Cleaning / Sterilizing Incubators

[MamaDragon]

Greetings All!

What is the best way to clean and sterilize those styrofoam incubators??

You can't scrub them much without them shredding in your hands, so is it dish soap & hot water, then a bleach solution sprayed on and allowed to air dry?

How do you clean the top? I don't want to ruin the heating element and such.

Kathy

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
I would not use bleach. The fumes will soak into the styrafoam.

I use Incubation Disinfectant Concentrate made by Brinsea. I mix it with hot water and I let it sit on the incubator for 30min to an hour, and then I rub the incubator and the trays, etc. and then rinse in hot water. Then I take some more of the disinfectant, mix it with water, and put it in a spray bottle. Then I mist the top of the incubator and wipe away with a clean towel. I use hot water with the disinfectant. Then I mist the whole incubator and let it sit till it drys. I have had no problems and my incubators area always sterile.

 

[Katy]

Miss Prissy had a good thread on a good method here awile back. If you do a search you can probably find that.


I wash mine with hot water and dish soap and then rinse out with a weak solution of bleach water. And let air dry inside it it's too windy or outside if it's not.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Here's MissP's thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=62755
It's very good!

 

[Akane]

Bleach fumes won't stay in anything provided you let it dry. Bleach when dry just leaves behind a salt residue. You absolutely must let it dry though. Vinegar is another option. Usually slightly safer than bleach but also must leave it to dry to get rid of it.