Question on cleaning a tote

[DMF]

I have a chance to get a few free 275 totes. Problem is they had an Alcohol-based gel-type hand sanitizer in them. Any idea how I could clean these out for use in sap colection/RO water storage?

[Bucket Head]

I would imagine lots of hot water under pressure, maybe a little a soap, maybe. Lots and lots of hot water, though. But I might be wary of using those until I did some homework. I've never read a label on a bottle of hand sanitizer to see what exactly is in it. Anything not suited for consumption? You don't think of it as being such, but plastic is a porous material. Has the plastic soaked up any gel ingredients that may transfer into the water or sap? And then your going to concentrate them by boiling it down.
I'm not saying they can't be used- I'm not sure- but you have to be very mindful of used containers. All of my cage tanks and plastic drums were either new or had a food product shipped in them originally.

Steve

[maple flats]

Read a few different containers of hand sanitizer, if there is a warning about swallowing, I'd be very wary. As Bucket Head said, plastic is porous and they may not be good to use. My guess is that any alcohol in them is wood alcohol and not grain, but that's only a guess.

[DrTimPerkins]

My guess is that any alcohol in them is wood alcohol and not grain, but that's only a guess.

Typically sanitizers are made with either isopropyl alcohol or denatured ethanol. Other additives vary considerably (moisturizers, scents, thickening agents, etc.).

Maple producers in Canada are being encouraged to NOT use isopropyl alcohol for their tubing cleaning this year due to shortages.

[Ghs57]

if you can't eat the contents, I'd definitely skip it. And not everything you can eat is suitable for maple processing (soy sauce). I only buy used food grade, usually vegetable oil, containers. They clean up very well.

[BoerBoel]

What is everyone's view on using a tote held industrial non-toxic glycerin (sugar)?

[maple flats]

I've only bought the following, Apple juice concentrate, Orange juice concentrate, pure vanilla extract, white grape juice concentrate, and canola or safflower oils. All have cleaned out well. My thought is that it must be something with a very mild taste. The 2 oils were tried because both can be used for de-foamers and the vanilla extract was used because one of the component tastes described for maple syrup is vanilla.

[buckeye gold]

I had one a few years ago that had some form of syrup in it that was hard to clean. I finally poured about a quart of bleach in it filled with water, let set 12 hrs and repeated. After that I power-washed it and rinsed. It was odor free and clean then. I only used it one year though as it grew algae on the inside over summer. I broke down and bought new food grade tanks after that and I keep them sanitized often with a chlorine solution. They have all been good for a few years. I learned true clean takes a little more effort than I first thought when I started. My advice is bite the bullet and get new food grade tanks and take care of them and they'll last you a long time and your conscious will feel a lot better too.

[maple flats]

I used them for about 12 or 13 seasons for hauling sap from remote bushes back to the sugarhouse. I now only use one to haul fresh water when needed at the sugarhouse. The last time I used them to haul sap I had 3 strapped to a gooseneck trailer. Most of the time I pumped sap into just 2 and the 3rd was carrying clean water for cleaning the tanks just after I emptied them. I used the same pump, a 1.5" Honda pump. I just turned the pump around and drew the water out of tank 3, thru the pump then I had a potable water hose I used. I had an adapter made up that attached to the pump outlet and immediately reduced down to a garden hose fitting. On the other end I had a hose nozzle. Tanks (SS tanks at least) clean up very easily when cleaned within a few minutes of emptying using just a spray of clean water.

[BoerBoel]

When cleaning a tote that had sunflower oil/glycerin in it, what does everyone suggest as the best way to clean the tote?

Pressure washer or would a garden hose be enough?
Hot water or will cold water be enough?
As you might be guessing, I do not have a pressure washer. I can probably borrow one but it would not be hot water. Renting a hot water pressure washer just for a couple of totes starts to add up for back yarders.

Dawn soap/any soap or no soap? I have read different answers to the use of soap.

Once clean should it also be bleached?

[Pdiamond]

I got a tote from our local maple supplier and went to the car wash and used the high pressure rinse cycle. Started it out on the truck first to make sure it was nothing but water under pressure. Cleaned out the tote very well.

[Zucker Lager]

When cleaning a tote that had sunflower oil/glycerin in it, what does everyone suggest as the best way to clean the tote?

Dawn soap/any soap or no soap? I have read different answers to the use of soap.

Once clean should it also be bleached?

Try a product called Powdered Brewery Wash for the cleaning works great for oils / grease. Brewers and winemakers use it no smell no taste residue rinse rinse rinse then finish with Starsan (sp?) to sterilize. Jay

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Put it in the bed of your truck, Fill halfway with water, Pour in bottle of Dawn dish soap, drive truck. Leave it for a week or so. rinse thoroughly and you will be good to go.

[BoerBoel]

Why does everyone say "Dawn" dish soap? Is there something special about this soap?

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Safe to clean up animals that have been involved in oil spills its gonna be safe to use to clean up your totes. Also helps cut out any oils that may be in the tote such as sunflower or vegetable etc....

[ddociam]

I used to have a problem with mold and algae forming on the side of tanks until I cleaned with bleach. I now fill the tote with about four inches of water and add bleach. I leave in contact with the bottom for atleast 15 mins and then scrub with a long handled brush. I then lay the tote on its side and repeat for all four sides. I then drain it and rinse with water. I now also rinse my head tank between batches with water and then to the bleach wash at the end of the season. This regimen has helped improve the quality of my syrup.