Sterilizing Pots and tools

What is the best way to sterilize planter and pots for reuse. I have several milk jugs I need to clean to start seeds. Thanks for the info!!

Traci

I use 1 part bleach/9 parts water. Then I rinse them well and they're ready to use.


Kwanjin

Thanks Kwanjin, Haven't seen you in a while. I need to clean some containers for seeds. I am about to go do some 2 O'Clock seeding. HEHEHEHE

Been kinda laid up. I'm glad I'm not the only one who does stuff at night!


Kwanjin

Hi kwanjin, sorry to here you've been lade up, hope nothing too serious and your on the mend again, your not alone doing the night-shift for the garden, sometimes for me, it is the calmest and quietest part of the day, I need that time to unwind and sort my head out from all the days hustle and bustle, the garden or even a garden book does that every-time in the evening.
Sterilising the tools and pots are good husbandry as the old gardeners used to say, I just give them a wash in as hot water as pos even if it helps to ware a rubber glove to protect my hands from the heat, however, the bleach mix is good for plant pots that are really dirty and well used, you have to be careful with clay pots however, as these are inclined to absorb plant feeds, insecticides and bleaches, so I use really hot water for these, but plastic pots are OK when you use chemicals and rinse them well, especially if they have been in storage for long periods and had insects crawling all over them, it is a good autumn job or when the weather is too bad to work outside. look after yourself Kwanjin,
WeeNel.

Sorry to hear about being laid up. Hope you feel better soon!!

WeeNel,
These were old plastic pots the previous owner left here. I will remember, though about the terra cotta, as several those were left too. Thanks for you help. You are truly a garden guru!

Thanks,
Pupil

I'm very much on the mend. I will be back on my two feet in (hopefully) another week.

Wee, hope all is well with you in your part of the world. (Scotland?) DH and I are planning a trip to Ireland in five or six years. We'll whistle a hello!



Kwanjin

I borrowed a cleaning recipe from Jerry Baker and I'm here to tell you, the stuff smells so good you wash pots just BECAUSE the stuff smells so good!

To a gallon of hot water add 1 capful of Mouthwash (I use the cheap stuff from the $1 store), 2 capfuls of bleach, and 1 capful of Lemon Dish liquid. It smells sort of like the Lysol Bowl cleaner. Very fresh! Rinse well after washing and let dry.

The mouthwash does exactly what it does for your mouth: kills some of the germs; the bleach sterilizes; the Lemon dish liquid deters bugs that don't like it at all.

Hey Gym,
That does sound much better than just bleach and water, as far as the nostrils are concerned. And anything that will keep bugs away is a definite plus. Thanks for the "recipe". Now to figure out how to save rusted tools......

For your rusted tools, try a bucket of play sand and add linseed oil. Just "stick" the tools in several times. It will remove most of the rust, then use a bit of sandpaper to clean the stubborn stuff off. Stick in the sand again several times to finish it off. Sharpen the edges of anything that needs it. Coat the metal lightly with linseed oil and wipe down well. Also rub down the wooden handles. I found the "directions" in an old Mother Earth magazine and have been using it for years. Good tools are so expensive, it's certainly worth the time taking care of them.

Hi Doccat, your cleaning tools regime is the exact way my dear old Dad taught me how to care for the garden tools, over sixty years ago, he has passed away now, but I am still using some of his tools, even his spade and fork are as good and comfortable to use today as it was all those years ago, if anything, they are more like old friends when I pick them up to use. My husband has bought me several new tools, so called light weight ones etc, but they dont compare, so if anyone has a favourite tool care for it and it will reward you many times over. good luck. WeeNel.

Thanks Doccat5,
I found these when I was cleaning out the garage of our new home. They look old and are very rusted, but seem to be very sturdy. As you pointed out, good tools are expensive and WeeNel just justified my saving these, as older craftmanship is much better than today's. Isn't that sad. We sacrifice quality for value, yet even the expensive items don't have to quality of yesteryear.

Unfortunately, that's to true, pupilpropogtr. Hopefully, you'll be able to salvage them and put them to use!