Cleaning Hives
Arbeiten am Bienenstand
Hives and frames from dead or diseased colonies must not be reused without cleaning.
Hives and frames from dead or diseased colonies must not be reused without cleaning. First scrape them roughly by hand with a hive tool and knife, then either flame them or wash them with hot caustic soda solution. When flaming, it is enough for the wood to discolor slightly; make sure the surroundings are fireproof.
Caustic soda is always mixed cold, otherwise a violent reaction occurs. For cleaning, a hot two percent solution is recommended, up to five percent at lower temperatures, and three to five percent in the case of a notifiable disease, as instructed by the official veterinarian. The solution is highly corrosive: apron over the boots, chemical-resistant gloves reaching above the elbow, face protection. Afterwards rinse with clean water and let dry. Talk to the wastewater authority before disposing of the solution.
With American foulbrood this is not a free choice. Under the Bee Disease Ordinance, apiaries, hives, and equipment must be cleaned and disinfected as instructed by the official veterinarian and under official supervision; straw hives are burned. Flaming alone only reduces the spores. With old frames, the effort is often not worth more than buying new ones.