I Had to Wash My Trays in BLEACH! - (This Is Why)

[@MIgardener]

Hey I know I said Bacterium spores at 1:00 and I meant colonies. Bacteria are counted in CFU (colony forming units) , whereas fungi are counted in spores. Sorry for the confusion I caused!

[@roonwit7307]

Also, bleach is basic, not acidic. 🙂

[@applesauceisevil]

@@roonwit7307 I wanted to say the same thing.

[@TheSlothFather]

Just an fyi, splashless bleach isn't recommended for sanitization because it's got a lower concentration of actual bleach in it compared to standard disinfecting bleach. So you might want to double check to make sure you're actually disinfecting it and not just thinking you did because you used a "bleach".

[@johndoh5182]

Yup. I avoid that stuff since I use bleach for different reasons, and it's more about the fact I use it as a cleaner for different tasks.

[@elizaom]

I prefer 'Quat Tabs' Quat sanitizer is a go-to in food service, and the tablet form makes it easy to make sure you're getting the results without over doing it. All the bleach, alcohol, iodine, etc that you buy can have different concentrations, and just eyeballing it can lead to different results. The quat tabs come with a water ratio per tablet. I know I can use 10 tablets in a 5 gallon bucket to sanitize my trays and have them 'food contact safe' to eat off of after air drying. Just another suggestion, thanks for all your content!

[@cantseetheforestforthetree9673]

To each their own, but I personally prefer viewing the diseases as selection pressures that help to ensure that, by the time I am saving seed from my plants, I am saving from the hardiest, most resilient, and locally adapted plants possible.

[@johndoh5182]

You're talking about a VERY unnatural environment as soon as you put a seed into pots. The microbiome isn't the same as the outside soil, it's easy to kill off that microbiome and for this reason, even from professional growers they more often than not don't treat seed starting in a greenhouse in trays like they would an outside plot, more often than not wanting to start with sterile growing medium like peat, coco-coir, straight vermiculite (once again just for the seed starting), and then once you get true leaves turn immediately to fertilizer, where now you have to differentiate between growing to meet "organic" certification or having the flexibility to do what they feel works best. Often it's synthetics that works the best, and is far less expensive so a person with a very large setup saves a lot of money using synthetics. If they want to switch to organic once plants are moved outdoors that's a pretty good system that works well and costs less, but you can't get the organic cert. that way Sure you can subject them to whatever you want to and as long as you're saving seed for yourself that's fine. Yes there is some merit to what you're doing, but if you're going to subject seedlings to disease right off the bat in an unnatural environment, those seedlings don't have the natural environment to help them deal with the disease, as opposed to planting seed outdoors where if the environment is suited to what you're growing, there are micro-organisms that help the plant fight the disease. In which case you don't need to sterilize trays and cells because you planted straight into the ground and NOW that whole thing of disease pressure and saving seed from the best plants makes more sense AND is more representative of growing the most locally adapted plants

[@marcelledotson9498]

Something that makes the job easier is using a bottle/glass scrub brush or baby bottle brush, again from the Dollar tree.

[@admirerofcreativity5295]

Very important!!! My seedling survival was noticably better once I started cleaning my seed starting stuff!!!

[@MIgardener]

It really does make a difference!

[@IAmHumanJake]

Just to let everyone know We all just watched a video of Luke washing stuff. Very exciting stuff 😂 😁

[@eph51912]

great video! very minor nit pick: bleach is basic, not acidic but it does the same thing you said happens if you were using an acid. ph range is out of what microbes can live in. thanks for sharing this vid! also love bootstrap farmer as well as a new company called epic. both are high quality trays.

[@MIgardener]

Appreciate you pointing that out! I’ll make sure I get that right next time! It’s always so confusing remembering what is what. It’s been a long time since high school chemistry.

