supers and frames - winter cleaning options

[citrus]

so the supers that are taken off and in the garage...

should I scrap off any propolis/wax residue and wash in a caustic solution ?

or just give them a wash off and leave them outside in the cold ?

 

[Millet]

I have been thinking the same but all mine are stacked in the greenhouse with all the wet frames in them... i was going to clean the supers but i do not see the point as all my hives are healthy with no diseases and there is no access into the boxes for anything to introduce diseases.. i did however scrape all the propalis from all the metal runners and the top inside edge of all the super boxes and spare brood boxes.

 

[Beefriendly]

Mine are either stacked as are with comb, or the frames from the heather harvest have the wax melted out ready for a new sheet next spring. You could use steam or treat yourself to an apimelter.
If I was worried about disease I'd burn them.

 

[citrus]

they are all poly nationals and look in good condition ..and also have some nucs and other bits ...


its just that i read that you should use caustic soda solution or week bleach and i did do that last year but was a bit of a faff ...

 

[birdsandbees]

So, if I'm reading that right they have no frames in, just the boxes?

what happened to the frames?

if they are from your bees and you know that they had no issues then as you said just clean up any heavy Propolis and brace comb bits and cover them up, I only clean my poly properly if it's looking grubby with Bleach and washing soda.
all my supers are stacked in the bee shed wrapped in plastic and all the extracted frames were sprayed with Certan before hand as wax moth was found this year in my supers :-(

 

[domino]

I just scrape any gunk off the frames and put them back in the hives next season, they joys of foundationless.

 

[citrus]

So, if I'm reading that right they have no frames in, just the boxes?

what happened to the frames?

if they are from your bees and you know that they had no issues then as you said just clean up any heavy Propolis and brace comb bits and cover them up, I only clean my poly properly if it's looking grubby with Bleach and washing soda.
all my supers are stacked in the bee shed wrapped in plastic and all the extracted frames were sprayed with Certan before hand as wax moth was found this year in my supers :-(

yeah frames been certan'd and looking good ... but was going to clean the boxes if needed ...

the wooden frames have been cleaned of the wax and are outside in the rain waiting until i get round to add new foundation in the new year

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

so the supers that are taken off and in the garage...

should I scrap off any propolis/wax residue and wash in a caustic solution ?

or just give them a wash off and leave them outside in the cold ?

No need to wash at all - certainly not in caustic soda. - if you are storing the frames 'wet' just seal them all up and leave in a cold but sheltered place. In the cold is better whether they are stored wet, or you have gone through the faff of putting them back for 'the bees to clean' Keeping them in the cold discourages wax moth, if you want to scrape off any brace comb, fair enough, otherwise, just leave for the bees to sort out in the spring.

 

[Beefriendly]

its just that i read that you should use caustic soda solution or week bleach and i did do that last year but was a bit of a faff ...

Exactly..

 

[citrus]

Exactly..

nice one ... will not be faffing this year then