Is there a safe way to clean plastic barrels

[NYScott]

I have found a source of 55 gallon plastic barrels, but they previous contained cleaning chemicals, like soap and alkalye. Does anyone know a method for cleaning these that would ensure they would be safe for sap gathering?

[Fred Henderson]

DO NOT use them. The product will be imbedded in the plastic. Try finding a Yogart plant and get some barrels from them. A lot of times at the end of a flavor run when cleaning out the machine it goes in a barrel and they hire some one to haul it away for animal feed. The barrels then end up at the haulers place of business and can be purchase pretty cheap.

[tappin&sappin]

Ditto... Don't use those barrels.

I get 55 gal plastic drums from a local juice company.

- Jake

[802maple]

Besides the chemicals that were in them, most likely they are not food grade and a good share of them are made out of rcycled plastic when they are made for chemical storage, then who knows what was in them.

[sugarin4fun]

tappin&sappin

I'm from Cranesville PA and could use a few food grade 55 gal drums for sap storage, how would I go about getting them.

Thanks, Greg

[tappin&sappin]

Greg... I usually get them from Welchs in North East. However, I just called last week and they said there were all gone. Asbury Woods cleaned them out.

- Jake

[NYScott]

Well I found another source, a local milk/yogurt/cheese plant. Food grade barrels for free. I'm going to pick up ten tonight!

[NedL]

Home Brew supply store. They get the malt extract in barrels. Maybe even if you have a brewery in your area.