Topic: Cleaning Plant Pots

[The Amateurs]

Hi, 
This may be a daft question but just wanted to get some advice, what's the best thing to clean plastic pots with before I use them again, is water and washing up liquid ok or so I need to use a steriliser (ie Milton) too?

Thanks

[debster]

i was recommended to use jeyes fluid particularly after the blight problem we had last year with the tomatoes

[kt.]

Usually I would use Jeyes fluid as mentioned above.  Time was against me this past few months so none of mine have been cleaned for this year.  :-[   They are all full of stuff now though.

[davyw1]

I go along with the Jeyes fluid and one of those long handled washing up brushes what the wife bought me for xmas with the matching rubber gloves.

[debster]

that davyw1 i would pay to see  ;D

[aromatic]

 :-\ I have heard that they should be soaked in a container of sterilizing solution overnight and then rinsed in some warm water and left to dry off.

                                         

[markfield rover]

Have been known to use dishwasher.

[davyw1]

Have been known to use dishwasher.

I AM THE DISHWASHER

[ACE]

Get a cheap steamer, I bet you already have one, Totally useles for what they were sold for and found at every car boot sale all over the country. But great for sterilising pots

[redimp]

I don't bother.

There you go, you could fill and entire GW just with pot cleaning - or not.

[saddad]

I'm with you on that one Redclanger...
 :-[

[Eristic]

I use washing-up liquid ad warm water for pots for seed sowing but don't bother cleaning pots for potting on. Just not enough hours in the day for that.

[chappy]

Hmm, I use soapy water with some bleach added.

Is that bad?

[Tee Gee]

I use cold bleach!

[Barnowl]

For plastic pots I use washing up liquid with vinegar on seed pots but just rinse out the potting on sizes and put them in the sun to dry - there isn't much subsoil stuff that can withstand a good dose of UV.

I use Citrox or Jeyes fluid for earthenware pots since I think their porosity means they are more capable of harbouring nasties.

[Ishard]

Step 1; Fill the bath with cold water

Step 2; Add jeyes fluid

Step 3; Place the pots in the bath and leave to soak overnight  ;)

Step 4; Pull the plug out of the bath and remove pots when dry

Step 5; Get someone else to clean the bath.  ;D