[@sueannspencer6689]

I’ve cleaned my trays first. Made sure all the dirt was gone from the surface. Then I put them in the dishwasher top shelf. ❤

[@zannasfoto]

I find it kind of relaxing to wash everything and begin the season clean 😊 a toothbrush, bottle brush, a regular brush for dishes, a nice podcast and towels to stack everything on... 😊

[@johndoh5182]

Use sprayer to blast everything out of trays cells, or almost everything. Then fill up a tub like he did, but instead of scrubbing, just soak stuff for a couple hours in bleach water, then rinse softly, then blast again, then soak in clean fresh water only, once again for a couple hours. No scrubbing needed, everything will be perfectly clean. Nothing like the power of water.

[@zannasfoto]

I have a bit of a problem with space since I live in a small apartment 😂 in my off grid cabin I only have ice cold water so I wash everything at home. But I usually let it soak in the sink in really hot water for an hour or so, and there's not a lot of scrubbing actually. 😊 ​@@johndoh5182

[@segapena5033]

You know what I don't understand. Ever since I got into ornamental gardening/fruit tree growing 6 years ago there has always been this emphasis from gardening experts and KZbinrs with constantly sanitizing everything. Yet my dad is 66 and has been working on peach and plum farms here in the California central valley for well over 40 years. He not only worked the harvests but also the tree maintenance which included pruning in the winter. I asked him if they sanitize and clean their tools and loppers. He was like "nope". I've never really cleaned or sanitized my loppers or any pruning tools and I've used them with a bunch of different plants in my yard. I never spread or had anything die of diseases. I would also reuse old pots with still crusty soil from the previous plant still inside. Never washed or sanitized it. I've also reused soil from a potted tree that I lost in the heat or cold. Never spread any diseases. Is all the constant and focus on sanitizing really necessary? Is it a climate thing because in CA we are pretty dry during the growing season with very very low humidity in the teens and 20s.

[@michellebrady9499]

Possibly this is good advice for home gardeners. A well established farm has already conquered most diseases and pests. Home gardeners who are getting random stuff from different places are exposed to more potential hazards. I purchased new garden dirt from a nursery to update my soil. Everything was stunted and died. The things I planted in my pots thrived with my old dirt. You just never know sometimes. I am in MI also Our soil is mostly moist all the time with humid climate lots of spores and things to grow compared to a dry climate imo it makes a big difference.

[@commonlaw5400]

Bootstrap Farmer seed starting trays, pots and humidity domes are very high quality products. I like the different colors offered. If you wash the trays soon after you're finished with them the soil will not stain the pretty colors.

[@angiep8708]

Can we do a video on tips for cleaning grow bags?

[@ladenamichaud9804]

Can you put them through the washer?

[@Lumberperson]

You can probably just spray them with hydrogen peroxide. I’ve heard that diluted peroxide doesn’t harm plants, you could look into it.

[@anniesadventures5133]

Thanks for sharing! I'm a rather experienced gardener, and it never fails- You always teach me something new.

[@lydwardtenticles283]

I think a $2 Walmart brand baby bottle brush would work wonders on those containers!

[@MIgardener]

I’ll have to try that!

[@theresagoyette1235]

I was just thinking that, as we're transitioning away from sippy cups in our house. Now I know what to do with the "old" bottle brush before I pitch it!

[@TomTerrific]

I usually clean the plastic first in my sink to get it fairly clean to start. It's nice to have a sink in the basement.

[@maramakesjournals2319]

Great advice. The best tool I ever used for cleaning pots is the sponge fingers on the end of a stick thingee. There are scrubby surfaces on the ends of the “fingers.” Why buy a toothbrush? When you replace your toothbrush, but the old one in the dishwasher. I use toothbrushes for cleaning all the time. They work great on hummingbird feeders. 💜💜💜

[@janiecehamblen933]

Or use last years tooth brush. I use them for all kinds of things. Some 9f us do not have dishwashers and would have to clean by hand. Bought Bootstrap Farmer trays and cups and they are nice!

