What chemical do you clean the bee crate with?

[charleygoldberg]

Hi, Can someone suggest which cleaner to use that will be safe for my bees. I know that bees are very sensitive to chemicals.
I noticed a rat infestation in my cage. They've been in but unused crates and tainted those crates. Thanks!

[BeeMaster2]

Charley,
Welcome to Beemaster.
Use 10% bleach to clean out the hive boxes.
Jim Altmiller

[Acebird]

I would say hot water.  The inside of a used bee box is water proof due to the propolise the bees coat the box with.

[Ben Framed]

Welcome Charley.  I agree with Beemaster2. Ten percent bleach for your unused crates. The same applies for unused frames 'if present'. These crates are knows as either honey supers, or brood boxes by many beekeepers, depending on the use intended, brood or honey.

Phillip

[The15thMember]

Welcome to Beemaster, Charley!    I've had some trouble with mice in my stored equipment, and I've found that stacking up the boxes nice and tight with a few paradichlorobenzene mothballs inside keeps the mice out.  That could help with rats too in the future.  Just be sure to air out the equipment before you put it back on the hives.   

[TheHoneyPump]

While bleach tackles active bacteria, most molds, other microbes, and virus.  There are some bee-specific ones that it is not good. Especially if thinking of combs. For thorough bee-friendly clean and disinfecting think acids instead. Acids cut through spore husks. The most  easy to get is simple double strength cleaning vinegar; which is acetic acid.  Wipe or spray with ds vinegar. Let stand for 10m-30m. Rinse. Use a stiff brush on woodware. Repeat as many times until you are happy with results.

[Lesgold]

Hi charleygoldberg. Welcome to the forum. Try not to over think it. I wouldn?t use chemicals  in this situation. Just give them a scrub with warm, soapy water and let them dry in full sunlight for a few days. Put the boxes on a hive as required and let the bees do the rest. They will clean the inside of the boxes themselves. 

[Ben Framed]

Les I once watched a video of a fellow doing a cutout in the eve of a home.  The fellow found the remains of a mummified squirrel inside! The amazing bee! 🐝

Phillip

[Ben Framed]

This was not the video that I was searching for but the basic concept is explained. (About 4 minutes)

https://youtu.be/Knx9Apxxx5M

[Jim134]

     I would use 10% bleach water.. I would never use any kind of mothballs again.. My experience is.. Once the smell gets into the beeswax. This does happen quickly. I personally could never get rid of it... Even after it went to a solar wax melter.melter... The way I get rid of this wax... Did trade it for some bee equipment.


                      BEE HAPPY  Jim134   

[Lesgold]

Quite a few years ago I made some bee boxes from Cyprus pine. The timber has really good weathering properties due to its high oil content. The aroma of the oil was very evident on the unsealed inside of the boxes. The bees decided that this was an issue and coated the entire inside of the supers with a thin layer of propolis. Bees are pretty amazing critters.

[Acebird]

In the north they do it to gloss up the surface of the wood so it will condense water vapor on the walls that they need.

[AustinB]

I use a vinegar solution in a spray bottle to clean mine, then rinse and leave in the sun. Seems to work well and the vinegar doesn't bother my bees.