Sterilizing plastic pots

[Than]

I use regular plastic cups I got from the supermarket to plant new seeds. The ones people used to use for kids parties etc. I find their size and shape perfect for seedlings. Because they are plastic I wanna re-use them; don't want to create plastic waste if I can avoid it.

Any ideas how to sterilize them? Would soaking them in water + bleach work? Or is any bleach residue damaging the seeds/seedlings? Any other easy way? I don't think they are microwaveable.

[Navarro]

Simplemente pasale un estropajo de cocina con jabón concentrado para vajillas ,eso debe ser suficiente 

[Navarro]

Yo solo meto al microondas los tuppers con vermiculita reutilizada 

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, ego said:

 

I use regular plastic cups I got from the supermarket to plant new seeds. The ones people used to use for kids parties etc. I find their size and shape perfect for seedlings. Because they are plastic I wanna re-use them; don't want to create plastic waste if I can avoid it.

Any ideas how to sterilize them? Would soaking them in water + bleach work? Or is any bleach residue damaging the seeds/seedlings? Any other easy way? I don't think they are microwaveable.

If you're using a Bleach / water mix that is say 1 part bleach to 4 parts water, and rinse well / allow to  dry after cleaning, there should be left over residue ( from the bleach ) 

For something simple like those cups, a drop of regular dish soap to a cup full of water should be enough to clean 'em up as well..

Only thing i've ever done if / when cleaning up any dirty pots is a good rinse and wipe with a rag ..then rinse again and let dry in the sun. Never an issue when reusing.

Definitely don't advise using a microwave.  Melted plastic is a PITA to clean up, lol..

[Than]

7 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

If you're using a Bleach / water mix that is say 1 part bleach to 4 parts water, and rinse well / allow to  dry after cleaning, there should be left over residue ( from the bleach ) 

For something simple like those cups, a drop of regular dish soap to a cup full of water should be enough to clean 'em up as well..

Only thing i've ever done if / when cleaning up any dirty pots is a good rinse and wipe with a rag ..then rinse again and let dry in the sun. Never an issue when reusing.

Definitely don't advise using a microwave.  Melted plastic is a PITA to clean up, lol..

Will the rag clean fungi? Those cups were left outdoors in the yard for months with remnants of old soil on them.. who knows what kind of microorganisms live on them.

[Than]

1 hour ago, Navarro said:

Yo solo meto al microondas los tuppers con vermiculita reutilizada 

sí pero no son, tuppers, son pequeñas copitas de plástico.. Y estás seguro que el jabón para vajillas mata los hongos?

[Silas_Sancona]

1 minute ago, ego said:

Will the rag clean fungi? Those cups were left outdoors in the yard for months with remnants of old soil on them.. who knows what kind of microorganisms live on them.

Soap / bleach would remove any fungal / bacterial occupants.. That said, as soon as you place new soil in the cups, new spores / bacteria ...that are always in the air.. start settling on / taking up residence in the soil.. Unless you built a snazzy, completely sterile space age type of lab for seed starting, you will never have completely " sterile " soil / growing environment.

Besides, if you want healthy plants,  soil has to contain microbes.

[Than]

47 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Soap / bleach would remove any fungal / bacterial occupants.. That said, as soon as you place new soil in the cups, new spores / bacteria ...that are always in the air.. start settling on / taking up residence in the soil.. Unless you built a snazzy, completely sterile space age type of lab for seed starting, you will never have completely " sterile " soil / growing environment.

Besides, if you want healthy plants,  soil has to contain microbes.

I bet microorganisms will enter the soil within minutes.

[Silas_Sancona]

7 minutes ago, ego said:

I bet microorganisms will enter the soil within minutes.

Seconds... 

Those completely out of touch with the world ( natural world ) around them,  would flip out / go into full melt down mode if they could see every single bacterium and spore floating in the air, at any given time... 
 


 

[flplantguy]

Peroxide soak before planting may work too.  It becomes oxygen and water so wont have any residual to worry about either.  It's my go to for that since it's safer.

[ShadyDan]

I run a small scale nursery selling palms (among other things) and most of the pots I use are re-used pots I scrounge for free. I never bother to disinfect them and haven’t had any issues. I just make sure I shake out any residual soil and get them dry before I store them. 

[amh]

Don't use "splash-less" bleach because it will leave residue. Regular bleach is fine.

[Than]

thank you everyone