[@patriciacostales7919]

Thank you. I had washed with hot water dawn in the sink thinking that was enough. Fortunately I switched over to Bootstrap so I’ll be redoing them in the dishwasher this afternoon.

[@pattipate9732]

How and how often would you suggest cleaning/sterilizing grow bags?

[@e.c.5994]

I've done this for years, usually with the random cheapo pots I got from buying other seedlings through the year. Last year, I trialed Sili Seedlings' silicone pots, and fell in love with them for the same reason - you can just rinse them and throw them in the dishwasher to sanitize. I don't know that I'll 100% grow only in their pots, because I like to give some plants away so I use cheapo pots for that, but they worked really well and were super easy to clean. The silicone material makes it super easy to get seedlings out without damaging the roots. Also, you can write on them in dry erase and it stays until you wipe it off with a little bit of rubbing alcohol.

[@michelezimmer3629]

Thanks for the tip. I've had some seedling die-off last season and will definitely try your tray-cleaning hack. Just wanted to mention that, in addition to sterilized trays, I use seed-starting mix that is also soiless and sterile, thus minimizing the risk of any kooties infecting my seedlings. Happy gardening.👍

[@beverlyr8152]

I have Bootstrap Farmer sets. I hose all debris off outside, then put the little pots and trays in dishwasher. They come out like new. I suppose you could put some bleach in washer too.

[@tamarahowell446]

Thank you. I have had issues with damping off. I will definitely do this this year

[@user-rr9xi6ot4k]

Thanks for the info. I'm an apartment gardener. I'll just spray, scrub, let bleach sit and then rinse. Hope that works, although I've never had a problem with seedlings wilting, dying, etc.

[@joyfulparadise]

Aw man I wish i saw this video before i started 3 trays. Oh well. The toothbrush was ingenious! But instead of using the big blocky brush to clean the pots, I think a nice stiff bottle brush would be excellent to use. Thanks Luke for all your informative videos.

[@miaensuacre]

Hey Luke, I was watching another channel this morning. He was talking about seeds companies. He did not mention MIG. You should be proud!!! Many of us put a word on your behalf. Then I saw your comment as well... happy new year! Grow big!!!

[@HardyGardening]

i was not aware this was so important thank you! ill be cleaning my trays from now on! i love your channel! been watching for years on my other channel youve taught me so much! just started my own channel so hopefully i can help some new growers too! ❤

[@michellehughes8661]

Thanks for showing us your way of tidying up seed starting trays, Luke! 😊

[@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t]

I don't always find this to be necessary, and I don't want to keep plants that are exceptionally vulnerable to infection. There's no protecting them from these things once they're outside, and it's more a matter of harmful vs. beneficial fungi in the soil. I use my own compost as starting mix, and I find it helps to let the beneficial microbes outcompete everything else. I first noticed this issue when I was using "sterile" store bought mix in clean trays, and the house mold colonized the mix and killed my seedlings. The next time, I used compost with native fungi and noticed inkcaps pinning in the soil when it got too damp, and the plants survived.

[@francestaylor9156]

I’m with you. I use sifted homemade potting mix that I make with homemade compost. Just have to run the fan on the seedlings and not overwater. I have so many seedlings, I have to give them away to neighbors and family.

[@francestaylor9156]

If you run a fan, you won’t get the ink caps either.

[@MK-ti2oo]

I personally have never found the time investment of washing all my seed starting equipment to be worth it in terms of losing plants if i don't. If i had particular viral wilts or similar, i might do that tray specifically but I've found that if you're going to lose to dampening off, it's still going to happen because you probably are keeping that soil surface too wet and the bacteria are in the soil. Most disease other than that isn't happening until my plants are older and transplanted outside, not at the seedling stage while they're still in a pot. I do see myself washing them if there's algae growth etc that i just don't want to look at lol.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t]

This. I don't want to keep plants that are overly vulnerable to disease, and there's no protecting them from these things once they're transplanted outside. I've found that most are hardy enough to survive as long as I don't let the soil get too damp.

