Disinfecting Wood

[slwatson]

Sally

Thanks for the info Sally! I luckily haven't used the crushed tablets. I just dissolved them following the directions on the container. I'm having the worst luck getting seeds to chit properly!

[cindy]

if the seed does not sprout after a few tries it may not be fresh... try ordering seed to sprout from Herman Bros Pet Products, Sprout People or glamgouldians.com. Where are you getting your seed?

[slwatson]

cindy

I ordered some from Dr. Foster and Smith and another place I can't remember, and I let them sit in the pantry too long and they weren't fresh anymore. Someone else had suggested Herman Bros too, but I haven't tried them yet. Thanks for the suggestions!

[GouldieFledge]

cindy@debbie276@Sally

Luckily after I read about the different concentrations in powder vs. tablets, I held off for a while and just bought the tub of powder. It seems too annoying to crush the tablets and worry about getting the concentration right.

I'm reading the big pamphlet with all the MSDS info and this stuff is heavy duty! I'm all paranoid about using it now. Do you all do the full-body protection before handling the powder? Like full long-sleeves, etc. What about gloves, what kind do I need to use? I preparing for my skin to melt off upon contact like hydrofluoric acid, haha.

I'm also wondering how you dispose of the used liquid once its no longer viable. With its pesticide labeling and water contaminant status, I don't want to dump it down the drain. I also live in a lake community...

[lnlovesorange]

Just so everyone knows. The tables come with directions for solution. (from the manufacturer) I'm pretty sure for a 1% solution it's 1 tablet to a quart of water (don't quote me i don't have the directions in front of me) but The tablets come with thier own directions... I use Virkon too, it's AWESOME, really good for sprouting seed too.... I know I'm late to the party... I'm sure everyone has thier stuff all figured out, but I can't help but chime in!! LOL I highly recommend Virkon S as well, it's GREAT, and lIke cindy said it cleans perches, like WOW!
GouldieFledge I stick my hands int eh solution to pull out my water tubes and feeders (i do what sally does, and soak them) if there is egg or sprouted seed in them i wash first then soak, same with the wooden perches, I wash then soak, I then put them in the oven (Sun in Jan in Norther USA won't kill anything, although the cold might!) lol But you don't have to crush the tablets, if you bought them the manufacturer sends you instructions (like you got with the powder, but for tablets...) anyway, it is scary when you first get it, and it works wonders on disinfecting, but it's not as scary as you think.... Just wash your hands, but i pick up the tablets with no gloves, and reach in the 1% solution to get my dishes out to put up in the bird room, and I have all my skin still.... Hope this helps!

[lnlovesorange]

GouldieFledge As far as dumping it, I don't live in a lake community, so you would obviously have to check this, but could you just add your 1% solution to a large bucket, then add more water to dull the solution WAAAY down, so that it wasn't really anything anymore then dump it? Not sure, but I know the more water you add the less disinfectant it is, and after 7 days it's not viable anymore, so once your 7 days is up, add another 4-5 gallons of water to it, and I would think it wouldn't hurt anything at that concentration, just a thought, but again I would check.... Good luck!