Cleaning Fabric Pots

I used my Vivosun pots once and cannot get them clean.

I washed them 2 or 3 times in the washing machine with baking soda and vinegar. I did scrub a bit my hand with a sponge as well as hosing them down outside.

Inside of pots still have a bit of roots stuck to the bottom and the outside of them is still white from all the salt stains.

Any additional recommendations from what I have already done?

You've done way more than I've ever done with my grow bags.
I brush off roots and such as well as I can then a good spraying with the garden hose.

I have some Honor grow bags too. Haven’t cleaned them yet cause I’m on the first grow with them.

White salt stains on the side of the Vivosun ones just bugs the hell out of me. Figured I could get them almost brand new. Nope!

I’ve been using white vinegar with great results for yrs,all the salt stains are gone every time..the roots sticking to the fabric is another matter.

Flash63 said:

I’ve been using white vinegar with great results for yrs,all the salt stains are gone every time..the roots sticking to the fabric is another matter.

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Just white vinegar and that’s it? You soak em?

To remove roots

After you remove the medium, let the fabric dry out completely, take the bags n rub them together anywhere there’s roots n dirt.

Skoal said:

Just white vinegar and that’s it? You soak em?

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Yes I soak them in hot,hot water first to remove all the grime I can,then wash them in hot water and a cup of vinegar,then turn them inside out and wash them again in cold water.

Skoal said:

I used my Vivosun pots once and cannot get them clean.

I washed them 2 or 3 times in the washing machine with baking soda and vinegar. I did scrub a bit my hand with a sponge as well as hosing them down outside.

Inside of pots still have a bit of roots stuck to the bottom and the outside of them is still white from all the salt stains.

Any additional recommendations from what I have already done?

Click to expand...

Yeah. You should have just let them reused them without the muss and fuss. If you are truly concerned 1:100 bleach:water soak will kill anything. 10 minutes and rinse.

Skoal said:

I have some Honor grow bags too. Haven’t cleaned them yet cause I’m on the first grow with them.

White salt stains on the side of the Vivosun ones just bugs the hell out of me. Figured I could get them almost brand new. Nope!

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Please don't stress about this, I've never washed mine.






=

I put mine in the oven, at 170, of course the wife dosen't know. Kills all!

I reuse plastic pots a few times, I really hate sending all the plastic to the landfill. A lot of growers tell me reusing pots damages yield and I also notice the structure of them getting considerable weaker each cleaning. Tried recycling them and they said that I would have to clean each individual pot before taking them, instead of just rinsing them off. Pretty much wanted completely clean plastic. Was like: LOL *flings into dumpster*

Oh and I have no idea about cleaning cloth pots. Thanks for recycling!

I suck, because I gave up.
After I chop, the entire 2 gallon fabric goes into green waste bin for recycle. I don't even remove the stump or coco. I never use more than 8 for a run.
They are just too economical to replace.....for me.

I've always just thrown in the washing machine I've used bleach or detergent, then run them thru again without adding anything just to rinse them out. They are not clean like new but have never hurt anything. If I was only using a few pots I might consider tossing them also but transplanting time can get expensive and every dollar saved helps out.

GBAUTO said:

You've done way more than I've ever done with my grow bags.
I brush off roots and such as well as I can then a good spraying with the garden hose.

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Yep thats all I do

I've soaked in a bathtub of hot water with oxy clean before then rinsed like a mad man several times with as hot of water I could use. I've also heard of soaking them in an enzyme product - and to find something on the cheap there some have mentioned pondzyme and the likes. I'd never use in my personal washing machine but some have said they hit laundry mats but I'd have to imagine the owner/manager would be pissed if they knew what was up. Or not give a fuck either.. 50/50 on that one.

BigHornBuds said:

To remove roots

After you remove the medium, let the fabric dry out completely, take the bags n rub them together anywhere there’s roots n dirt.

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This^

NewGrower2011 said:

I've soaked in a bathtub of hot water with oxy clean before then rinsed like a mad man several times with as hot of water I could use. I've also heard of soaking them in an enzyme product - and to find something on the cheap there some have mentioned pondzyme and the likes. I'd never use in my personal washing machine but some have said they hit laundry mats but I'd have to imagine the owner/manager would be pissed if they knew what was up. Or not give a fuck either.. 50/50 on that one.

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And this^

Oxyclean and laundry mat washing machine for the win. letting them dry out after chopping the plant is key. The roots and dirt just brush right off.

I use 5 gal Spring Pots. In between uses I scrub the best I can with dawn dish soap, and rinse well. Works for me.

Sometimes I'll soak everything (coco and fabric pot) in enzyme or florakleen or something depending on what's up. Most of the time it's just hot water. Let em dry out and scrub em. Scrub the roots off, scrub the salt off, whatever, but let it dry. It was that bad for me with salts ONCE, now I feed smarter and it isn't a problem.

I dont really get much for salt stains so cant help there. As for roots stuck to the bottom, I have found anything that gives some air flow to the bottoms of the bags makes the bottom more like the sides (no roots) and easier to clean of with a stiff brush when dried. The bags I let sit on the bare ground grew frikin mats on the bottoms...I grow in these baskety tray things now...incredible difference.

For reuse...I let them dry really good and then take them outside and shake and wack them around. Once dry all the roots become little whispy strings that just blow away...
JD