HELP WITH BRAND NEW STYROFOAM INCUBATOR!

[Lazy Farmer]

I am wide open for suggestions on how I can make my brand new in the box LG 9300 Incubator last longer!
I have been running 3 of them, all 3 leak and one just flat out died a couple days ago.
I believe it is all caused by MY CLEANING PROCESS.
I just bought a replacement for the broken one, but only because it was half price on clearance. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't take better care of it!
The Styrofoam is not very dense on all of them. Scrubbing shortens the life of them. As well as some antibacterial cleaners.

Please give me some reasonable advice to prolong the lifespan of my new bator. I realise they are built inferior and there are better models out there but this is what I have and would like to take good care of it.
Thank you in advance for your time and advise.
FC

 

[Irajoe]

Not sure I have the best advice...but mine has lasted about 10 years without any problems and with regular hatching. I use cabinet fabric on top of the wire screen which keeps the solid particles from falling through during the hatching and immediately afterwards. After each hatch, I brush onto the styrofoam (with towel) a very low concentrate mixture of bleach and water and set to dry/bleach in the sun. When completely dry, I repackage it until the next time I incubate.

 

[Leaguinea]

Not sure I have the best advice...but mine has lasted about 10 years without any problems and with regular hatching. I use cabinet fabric on top of the wire screen which keeps the solid particles from falling through during the hatching and immediately afterwards. After each hatch, I brush onto the styrofoam (with towel) a very low concentrate mixture of bleach and water and set to dry/bleach in the sun. When completely dry, I repackage it until the next time I incubate.

What is cabinet fabric? where would I get this?

 

[Irajoe]

It's actually a rubbery cabinet liner...available at most discount stores like DollarTree, Dollar General, etc. It's porous for humidity while affording easy clean-up afterwards.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Anyone hears of using Listerine mixed 50/50 w/water to sterilize? I think the bleach solution is causing my leaks. It the blood stains and such I am worried about contaminating the next batch.