How to Sterilize Garden Pots
You have a couple of options for sterilizing your garden pots or any container for plants that you would like to use again and again. Some people prefer methods that are organically accepted and some do not care. It's really your choice, but with the one you don't have environmental concerns regarding disposal of the leftover solution.
Decide on a sterilizing solution. You can choose from a tablespoon of bleach to every gallon of water or hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar.
Water and Bleach
- Mix your bleach solution in a container large enough to accept your largest pot and immerse your pots one at a time.
- Dip each pot, remove it and set it to the side.
- Allow the pots to set in the sun for a few minutes.
- Rinse them with fresh, clean water making sure that all the bleach is off. Bleach makes things feel slippery, so feel the pot upon rinsing.
- Allow the pots to dry in the sun completely before using them.
Peroxide and White Vinegar
- Have two clean spray bottles handy.
- Fill one bottle with 3% hydrogen peroxide, which you can get at any store, and fill the other with white vinegar. You only need enough of each to spray the pots down.
- Spray each container first with one then immediately with the other until fully saturated. It makes no difference which is used first or last. Just use both at the same time.
- Allow the pots to sit until you finish all of them.
- Rinse them thoroughly with fresh, clean water.
- Allow them to stay in the sun to dry completely.