Sterilize cardboard egg cartons for lockdown?

[chickenmeadow]

When I do a lockdown, I always use brand new/never used cardboard egg cartons to set the eggs upright & protect them from getting "tossed" by chicks that have hatched. It had occured to me that there could be contamination on used cartons. I was wondering if used cardboard cartons could be sterilized in the microwave! Does anyone have any ideas on this? If it sounds like a good idea, then how many minutes would be good in the mircrwave with the cardboard cartons only?

I have been hatching some purchased shipped eggs lately & want to make the best of them, as in any hatch!

 

[FrenchHen]

I wouldn't microwave them because it heats unevenly and could cause a fire.

You could stick them in a 250 degree oven for about 10 minutes; that would heat it to over 180, which would kill any bacteria.

I wouldn't think it necessary though. But that's just my opinionguess.