Coolers sat after processing for 4 days - will they be ok??

[Zombre23]

Hey guys!!

I need someone to reassure me before I spiral lol

We processed chickens on Saturday and I usually wash and sanitize everything the next day. (I do hose everything down after immediately but usually too tired to do my process til next day.)

Well, we had some bad weather and family emergency that got in the way and I couldn’t get it done until today. One of them was the ice water cooler and one is the one we transfer the chilled birds to and wheel up to the house to vac seal so some mild drippings from inside the bird happen. One is a big igloo marine cooler and one is a Coleman cooler with a wheel setup and handles to drag. Both big coolers with white inside. They both obvs had a “lovely” smell to them when I opened them today and dumped them out.

I hosed them out inside and out then hit them with dawn soap and pressure washed until the soap was gone. Dumped it out and then pressure washed the insides again over and over and over. There were no bits or funky parts sticking and I saw nothing but I just wanted to hit them really good with it for any scummy film that might be left behind. I then sprayed off the outsides and then hit the inside with a 1:4 bleach water spray in a cleaning spray bottle. I hit them LIBERALLY. My nose and eyes burn and I smell like pure bleach lol. I went over them with bleach spray land let it sit in the sun and then went over them again with another layer and they’re sitting in the sun open as we speak.

The tables I hit the same way, we have a fish filet table and a metal stainless steel table sink combo.

We have another processing day on Saturday and I am just so in my head that I have just ruined these coolers and I’m going to kill everyone with bacteria.

Please reassure me, or - anything else I can do to sanitize them more if you don’t think it was enough?

Thanks guys!

 

[aimee750]

Since you washed with Dawn and bleach, I would say you are good to go. That is what I do before and after processing.

 

[Zombre23]

Since you washed with Dawn and bleach, I would say you are good to go. That is what I do before and after processing.

Ok - thank you. This is my typical process but a far calmer faster and less intensive process too (and usually 1:8 bleach water) before and after but since it sat and got funky for 4 days, I have been in a spiral panic in my head over it.

 

[Molpet]

Sounds cleaner than the commercial processor

 

[FunClucks]

I read your title, and thought you'd let the chickens sit in the coolers unexpectedly, and was about to get worried for you. But no, if it's just cleaning up the funk, you should be fine. I wash mine out with soap and water until they smell clean. Bleach if needed, but it's often not. Sounds like your good to go!

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

No offense at all, but I think you're overreacting. Your coolers are totally fine after how well you cleaned them! But hey, better safe than sorry.

I've actually done this same thing before because I just got busy and let the cooler sit after processing day. A good scrub with a sponge and some Dawn, and it was good to go. I did soak it with a little diluted bleach as well to be sure. I've used that cooler since and am still here to tell the tale, so I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[Zombre23]

I read your title, and thought you'd let the chickens sit in the coolers unexpectedly, and was about to get worried for you. But no, if it's just cleaning up the funk, you should be fine. I wash mine out with soap and water until they smell clean. Bleach if needed, but it's often not. Sounds like your good to go!

I would simply cease to exist if I left all those birds for 4 days!! They get vac sealed same night after everyone is chilled on ice water and put in the fridge for a few days before we weigh, label, and freeze. I just have never let my coolers sit and get funky for more than a day and I have mental spiral tendencies (I have OCD) and will get worked up and if I didn’t stop myself I’d likely still be out there bleach scrubbing them this morning to get out of my head therapy is a lovely thing… and having chickens helps!! lol!

 

[Zombre23]

No offense at all, but I think you're overreacting. Your coolers are totally fine after how well you cleaned them! But hey, better safe than sorry.

I've actually done this same thing before because I just got busy and let the cooler sit after processing day. A good scrub with a sponge and some Dawn, and it was good to go. I did soak it with a little diluted bleach as well to be sure. I've used that cooler since and am still here to tell the tale, so I'm sure you'll be fine.

You are definitely right - I have OCD and will spiral with thoughts if I don’t control myself! Something I’ve been coached to do is fact check myself (I’ve googled lots) and I’ve found it helpful to ask for reassurance if I can’t find much information about whatever topic I’m mentally spiraling over. Contamination is one of my biggest hurdles (y’all should’ve seen how many times I washed my hands and rinsed and Clorox wiped and repeated when I first started chicken processing half the day was me washing my hands!!! Thankfully I’ve chilled out there.)

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

You are definitely right - I have OCD and will spiral with thoughts if I don’t control myself! Something I’ve been coached to do is fact check myself (I’ve googled lots) and I’ve found it helpful to ask for reassurance if I can’t find much information about whatever topic I’m mentally spiraling over. Contamination is one of my biggest hurdles (y’all should’ve seen how many times I washed my hands and rinsed and Clorox wiped and repeated when I first started chicken processing half the day was me washing my hands!!! Thankfully I’ve chilled out there.)

It's okay! I have a friend with OCD so I understand why asking around might help you feel better. But just so you know, she went through therapy specifically to address OCD about contamination, and it helped her immensely! Might be something to look into if you haven't already. Have a good day and enjoy your meat chickens