Hi there, sadly my hive was weakened by Varroa Mite and then overpowered by SHB late last week. I’m now attempting the clean up so I can store the hive away for a while. However, I am having no luck getting the slime and all the wax out of the flow frames. I’ve tried the offical advice using pressure washer and also tried a really hot soapy water soak but I just can’t get it clean enough to leave in storage (concerned about mold). Or clean as the photos in this article (https://support.honeyflow.com/do-i-need-to-clean-the-flow-frames/).
I’m sure a lot of flow hives have suffered the same fate of late? How is everyone handling the cleaning of the flow frames for future use in aftermath of Varroa and SHB?
Hi Sammond7, I have a mate who has used an ultra sonic cleaner on his ones after his hive was slimed out and he says it worked well. He had to bust them up and do them in multiple batches but he said it was worth it. Haven’t tried this myself, but worth looking into this approach some more. Good luck!
So sorry for the delayed response on this thread and thanks Craig and Clint for the advice.
The frames have been sitting out in the elements for a couple months now…I am hoping that has helped clean them up a bit? Now I am wondering, how clean is clean? Looking at the image, do you think that is acceptable or do I need to take it further?
Going by the photo, it doesn’t look clean as the original colour is a creamy yellow. There’s something making it dark which probably shouldn’t be there.
It might be time to contact FlowHQ directly. They are always very helpful.
