Does anyone use alcohol to remove propolis?

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I tried using sodium carbonate to clean prop off a poly nuc. box, with very little success. I do not want to use sodium hydroxide.

Rusty at HoneyBeeSuite talks about using alcohol (ethyl or isopropyl). Does anyone here have any experience of that? As the season winds down, my biggest challenge is going to be poly boxes.

 

[enrico]

I only use alcohol to clear propolis when it is in the back of my throat!

 

[drex]

Alcohol is good solvent for propolis. Never used it on the hive though. Meths works and is cheapest

 

[pargyle]

I use propolis dissolved in meths for 'varnishing' the inside of my timber hives ... saves the bees doing it and gives the 'new' hive a lovely 'old' hive smell.

 

[oliver90owner]

Meths is alcohol.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Yes, but Isopropyl (surgical spirits)was metioned by the OP

 

[BeeJayBee]

I'm fairly sure that Rusty uses wooden hives. Check carefully before using chemical solvents on your polystyrene hives. It may work as you hope it will, it may not.

 

[Fraise]

Meths is alcohol.

Yes but not the sort I drink?

 

[drex]

Meths is alcohol.

Yes, I know. That is why I mentioned it. Most readily available form and cheapest.

 

[oliver90owner]

yes, I know

But there are a lot out there that might think meths is not (almost) the same as alcohol (denatured, to avoid people drinking it). White spirit may well work as well.

RAB

 

[Finman]

.
Alcohol is expencive cleaning material, and it is not healthy to hands. It evaporates quickly.

Trying abandons good method and then he wants to use something very odd.

Actually poly hive gathers propolis very little.

 

[aseeryl]

Meths is about 90% ethanol and about 10% methanol with additives to make it taste nasty. Methanol is very poisonous nasty hangover and permanent damage possible. OK solvent and easier to get and much cheaper than ethanol.