How do you clean an incubator?

[Lisa16]

I've got an incubator that doesn't seem to get clean enough. How do I properly sanitize my incubator? No matter what I try, it still has that "smell." Any advice?

 

[CCourson05]

I wash mine with warm water and spray with a very dilute bleach solution, then let air dry in the sun...

 

[ScissorChick]

Hmm. Some people wipe their's down with those clorox wipes.

Then some, like myself just take it out and clean it with anti-bacterial soap,

and the hose. The Anti-bacterial soap always seems to get the smell out of

mine.

Good luck!

~Scissor

 

[debilorrah]

I have a Brinsea, so I dunk it in warm water with soap and clean and POOF clean bator. Now ask me about the top.

I use a shop vac in reverse and blow the heck out of it.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

I have one of the antique big redwood ones and I just take mine out and clean the parts at the end of hatching season. I avoid bleach on the wood. I also vacuum mine out often. If you have a plastic, metal or Styrofoam one, I'd recommend bleach. Can't hurt it but I'd also let it dry out for awhile before using it again.

I don't know the smell you are referring to but if it is a bad egg smell, then bleach is the best answer as you are smelling bacteria. Never good for other eggs to have to fight bacteria...

Hope this helps.

Dave

 

[A.T. Hagan]

For the parts that can be soaked I like to soak them in hot, soapy water to which I've added a tablespoon of bleach. Then scrub with a soft, long bristled brush.

For those things that can't be soaked I wipe thoroughly with warm water to which I've added a bit of bleach. Typically about two tablespoons to the gallon.

Once everything is as clean as I can get it I put some of the bleach water solution in a bowl then set it inside the incubator and close it up then run it for a few hours. This usually gets rid of any odors. After that I remove the water, close it back up again, then run it for a few hours to thoroughly dry the insides.

 

[jag]

I was wondering what I could use to clean my Genesis styrofoam bator this season, as it has been used a few years now and was starting to look pretty cruddy. No amount bleach was really helping it LOOK clean. Well, I am also a home brewer, and while cleaning my kegs I got a brilliant idea. I cleaned the styrofoam, the plastic water tray and the wire floor with PBW (professional brewers wash) and it worked excellent!! Got it cleaner than I have ever gotten it using bleach. Then, I sanitized it with star-san, but for that bleach would work just as good. HTH! You can do a search for PBW, they call it professional brewers wash and also powdered brewers wash - it is sold by Five Star and available from most homebrew suppliers. Good stuff! Environmental and septic friendly.