rates for cleaning pots, trays, crates, and greenhouse surfaces from our the Zerotol HC label:
Use 1:150 or 0.85 fl. oz. of ZeroTol HC per gallon of water for all non-porous surfaces that have been pre-cleaned with water. Apply solution with mop, sponge, power sprayer or fogger to thoroughly wet all surfaces. Cutting tools may be soaked to ensure complete coverage. Allow to remain wet with solution for one (1) minute. Allow items and/or surfaces to air dry. Do not rinse.
To view the full label, click here.
For Hydrophnic Bulb Trays:
For hydroponic bulb trays we do a nice deep clean with a pressure washer in the summer time and a diluted spray with Zerotol. We use a little elbow grease with a narrow brush from the hardware store and our homemade steam-sterilizer that is shared here in the Pro Library in the winter between successions. Follow with a spray of diluted Zerotol for extra peace of mind.
I hope these methods are helpful. Keep the topic suggestions coming!
