Rain Collection

[Mrs Bonk]

When a water butt is slimey inside what is the best way to go about cleaning
it out? This year it is very green inside instead of a good flow from the
outlet I am getting a tiny drip. I fear it is smelling slightly putrid too.
TIA

[Wayne Boatwright]

On Mon 27 Jun 2005 11:28:12a, Mrs Bonk wrote in alt.home.cleaning:

> When a water butt is slimey inside what is the best way to go about
> cleaning it out? This year it is very green inside instead of a good
> flow from the outlet I am getting a tiny drip. I fear it is smelling
> slightly putrid too. TIA

Bleach, a bit of detergent, a good scrubbing, and a thorough rinse.

--
Wayne Boatwright տլ
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

[Choreboy]

Mrs Bonk wrote:
>
> When a water butt is slimey inside what is the best way to go about cleaning
> it out? This year it is very green inside instead of a good flow from the
> outlet I am getting a tiny drip. I fear it is smelling slightly putrid too.
> TIA

Sounds as if TomKan's daughter poured chicken fat on your shingles.

[Mrs Bonk]

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Mon 27 Jun 2005 11:28:12a, Mrs Bonk wrote in alt.home.cleaning:
>
>> When a water butt is slimey inside what is the best way to go about
>> cleaning it out? This year it is very green inside instead of a good
>> flow from the outlet I am getting a tiny drip. I fear it is smelling
>> slightly putrid too. TIA
>
> Bleach, a bit of detergent, a good scrubbing, and a thorough rinse.

Yes, thank you Wayne. I was hoping there would be a 'magic' pill that would
clean it out without any elbow grease. It is FAR too hot to be scrubbing
today.

[Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.]

Hi Mrs. B.

Sounds like you don't have a lid on it!
Nitrates and Phosphates, etc. are elevated also.

Bleach will kill the natural forming bacteria that you do want to keep in
the barrel. But at this point, perhaps a good cleaning is in order and then
letting the good bacteria reform in the barrel once again.

While you have it empty to clean it, perhaps you may want to build a fire
in it to char the insides somewhat. This sometimes helps to keep the water
clearer during the hot summer months. And keep it covered so that sunlight
does not get inside as well.

TTUL
Gary






"Mrs Bonk" <arse@cutey.com> wrote:
>When a water butt is slimey inside what is the best way to go about cleaning

>it out? This year it is very green inside instead of a good flow from the

>outlet I am getting a tiny drip. I fear it is smelling slightly putrid too.
>TIA
>
>

[Choreboy]

Mrs Bonk, you'll need to add some motor oil to keep mosquitoes from
breeding. I'm sure Gary's oversight was not intentional.

"Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr." wrote:
>
> Hi Mrs. B.
>
> Sounds like you don't have a lid on it!
> Nitrates and Phosphates, etc. are elevated also.
>
> Bleach will kill the natural forming bacteria that you do want to keep in
> the barrel. But at this point, perhaps a good cleaning is in order and then
> letting the good bacteria reform in the barrel once again.
>
> While you have it empty to clean it, perhaps you may want to build a fire
> in it to char the insides somewhat. This sometimes helps to keep the water
> clearer during the hot summer months. And keep it covered so that sunlight
> does not get inside as well.
>
> TTUL
> Gary
>
> "Mrs Bonk" <arse@cutey.com> wrote:
> >When a water butt is slimey inside what is the best way to go about cleaning
>
> >it out? This year it is very green inside instead of a good flow from the
>
> >outlet I am getting a tiny drip. I fear it is smelling slightly putrid too.
> >TIA
> >
> >

[Mrs Bonk]

Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr. wrote:
> Hi Mrs. B.
>
> Sounds like you don't have a lid on it!
> Nitrates and Phosphates, etc. are elevated also.
>
> Bleach will kill the natural forming bacteria that you do want to keep in
> the barrel. But at this point, perhaps a good cleaning is in order and
> then letting the good bacteria reform in the barrel once again.
>
> While you have it empty to clean it, perhaps you may want to build a fire
> in it to char the insides somewhat. This sometimes helps to keep the
> water clearer during the hot summer months. And keep it covered so that
> sunlight does not get inside as well.

Thank you Gary for your time and extremely useful information. I feel it
fair to point out my butt is made of plastic so I
don't think anything hot should be in it. I do have a cover on, not a tight
one but enough to keep the sun out. I would have liked a wooden butt but
they are not common here for gardens and probably frightfully expensive as
well as heavy.

[Mrs Bonk]

Choreboy wrote:
> Mrs Bonk, you'll need to add some motor oil to keep mosquitoes from
> breeding. I'm sure Gary's oversight was not intentional.

We don't have mosquitoes in these parts as far as I know but if I see one
around my butt I will be sure to add the oil. Used or fresh?