[@cantseetheforestforthetree9673]

@@MK-ti2oo it is especially valuable to allow the susceptible plants to succumb when one saves their own seed as this ensures that vulnerable traits aren’t being selected for and carried on into subsequent generations.

[@jackieobrien9351]

I rinse all mine with soap and water, as soon as I I’m done using them, The odd one may needed scrubbing. I don’t wait till fall or spring.

[@WonderintheGreenhouse]

This is the way!

[@kknapp6323]

Thanks!

[@AddieAllen-ep2mk]

Thank you as always for your informative videos. Ive been watching for yrs now. I know you said bootstrap farmer has the trays that can be dishwasher safe. Just wanted to mention that Burpee Superseed trays are also topshelf dishwasher safe 😊

[@bigestfan7]

A bottle brush would work nicely😎

[@MIgardener]

You’re right! A bottle brush is perfect for the small spaces.

[@victorialg1270]

At the end of season i power spray off my seedling equipment and let then sun dry. Im usually more worried about bacterial or fungal spores coming in with new soil or compost.

[@tthappyrock368]

Thank you for the reminder about sterilizing the trays and cells! Both those and the seed starting medium should be sterilized. Bought most of my seeds from you last month. I can't wait to get planting!

[@bonniewilson7392]

How do you clean the green fungus growth ( or whatever it is called ) off of grow bags , like the ones to the side of you ? Or does it affect what you are growing ? Thanks ! We love your shows ❣️

[@jgold711]

Take them to the laundromat and clean with bleach and detergent on hot setting and extra rinse cycle. Works like a charm.

[@francestaylor9156]

You could probably just let it dry in the hot Sun one day and then remove it. I don’t think it affects what I’m growing. Probably just needs to be turned. I have moss growing on the N side of my bags. Just need to turn it around to get some sunshine in the summers.

[@lesliefox2272]

Luke do you sanitize your grow bags as well. I just empty brush them and store them.

[@MIgardener]

I don’t typically. I just grow season to season.

[@2SkyesMama]

Thanks so much for this instruction. I’ll be sure to do this once the weather warms up.

[@MIgardener]

I hope it helps you keep your trays healthy and ready for a great growing season!

[@deesfineart]

Omg I never even considered the dishwasher! Thank you for the tip. I do have those sturdy trays and cells.

[@MIgardener]

You’re welcome! They come out so clean.

[@junewrogg6137]

Great advice. I always bleach scrub all pots, seed starting trays, tools, gloves..... Before I pack them away in the fall. I love starting out fresh is spring. Boot strap products are awesome. I seen the grow bags in background, I bleach all giant grow pots....I'm wandering what you do about the bags? I see green on them. THANKS

[@seanrich1367]

Thanks for sharing. I'll have to disagree. While not a bad idea, the critters are in the soil anyway. Cleaning the containers won't do much after you add the grow material. In all my years it's never made any difference.

[@MIgardener]

I’m glad you have good results. This is just a method I use to be cautious.

[@TheDaneofCoosCounty]

Imo that’s like saying “cleaning/disinfecting my utensils doesn’t stop plants from becoming infected with bacteria that can kill the plant” simply because it does. While it might not STOP the mentioned bacteria entirely, it DOES help by getting rid of strong, built up colonies residing on your containers vs leaving them alone to keep growing stronger and making it almost guaranteed to die off your seedlings vs being a possibility of it happening

[@brianseybert192]

Several years ago my onions had a fungus that almost totally wiped them out, ever since I rinse my trays, etc in the cheapest bleach I can find, so far so good.

[@albinolozano3582]

Bleach isn’t acidic, it’s actually the opposite, it’s basic… but yes, it makes surfaces inhospitable for bacterial and fungal life.

[@grantkohler7612]

Much like doing the dishes, I find cleaning the starting trays right after use to be easier than waiting a period for it to crust over. Maybe this is personal preference on my part. It is always good to have good cleaning practices but it won't help prevent the bio-gunk that comes with your potting soil. I wonder how many gardener's today still use beer (or yeasted water) as a soil conditioner & mildew preventative.

