Thymol for cleaning

[jezd]

I know that thymol placed in syrup helps to keep the mold off (being am anti-fungicide), but can it be used in a larger scale for cleaning mold off feeding buckets/wax frames? if soaked will the thymol kill mold growth?

JD

 

[Finman]

.
Surely not. You cannot control yhe amount of thymol which bees get.

In that maning Vikon S is normal stuff to use and accepted.

It works like hydrogen peroxide and leave no resiaduals

http://www2.dupont.com/DAHS_EMEA/en_GB/products/disinfectants/virkon_s/index.html

 

[Frisbee]

The fumes from it would be dreadful for the person wielding the scrubbing brush

Mould will only grow if it has something to feed on, so it grows nicely on the side of a feeder as the volume of liquid feed goes down, but a good wash in hot soapy water will remove it, bleach added is helpful. Mould will penetrate wood and show despite cleaning as a black mark, never to be removed.

The best cure for mould is to keep things clean so it never has a chance to take hold...............easily said, but I can assure you I'm not perfect, I'm a quick learner though and my feeders went away cleaned as soon as finished with this last season and all wet supers went to the bees to be cleaned. A small amount on supers will be cleaned off by the bees, but I don't know if it is recommended practice.

Frisbee

 

[Finman]

. A small amount on supers will be cleaned off by the bees, but I don't know if it is recommended practice.

Frisbee

I do the same. If comb is spoiled by mould, bees bite cells down and draw new cells.

 

[Hombre]

If you have a pair of Marigolds that you used during Apiguard treatments (from a big bucket). then you will know just how pervasive and long lasting the smell of thymol can be.

Similarly you don't want to taint any honey which might have a detrimental affect on your honey sales.

 

[victor meldrew]

If you have a pair of Marigolds that you used during Apiguard treatments (from a big bucket). then you will know just how pervasive and long lasting the smell of thymol can be.

Similarly you don't want to taint any honey which might have a detrimental affect on your honey sales.

Similarly I have some electronic scales with a clear plastic lid that doubles as a tray! after weighing thymol crystals in said tray ,I found they had etched the surface of the plastic (in seconds) , it still stinks of thymol ,months later !
Lesson learned, I'll fold a paper envelope for use as a barrier 'twixt tray and thymol in future .

John Wilkinson