Bleach to sterilise equipment?

[Zante]

I'm used to using sodium hypochlorite to sterilise the water for my plankton culture. Not the "normal" store bought bleach, but a 15% solution I get from lab suppliers. 1ml per litre of water is enough to kill anything.

Before I split the cultures I use a solution of sodium thiosulphate to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. Now I have sterile water that is perfectly safe.

Is there a good reason not to do the same with beekeeping equipment, except maybe the smell?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Checkthe NBU website - it does give the correct concentration hypochlorite you should use

 

[theeggman]

I'm used to using sodium hypochlorite to sterilise the water for my plankton culture. Not the "normal" store bought bleach, but a 15% solution I get from lab suppliers. 1ml per litre of water is enough to kill anything.

Before I split the cultures I use a solution of sodium thiosulphate to neutralise the sodium hypochlorite. Now I have sterile water that is perfectly safe.

Is there a good reason not to do the same with beekeeping equipment, except maybe the smell?

If you can get to a farm suppliers you may find 'dairy hypochlorite' is a cheaper option, normally about 11% I think. Mind you there aren't many farms in London.

 

[Zante]

Checkthe NBU website - it does give the correct concentration hypochlorite you should use

Do you have a direct link?
I tried the search on their site but it returned nothing and didn't see anything that may contain that information.

Also, would those figures be with or without the use of sodium thiosulphate?
Sodium hypochlorite evaporates over time, so they may be considering that the user will just let it evaporate instead of outright neutralising it.

 

[Zante]

If you can get to a farm suppliers you may find 'dairy hypochlorite' is a cheaper option, normally about 11% I think. Mind you there aren't many farms in London.

<shrug>
With the quantities I'd be using I doubt the difference would amount to the price of a pizza over a year...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If you can get to a farm suppliers you may find 'dairy hypochlorite' is a cheaper option, normally about 11% I think. Mind you there aren't many farms in London.

About a tenner for 20 litres

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Do you have a direct link?
I tried the search on their site but it returned nothing and didn't see anything that may contain that information.

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?sectionid=26

It gives a link to a PDF on hive sterilization

 

[B+.]

It gives a link to a PDF on hive sterilization

From memory, I believe the recommended strength is a 5% sodium hypochlorite solution

 

[Zante]

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?sectionid=26

It gives a link to a PDF on hive sterilization

Thank you, it was right under my nose!

Right, so according to that document I should dilute the solution I use for my cultures (15%) 30 times, which is more than I do for the culture water, but still quite good.

 

[Zante]

About a tenner for 20 litres

Where I buy it I pay usually £1.20 per litre, but it's a bit more concentrated, and it includes delivery, which is very handy not having a car.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Right, so according to that document I should dilute the solution I use for my cultures (15%) 30 times, which is more than I do for the culture water, but still quite good.

As long as the solution isn't too weak it doesn't matter too much.

Bleach is for sterilising poly and plastic components, not wood. What hives do you use?

 

[Zante]

As long as the solution isn't too weak it doesn't matter too much.

Bleach is for sterilising poly and plastic components, not wood. What hives do you use?

I was thinking of using it to sterilise hive tools, plastic feeders, buckets, and similar equipment rather than the hives themselves or the frames.

When I get them they'll be wood 14x12 nationals, and yes, the blowtorch will be used on them.

 

[BeeJayBee]

You don't need to use bleach on hive tools etc, keep a bucket of washing soda solution in your apiary.

Feeders, honey buckets etc are best washed in the kitchen, and rinsed thoroughly with clean water before using. You don't want to taint the contents.

When you get your hives add the information to your forum profile, it'll save having to ask.

 

[Zante]

You don't need to use bleach on hive tools etc, keep a bucket of washing soda solution in your apiary.

I understand, it's just that I already have everything bleach-wise, that is all.
Also the apiary will be my garden (barring annoying neighbours), so getting the bleach and thiosulphate solution will definitely not be a problem.

Feeders, honey buckets etc are best washed in the kitchen, and rinsed thoroughly with clean water before using. You don't want to taint the contents.

Fair enough. As I said, I use the bleach for the plankton cultures, and that water is then poured in my reef aquarium. I am confident that no taint remains, but if a good wash is enough no point in going the extra mile for no additional benefit.

When you get your hives add the information to your forum profile, it'll save having to ask.

Trust me, I can't wait
but I have quite a bit of learning to do before I can have my own.

 

[BeeJayBee]

You are better following NBU advice and use washing soda for cleaning your equipment. Rinse afterwards if you want to.

Washing soda is only about £1 a packet from the supermarket. A packet will last ages, and it won't oxidise when in solution so you can leave a bucket in the apiary for a few weeks. It will still work when discoloured. You can soak a smoker in it to get rid of tar and so on.

Washing soda solution will clean off propolis, bleach won't unless it's straight out of the container. A strong washing soda solution can remove traces of wax, bleach won't. I've tried with both poly and plastic hives.

If you store a bleach solution in a bucket you won't have a bleach solution after a couple of hours because it oxidises. Bleach is for killing stubborn pathogens, such as foulbrood spores, and involves soaking boxes etc for 20 minutes.

If you want to sterilize honey buckets, feeders and so on, then use Milton or something similar - something intended for use on food grade plastics.

 

[Zante]

Fair enough, makes sense.

I suppose I'm overthinking it, also I imagine there is a reason why beekeepers still use washing soda after experimenting with other stuff, I'm sure I'm not the first one who thought about alternatives.

 

[misterbee82]

Maybe my philosophy will infact change, but for now my thought process is if you wouldn't want it in your food or honey, you shouldn't clean with it or feed it to the bees.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Maybe my philosophy will infact change, but for now my thought process is if you wouldn't want it in your food or honey, you shouldn't clean with it or feed it to the bees.

I wouldn't want washing up liquid in my food but I still use it to clean my dishes.

 

[rje66]

Anyone got a supplier that I could get a litre of acetic 80% acid??
Thankd

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Anyone got a supplier that I could get a litre of acetic 80% acid??
Thankd

Try fleabay