cleaning sap sacks

[maplefarmer]

Last time we collected sap was 3-7, bags have a little sap in them now that is frozen, my concern is when things thaw and if we get a run, what is best way to make sure there is no spoiled sap in bags, I know dumping them seems like a no brainer, but always seems there is a little drpping of sap that starts to accumulate in bags before the good runs

[buckeye gold]

I guess it depends on how many you have out, But I have went out and brought mine into the warm and thawed them before, then rinsed with hot water and rehung them for a run. I usually only have 50-75 bags out and 50 buckets so not a big deal, but hundreds is a different story. If you don't want to do that you either chose to cook old sap or dump a little new with the old.My choice is always to dump anything that is not fresh, even if I lose a little fresh sap. why risk making it all bad just to save a little extra?

I have also filled my collection barrel with hot water and taken a bucket of chlorine solution and went out and rinsed bags if they sat with warm sap for a few days. First I use just a small amount of the solution and then a copious rinse from the tank. It does make a difference in how your sap holds and cooks. It will take me about an hour to do 100 bags and buckets, just like a collection.

[5 Oaks]

I had 31 out. I pulled them all, brought them into shack and turned the heat on over night. I am two things, impatient and cheap. After a day of wasted heat and very little thawing, I un-screwed bags from the get-a-grips and dumped ice on ground and then re-assembled bags.