How to safely wash/disinfect used plasticpots?

[Mrs.Green]

Being a bit frugal (at least in some ways.. ) I don’t like the idea of just bin used pots. But on the other hand I am afraid of transmitting unseen bugs/eggs from one plant to another by re-using pots. If I soak the pots in warm soapy water for several days, wouldn’t that kill bugs/eggs? The bugs I am thinking of are RSM and mealies , over and underground sorts.

[One Windowsill]

That is what I do. Give them a good scrub so that you can't see any crusty stuff then soak for a few days in soapy water.

I have seen people saying that they boil B.E.F. pots but that will not work for most pots, I think.

Some people use dilute hydrogen peroxide to irritate the pests even more. I haven't had anything visible on mine for over a year so I don't bother.

[7george]

I often use vinegar for 1 day soaking as well, this removes carbonates (salts') build up.

[ARIO speedwagon]

I usually make a dilute bleach/warm water mix and soak them, then neutralize with a mixture of water and vinegar

[hiawog]

I also scrub with a diluted bleach solution

[keith]

I just scrub them with water and then let them dry out. Soap or bleach is probably a good idea if you have root mealie bugs I just toss those ones . White patches on inside walls. I have used bleach back in the day when I battled root mealie bugs . And toss the soil.

[Download]

I spray things down with a bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution. I suspect that will kill eggs, though I've only used it to kill mould, algae and fungus.

[jerrytheplater]

I use a 1 part unscented household bleach (usually around 5-6%) to 19 parts water to soak living aquatic plants to kill algae on them. The soak period varies depending on the plant between 3-4 minutes. Then they get rinsed in fresh water, and soaked in a solution of chlorine neutralizer for a few minutes. If you have crystal sodium thiosulfate, that is the cheapest way. Then rinse off the chlorine neutralizer in fresh water. Replant.

You could use the same solution on your pots. But you would not have to worry about the chlorine neutralizer. Rinsing is fine.

[Mrs.Green]

Thank you all for for your replies I have soaked the pot for more than a weak,first in hot soapy water ( changed several times) and then bleach and hot water. Hopefully that treatment have killed possible bugs.