Washing soda

[Tony M]

I've a couple of questions about “washing soda” - sodium carbonate, I think. I didn't use it till I got the bees, and it gets mentioned in several of the beekeeping books. It seems good at getting sticky propolis and similar off the Marigolds, hive tool, etc.

The instructions on the packet talk about 1 cup (or 1/2 cup or a tablespoon) to a pint of water for a strong (or weaker) solution. I’ve also seen “1kg to a gallon” suggested elsewhere.

I can see the need for small quantities after routine hive inspection, etc, and bigger quantities (much bigger, perhaps) for cleaning bits of hive.

Some pretty basic questions come to mind:

What concentration(s) do other folk use for beekeeping purposes?

Is there a best way (most economic/sensible) to use it? (perhaps put some strong solution in a spray bottle for cleaning the gloves, hive tool, whatever - or is it best made up in a bowl or bucket ??)

If I make up a gallon of strong solution as “stock” to use later, will it keep – or does it “go off” for some reason?

Is there anything better/easier to use instead?

Thoughts welcome.

Thanks,

Tony.

 

[Davelin]

Don't think the concentration is critical but I put about two thirds of a packet in 5L of water.
I use an old MAQS container half full of this to keep my hives tools in, this means they are always clean to use when I get to the apiary, a scouring pad in the tub helps for cleaning off anything I need to when there.
I keep this til its looks disgusting brown then replace.

I think the solution will keep indefinitely once made up.

 

[BeeJayBee]

The NBU guidance suggests 1kg to 5 litres of water for all cleaning and sterilisation.

I keep a bucket (ex-fatballs container) of this in the apiary and dump the mixture at the end of the season. It gets to look quite brown and mucky fairly quickly, but it still works.

Here's a link to the NBU "Hive Cleaning and Sterilisation" booklet
http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=423

You can find other booklets and leaflets on this page
http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=167

 

[Tony M]

Thanks to both of you - much appreciated.

I'll make it up at a packet to the gallon in a bucket and hang onto it as long as it keeps working (or till it looks truly awful!).

My doubts arose when I noticed the significant temperature drop when the stuff dissolves - made me wonder whether there might be some short-term reaction going on that meant only a fresh solution provided the necessary cleaning properties. Your evidence strongly suggests that that isn't the case.

Thanks again,

Tony.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Thanks to both of you - much appreciated.

I'll make it up at a packet to the gallon in a bucket and hang onto it as long as it keeps working (or till it looks truly awful!).

My doubts arose when I noticed the significant temperature drop when the stuff dissolves - made me wonder whether there might be some short-term reaction going on that meant only a fresh solution provided the necessary cleaning properties. Your evidence strongly suggests that that isn't the case.

Thanks again,

Tony.

Many things are accompanied by temperature drop when dissolving. We used to dissolve Potassium Nitrate in water to make up liquid feed concentrate for tomato plants (applied via a venturi diluter). The temperature drop was very noticeable and it became uncomfortably cold to handle.

 

[Tony M]

Many things are accompanied by temperature drop when dissolving. We used to dissolve Potassium Nitrate in water to make up liquid feed concentrate for tomato plants (applied via a venturi diluter). The temperature drop was very noticeable and it became uncomfortably cold to handle.

Prompted me to go googling!

The topic gets quite broad - some things cause a temperature drop when dissolved (another notable example being when you dump a load of salt into an ice/water mixture), others cause an increase. I don't intend delving any further into this, 'cos I don't need to know - but it was an interesting learning point!

Cheers, all.

Tony.

 

[alldigging]

I have a bucket just inside the back door with a lid. I drop in hive tools and anything else into it. Then sometime later I get the bucket out and wash the hives tools. I always wear gloves when using washing soda.
Rinse and dry and put back in the tool box, and check levels of folder paper and smoker fuel at the same time.

I have seen it used in the apiary and watched in horror and someone cleaned their hive tool in it and then dripped lots of washing soda water into the brood box.

The RBI has a towel IIRC to dry hive tools after washing them.

 

[Tony M]

Thanks, alldigging - several good points there. I'll bear these in mind as I use the stuff in future.

Cheers,

Tony

 

[Erichalfbee]

I just put the hive tools into the dishwasher

 

[Firefly]

I keep a bucket (ex-fatballs container) of this in the apiary and dump the mixture at the end of the season.

Ha - what a splendid idea we both had Overnight last night I discovered it is big enough to soak a couple of mini feeders too

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The NBU guidance suggests 1kg to 5 litres of water for all cleaning and sterilisation.

Personally I think that's a bit overkill just for soaking hivetools, I think I put about a third of a bag into a half bucketful,

I keep a bucket (ex-fatballs container) of this in the apiary and dump the mixture at the end of the season.
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I have one bucket with hive tool at each apiary,this has also solve the regular problem of me turning up at an apiary with the tool still in the bucket at home!! the 'busiest' bucket may need changing mid season though.

 

[REDWOOD]

Can i just say, what ever container you keep the mixture in, mark it with a scull and crossbones and write words on it like toxic danger and keep it well away from children.
I was talking to somebody last week who drunk from a pop bottle containing a caustic soda mix, forty years later his mishap has come back to haunt him and has to under go massive surgery. COSHH is there to protect life, please use it.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Can i just say, what ever container you keep the mixture in, mark it with a scull and crossbones and write words on it like toxic danger and keep it well away from children.
I was talking to somebody last week who drunk from a pop bottle containing a caustic soda mix, forty years later his mishap has come back to haunt him and has to under go massive surgery. COSHH is there to protect life, please use it.

Darwin?

 

[Firefly]

You probably don't want to drink washing soda (sodium carbonate), but it's not deadly.

You definitely do not want to even touch caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) with bare skin; it is a highly corrosive alkali which, as implied, causes long-term damage