[@benjaminl.dallaire9890]

For cleaning seed cell trays I find a bottle brush very effective. I have se real different sizes depending on the size if the cell. A toothbrush takes way longer. And I rinse well.

Non-splash bleach is not recommended for sanitization. Read the fine print. There is a "disinfecting" formula that is not non-splash.You want to be sure the bottle says Disinfecting Bleach on it.

[@Warrior-In-the-Garden]

Timely video. I was just cleaning up my outdoor area and collecting up everything in preparation for seed starting. Will do the bleach too. Do you need to rinse? Guess the foot of snow isn't enough. 😂

[@munchkyn56]

I converted to Bootstrap Farmer trays and pots a couple of years ago... love 'em! Washing them in the dishwasher is a game changer for me--what a revelation!!! Dumb question... do you use dishwasher detergent or will the hot wash & dry be enough to sanitize the pots and trays?

[@patriciamay638]

Soap doesn't sterilize. It helps remove grease or other non water soluble organics. So......heat will sterilize.

[@MIgardener]

I just use hot water in mine. No detergent needed.

[@munchkyn56]

@@MIgardener Cool. Thanks, Luke!

[@Lauralamontanaro]

Love the sound effects 😅😅😅 question, if I just leave the pots in there to soak (my garden is much smaller than yours. Lol) or do I have to scrub? Yes, I'm lazy 😂😂

[@tracyl5070]

Seems to me soaking should work just as well as scrubbing.

[@michellehughes8661]

The longer you let them soak in a bleach soln. (depending upon the conc. of sodium hypochlorite), the more the plastic will degrade.

[@mneraasen224]

I try to rinse mine off at the end of season. Before I start seeds I wash them in my bathtub😂 I just need more elbow room🙌🏼😂 I have bootstrap farmer pastel colored pots, I love them. You just reminded me I need to order some larger ones🙌🏼💖

[@g00fysmiley]

for larger pots I have a garden toilet brush, gets all the sides in the larger pots quicker. Also you can use Star San as its a no rinse sanitizer usually used in brewing. soak the item for 2-3 min, scrub if you wish then let it air dry. I do scrub to make them look better, but the star san will have killed everything.

[@rugratsonthecarpet]

Should you somehow treat your large outdoor grow bags and plastic containers as well.

[@cathyd.5408]

Recently learned that a lot of black plastic is recycled from electronics and the plastic contains bromine, which is not good for us to eat and can leach out of plastic. Are these trays made from recycled black plastic?

[@alessandracocchiararo6144]

Mine are currently covered in snow outside and im like, euhhhh😅 i'll have to spend a whole day. Thanks for the tips!

[@MIgardener]

I'm so glad I could help!

[@heatherpfeil2939]

Am I the only one who thought damping off was just caused by overwatering? I haven’t sanitized my trays but will this year!

[@francestaylor9156]

It’s caused by overwatering and lack of air movement. A fan will help kill any mold/fungi on your seedlings. It’s like that in the garden too. On really humid still days, my garden grows lots of mushrooms lol.

[@EdMerritt-wb3yd]

I use a baby bottle brush on my containers. Works great and no handle in the way.

[@staythecourse2927]

I am curious about non-plastic options. Is it advisable to treat terracotta pots in same way? Or does some of the bleach solution get absorbed & remains in the terracotta? Or does all of it gas off? ( I think that's the term)

[@JeanneKinland]

I always clean my trays in the fall before I put them away for storage.

[@DonnaFoxe]

Thanks for this important information! I will start doing this.

[@bonniepatterson878]

How do you cleaning your root pouches? Fabric pots?

[@lauraservey495]

When bleach is allowed to dry, it leaves behind a crystalline salt. Because it is on the pot, it will rinse out of the tray when you water, hut you may want to handle the trays with gloves if you aren't rinsing them because the dried salt can cause skin irritation.

