Cleaning Plastic Equipment

[contactme_11]

I recently acquired a lot of plastic frames of unknown origin. I would like to sanitize them just in case. What would you do? I figure my choices are to powerwash them or soak them in some sort of cleaner (maybe strong bleach and water?). What would you do? Because they didn't cost me anything I will use them, otherwise I would never go with plastic.

[danno]

This may help you.   

http://www.apimondia.org/apiacta/articles/2003/von_der_Ohe_1.pdf

[contactme_11]

That was interesting but it didn't say anything about how to clean equipment.

This may help you.   

http://www.apimondia.org/apiacta/articles/2003/von_der_Ohe_1.pdf

[Joelel]

I recently acquired a lot of plastic frames of unknown origin. I would like to sanitize them just in case. What would you do? I figure my choices are to powerwash them or soak them in some sort of cleaner (maybe strong bleach and water?). What would you do? Because they didn't cost me anything I will use them, otherwise I would never go with plastic.

If they never been in a hive,i don't know if i would worry about it. I know they spray bees wax on plastic frames at the factory so bees will except them. They also suggest spraying them with sugar water and let dry before putting in hives. I have read many places ,don't use used equipment. Foulbrood stays alive for years i hear.

[contactme_11]

Foulbrood stays alive for years i hear.

That's why I want to clean it. Just in case.

[Kathyp]

bleach is your best bet.  there isn't  much that bleach doesn't kill.  you don't even really need to soak it, just make sure that the bleach solution gets to all parts and then air dry.  rinse later and allow to dry in the sun if you can.  i have read mixed reports on bleach and foulbrood, but at the least, you'll kill anything else that might be on there.  for being inhospitable to bacteria and fungus, plastic has wood beat.. at least before it's covered with wax.

[Joelel]

Foulbrood stays alive for years i hear.

That's why I want to clean it. Just in case.

I read bleach is good for cleaning but it didn't say it's good for plastic frames.I'm thinking that they might hold the smell and the bees may not like it.

[contactme_11]

I think I'm going to try it. I'm just going to clean the frames with it and leave them outside until I use them next spring. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

I read bleach is good for cleaning but it didn't say it's good for plastic frames.I'm thinking that they might hold the smell and the bees may not like it.

[Kathyp]

be careful about leaving them out.  plastic degrades.  i dry things in the sun because it is also a good disinfectant, but sunlight is hard on things for to long.

[Finski]

.
Lye=caustic soda is the best. Make hot about 60C  water and 3% lye.
The heat loosens wax and lye turn wax to soap.

This stuff NaOH  is same what our mothers used when they made " white loundring".
Lye dilutes fat and kill all mikro organism.

Lye is used in food factories too to clean pipes and surfaces.

Lye does not smell when you rinse the frames.

I cook my old wooden frames in 3% lye and then rinse them.
I may use acetic acid or oxalic axic to neuralize alkalic effect that surfaces are not slippy any more.


If you use very hot water, it just loosens wax better from plastic.

You may try with one piece how it stands hot water..

I found that acid bog mud netralize well the lye residuals.