Question about sanitizing

[Heather J]

So I'm pulling apart my incubator to sanitize it, but I used these big sponges to keep the humidity up during the past few days. I'm wondering if I wash them in the same bleach water and rinse them well if the bleach will totally dry out and be gone, or will remnants still hang out and cause problems for the muscovies I'm putting in there next?

Thanks.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Just use very diluted bleach water and let it soak for a while...then put it out in the sun to dry

That should be fine. I wouldn't used strong bleach water though. Some people wash it first with mild soap and water then soak it in a mild bleach water and then put it out to dry.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

And yes you can soak the sponge too, wouldn't hurt it..just put it in the sun to dry with the bator.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

I would replace the sponges. Sponges are breeding ground for bacteria with all the cracks and crevices. I'd sure hate to see a .99 cent sponge rouin an entire set of eggs.
We use a small yourgert cup with a rolled up paper towel sticking out to act as a wick to bring the moisture up. its disposable after every hatch.

 

[Heather J]

It's really dry here so I used one of those big sponges like you buy for washing your car or for cleaning grout when you lay tile and cut it in half to put part in each side of the bator. It was the only way to keep the humidity high enough--and even then it was hard to maintain 60% and higher during the last days.

I guess I'll sanitize it well and decide what I'm going to do about it when things get closer--Muscovies do take 5 weeks to hatch. Thanks for all of your advice!