What did you do in the garden today?

[jerryse]

I just cleaned out a shed. One of the plastic storage bins had a mouse nest in it, with dead mice all squished out and slimy in the bottom of the bin. Boy, did that smell! I washed the storage bin out with soap and water and let it air out overnight. But it still smells terrible. I was going to store it back in the shed, but ended up taking it outside, turning it upside down, and will let it sit there over the winter. The plastic bin itself is clean, but the smell did not go away with the washing.

If anyone knows if it is possible to de-odorize a plastic bin, please let me know. Thanks

Bleach water will remove a lot of odors. I use it on the fish gut bucket.

 

[jerryse]

Yard and garden cleanup today. Made a small campfire to burn twigs. Had to mix new fuel for the chainsaw. Chainsaws are really touchy about fuel. Would not start on the fuel I had. New fuel and fired right up.

 

[gtaus]

Vinegar? Bleach? Maybe put one of those scented dryer sheets in it, and close it up for a few weeks.

Bleach water will remove a lot of odors. I use it on the fish gut bucket.

Thanks. I'll try the bleach first as the dead mice and nest was on the bottom of the bin. Maybe let it soak for a couple of days, let it dry out, and then close it up with the scented dryer sheets if the smell is still there.

Like I said, the plastic bin washed out and looks clean, it just smells terrible.

 

[Sueby]

Maybe a simple support structure like this...

View attachment 3661125

You could slap something like that together in no time. If your growing trays are 4X4 feet, you could probably build a support structure out of pallet wood. Just build it to your required height and size. Nice thing about that 2-part design is that you can easily relocate it if needed. Well, the growing trays might be too heavy to move unless you emptied them.



What is PT? Not sure what you are talking about.

I like working with wood. The last year and a half I have made lots of rough, but useful, projects out of free pallet wood and salvaged lumber. If/when the wood rots, I'll just build a version 2.0 of the unit and probably make it even better.

I bought a Flux Core Welder a few years ago for small metal repairs around the garage, but my welding skills are mostly less than adequate. My wood projects are stronger than my welds on metal. I would never trust my welds to support anything of weight or importance. Oh well, sometimes it is good to know your deficiencies and limits.

@gtaus , PT = pressure treated. At least that's my deduction. LOL

Yes, pressure treated. Pallets rot quickly here. My pallet compost bins don't have much life left, neither do my cedar garden beds - hence the pressure treated.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I just cleaned out a shed. One of the plastic storage bins had a mouse nest in it, with dead mice all squished out and slimy in the bottom of the bin. Boy, did that smell! I washed the storage bin out with soap and water and let it air out overnight. But it still smells terrible. I was going to store it back in the shed, but ended up taking it outside, turning it upside down, and will let it sit there over the winter. The plastic bin itself is clean, but the smell did not go away with the washing.

If anyone knows if it is possible to de-odorize a plastic bin, please let me know. Thanks

Small paste of Baking soda will work well.

 

[gtaus]

Had to mix new fuel for the chainsaw. Chainsaws are really touchy about fuel. Would not start on the fuel I had. New fuel and fired right up.

I don't use a chainsaw all that much, or very often. Maybe only 3-4 times per year. My old gas chainsaws would foul up with old gas and clog the carburetor. Always a pain to start, sometimes even with new gas. I ended up buying some battery-operated chainsaws about 5 years ago and never looked back. All I need is a freshly charged battery and the chainsaw works.

Lots of us old timers who grew up on gas chainsaws are now buying battery chainsaws for the small jobs we have to do around the house. Gas is still king for logging and cutting wood to heat the house. For cleanup and trimming around the house, battery chainsaws are more than adequate for those small jobs.

 

[gtaus]

Small paste of Baking soda will work well.

Thanks. Will put that on the list, too.

 

[saysfaa]

For plastic bins - We have had some success with cleaning it thoroughly with half blue dawn dish soap and half baking soda. Then close it up with baking soda inside. Airing it outside also makes some progress.

Ours were horrible. It took a lot of baking soda, exchanged several times. My brother bought it is 50 pound bags. He used it for many bins. One bin wouldn't take that much.

 

[gtaus]

Pallets rot quickly here. My pallet compost bins don't have much life left, neither do my cedar garden beds - hence the pressure treated.

Climate makes a big difference. I am building all my raised beds out of pallet wood. If they last 5 years, that will be great. If not, it only takes me less than an hour to build another one. It's all free pallet wood for me, so I'm OK with having to build a new raised bed if\when needed.

I'm surprised that cedar wood rots out so fast for you. For the price you pay for cedar lumber, I would expect them to last 10-15 years.

 

[gtaus]

For plastic bins - We have had some success with cleaning it thoroughly with half blue dawn dish soap and half baking soda. Then close it up with baking soda inside. Airing it outside also makes some progress.

Ours were horrible. It took a lot of baking soda, exchanged several times. My brother bought it is 50 pound bags. He used it for many bins. One bin wouldn't take that much.

Thanks. I wrote it down on my list of things to try.