[@thewitchykitchen]

All I do is hose my trays off, and leave them in the sun to dry. I don’t want a completely sterile environment. To get healthy plants resistant to disease and pests, seedlings need to be inoculated. This is done with mixing garden soil and compost and use that as a seed starting mix, or by mixing compost tea into the potting mix. If the seeds and seedlings aren’t exposed to it, they will have a very hard time once transplanted. I also only use the top trays, until the plants have set their second set of leaves. After that I move them into compostable paper bags, that isn’t removed when transplanted into garden beds. Then I water from above for about a week and then only use the bottom trays for watering, setting the paper bags on the trays. Also having a fan is a must. It prevents dampening and strengthen the stem of the seedlings. Like many other have said, it’s also good to let them dry out once in a while to further hardening the plants. Plants with healthy immune systems, grow better, taste better and doesn’t attract pests like weak plants does.

[@pamelamercado6902]

A bottle brush works wonderful

[@KyleBoise]

I rotate my trays out through the seasons and then hit him with a UV light.

[@juliemoses1909]

I would put the alcohol in a spray bottle, spray the seed starting trays after washing with soap and hot water, and let air dry.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

Have you done a controlled experiment where you sterilize some trays and leave others to test this? Just curious. It seems like any new soil you put in the trays might still contain fusarium, verticillium, or other bad guys no matter what you do to the trays.

[@danielrogers997]

There is a video where a lady with a microscope shows how bleach is better than alcohol. Find one of the channels with a microscope.

[@MK-ti2oo]

Yes, it could be in the new soil. I think that's far more likely than on the Trays you started seed in last year.

[@NatalieBohnenkamp]

I've experienced the issue of dampening off until I started to do the bleach, now I never skip this step and haven't had an issue since. Also, my understanding is that if you use "seed starter mix" the "soil" is sterile so you will not have bacteria etc in it until you pot up with a different medium. I haven't had any problems since switching my routine to bleached trays and seed starter mix

[@carmenruiz1959]

Luke how about vinegar. Can I sanitize with vinegar?

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Just a tip, to kill any type of pathogen the surface must stay wet with solution for 3 min. Also a cheap baby bottle brush is far better than a toothbrush, it has a round bristle brush on both ends so you have two sizes !!!

[@rookiegardeningjournal]

Thank you for sharing this info. Very helpful! I use food grade hydrogen peroxide diluted with water. ❤🌱

[@melindah5952]

I’d love to buy your seed starting pots & trays, sadly there’s still no option for shipping to Canada 🥺

[@jillbeck1732]

Should I also sterilize my large plastic gardens on rollers? It does make sense to do that every year.

[@francestaylor9156]

It’s probably just too humid and still inside the greenhouse. Get some air flowing in the greenhouse. It will help with reducing the fungi. You only need it humid before the seeds pop up. After that the seedlings need totally different care.

[@123loveyourland]

Fiiiiine. I’ll do it. But hey, what can you grow in your greenhouse right now? We’re about to (finally) get one. :)

[@magenta4443]

Bleach is actually a strong base (11-13 pH), not an acid. Thanks for reminding me to clean my seed starter and other containers.

[@bluewolf4915]

Why couldn't you just wash the trays and pots with soap and water then spray with alcohol from a spray bottle?

[@sandramcclure2368]

Awesome video. I have bleaching to do. But hey, just like the black spatulas, ladles, etc., these are black plastic, too. No heat! There's a risk of fumes in the air that are toxic when black plastic gets hot. Many articles on the internet. Gotta go!

[@JBNetBreaker]

I don't think it's time efficient, given the amount of seeds a plant can give you, plus I don't use those annoying trays, I do use an open tray and put all the seeds in there, and once they grow about an inch I'll move them individually to their own pot. If I need to clean pots, I'll use the waterhose and if I suspect contamination, I'll just spray some peroxide and be done with it. We need simple solutions, our time is being consumed at the rate of fire burning, be wise people and God bless you.

