Cleaning an extractor

[Levitt53]

I've got a honey extractor now and was looking at YouTube videos about how to clean them. The first one I came to was not very long but just had it outside with it being cleaned up by the bees. I assume this is an absolute no no. How about if it was along way from the apiary (I have a big garden)? Don't shout at me, I just wondered whether it was ok under any circumstances.

 

[Bee Bumble]

Never put any items out for bees to clean - it spreads disease (and encourages robbing).
Just use the jet setting on your garden hose or a use jet washer.

 

[Millet]

Squirt some washing up liquid in and fill it to about 1/3 with cold water then start spinning it like your life depends on it.. lol.. then repeat in reverse then empty it out and give it a good old rinse with the hose pipe and leave to dry, that is all i do and it works fine.

 

[Levitt53]

Squirt some washing up liquid in and fill it to about 1/3 with cold water then start spinning it like your life depends on it.. lol.. then repeat in reverse then empty it out and give it a good old rinse with the hose pipe and leave to dry, that is all i do and it works fine.

That sounds like a plan. I sort of knew the answer. We're going to try it on Sunday with one super. Quite excited. I've only done it manually so far so looking forwards to being more efficient, hopefully less messy and giving the comb back to the bees.

 

[Poly Hive]

NEVER use hot water. That is disastrous as it spreads the wax and makes for a massive job.

Cold water as above.

PH

 

[Erichalfbee]

I just hose mine out in the garden

 

[colinc]

I just hose mine out in the garden

Me too.


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[jenkinsbrynmair]

me three

 

[oGri]

This year I've been using a jet wash and will never go back!

 

[madasafish]

me three

me four.

 

[colinc]

This year I've been using a jet wash and will never go back!

Actually last time I did use the pressure washer. Quicker than the hose as we have low tap pressures.


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[Anduril]

me four.

Me five

 

[Levitt53]

Ha ha. Ok seems simple enough. Thanks.

 

[enrico]

Just a quick tip, whatever you do, if you remove the spinning frame from the bucket don't lose the ball bearing that is at the bottom of the spinner and usually embeds itself in the base of the spinner or in the tube it fits into. When you first realise it has been sprayed into next year with your power washer is when you start to try and spin your next lot of honey out
E

 

[colinc]

Measure the ballbearing and buy a few spares. They are cheap as and rust if they stay damp in there.


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[Millet]

Measure the ballbearing and buy a few spares. They are cheap as and rust if they stay damp in there.


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The above two posts are good tips, they are that cheap to buy and easy to replace which makes it worth while to just put a new ball bearing in after each extraction session, i have a new one in mine that is slightly bigger than the original one and it works fine and dandy.

 

[Levitt53]

Ok thanks. I need to check it's there as the tube had come out in transit.

 

[Zante]

NEVER use hot water. That is disastrous as it spreads the wax and makes for a massive job.

Cold water as above.

PH

Mind you, hot water is excellent for cleaning wax from a container, but it has to be hotter than the melting point of wax, and you need to let it cool undisturbed. Wax will float to the top of the water and harden there when it cools.