Bucket and tube cleaning before tapping

[miner1]

I use both galvanized buckets and gravity tubing (about 3-4 feet long) from taps to plastic pails. I scrubbed out all the "sap slime" at the end of last season, and dunked the buckets, tubing and pails in bleach solution before putting them in away in the clean basement for the off season. Is there anything to be gained by dipping the buckets and tubing in bleach solution again this spring before tapping? I plan on dipping the taps again in bleach but I am wondering about the buckets and tubing.

[optionguru]

I re-cleaned all of my buckets before use, there was a decent amount of dust and "stuff" on them from sitting all year.

[bowtie]

I would boil the taps before bleaching them and use q tips to clean them.I washed my buckets last year and will rinse them before I tap this week, I have aluminum buckets and use dish soap and magic erasers to wash them. I went to plastic seasonal taps last year, do not like the thought of plastic from the traditional standpoint but they are healthier for the trees and and do not transmit bacteria from tree to tree. They cost about $.17 per and you can recycle them at the end of the season.

[cbhansen]

Similar to Bowtie, below,I scrub my buckets with soap and hot water at the end of the season and give them a good rinse before the start of the season. I'm not a fan of bleach in tap or buckets but I boil the taps and use a very small brush to clean them before a put them away for the season and boil them again before a use them. This season I'll try soaking the taps in Step One and then boil them. My general rule is that if I question whether I should clean something, then I clean it. Little bit more work, but I've never had a issue.

[MJFlores]

I clean my buckets with **** and a sponge at the end of season, and again at the start. This week I'm cleaning a few buckets each night so I can start tapping Thurdsday after work.

Taps, I soak in bleach water for 15 mins or so, and then boil...again at the start of season and at the end. This year I plan to soak them in rubbing alcohol before putting them in the tree, and will soak my tapping bit too. Little effort and if it helps, great!

[miner1]

I would boil the taps before bleaching them and use q tips to clean them.I washed my buckets last year and will rinse them before I tap this week, I have aluminum buckets and use dish soap and magic erasers to wash them. I went to plastic seasonal taps last year, do not like the thought of plastic from the traditional standpoint but they are healthier for the trees and and do not transmit bacteria from tree to tree. They cost about $.17 per and you can recycle them at the end of the season.

Thanks for the tip on using q-tips great idea...

[mike z]

Bowtie - Did the plastic taps work good with your Al. buckets? Do you use flat covers? I'm considering going to the plastic taps too, for the same reason you mentioned. I've also been told that by replacing taps every year, sap flow can be improved, as it is very difficult to thoroughly clean taps. Can you tell me what taps you use? Thanks.