[@CharlesGriffin-i7z]

Do you use detergent when you wash them in the dishwasher?

[@Rialbo1980]

And then I watch Charles dowding say the exact opposite of this. Wonder why so many people are always confused. 🤦🏻

[@briannarussell6447]

I wish to know of my local nurseries do this. I always have issues with at least one petunias every year. But if I do this to my personal pots would this help prevent it

[@SunshineGardenWithASmile]

Would vinegar work also?

[@ginavandam735]

It seems to me that using two containers will make the job easier . First you wash the pots, with a dishbrush for more conveniance, and if necessary have some bleech in the second container to rinse them in.

[@grownfolksperspective2988]

I just got finished doing this. I thought it was just me!

[@timclark7507]

I need to buy dishwasher safe seed starting pots.

[@eloisebennett1673]

I'm glad there is an alternative method. I'm allergic to bleach.

[@danmrachko7897]

Vinegar will also kill the bacteria and fungal spores, and will be cheaper by volume than the alcohol. Also it's just easier to work with, when you have a tub with an alcohol solution below you while mixing and scrubbing, the fumes can get aggravating.

[@danielrogers997]

Only bleach will kill viroid. vinegar and alcohol don't kill near as much bacteria as bleach.

[@johndoh5182]

I use a good stream of water to blast everything out of the trays and cells, and then I soak everything for a few hours. If it harms the plastic I have yet to see it but when you soak you don't need to be so heavy on the bleach. After soaking with bleach I soak again in clean water and THEN blast them again and let them dry out, completely, as in dry for a period of a few days before using them. I don't think any fungi or bacteria is surviving that process. Hey dude I highly suggest NOT using that splashless bleach and wear cheap clothing in case the regular bleach gets a drop on your clothing. You can then use that bleach for a wider variety of use cases. Next, a FAR easier process is first take a sprayer and blast everything to get most everything off trays/cells. Once almost clean, SOAK trays and cells and forget the scrubby brushes which you take a bigger chance of getting splashed with bleach water. Just soak the stuff for a couple hours. Once that's done rinse softly to get bleachy water off, then blast again with a sprayer, then SOAK AGAIN in clean water. I don't scrub anything and it all gets clean. When I'm done there's nothing you can feel on the surfaces. Soaking stuff in water is very effective at removing anything since water is actually a cleaner.

[@COGirl444]

I wash mine in in hydrogen peroxide every year. And I use a toothbrush to clean them, big brush like your using doesn’t get in the crevices

[@markcarruthers3313]

I had heard that hydrogen peroxide can also be used to clean cells and trays, but you made no mention of it. Thoughts/comments, please?

[@SpeedBump7807]

Cheap, battery operated, spinning head, travel electric toothbrush works great on small cells.

[@mamaof8girls920]

I use shaklee basic g instead of bleach. If you're looking for a bleach free alternative.

[@marionohara5606]

Just a suggestion......with bleach and scrubbing and splashing, u really should be protecting ur clothes.....👍🏻

[@hollish196]

"not great to breathe"--i.e.faetal"! The brushing is vital==soaking alone will NOT remover the problem.

[@x1Bocephus1x]

I use 6% vinegar I hope that works also

[@craciunator99]

If it works for you and you dont get mold, then youre good.

[@marybrown4173]

I like to use a bottle brush to clean mine.

[@SarahK-d6o]

I use a probiotic type cleanser, APC 500. Sold by teraganix. I do use an old toothbrush thats been run thru the dishwasher😅 i do use bootstrap farmer, love their stuff

[@lispottable]

Also wear clothes you don’t care about when using bleach! A round scrub brush would work nicely.

[@MIgardener]

That is a really good suggestion!

[@debgreenhill9724]

What about 30% agricultural vinegar?

[@pamelab.4731]

I have polystyrene floating trays - will the bleach or alcohol eat at the trays??