Butt Cleaning

dcouponzzzz

Hey all, I'm hoping the mods read this before they delete it based on the title!

So I have a water butt for storing rainwater in my garden... It's been there since I purchased the house, and I checked inside on day 1 and it was full of tiny worms and other pond-life so I've steered clear for 4 years now.

This summer I'd like to try and make some savings for watering the grass, but I don't want to get some kind of parasitic infection that'll land me on a TV program. I also would prefer not to open the tap and empty it where it is as my pets use the area as a toilet, and I'd be concerned if they tried to drink the water.

Does anyone have any advice on how to empty and sterilize this without getting parasites all over the garden, or without using cleaning products harmful to the greenery/environment?

Thanks in advance

mummyroysof3

I would empty it using a bucket and tip it down a drain. If mucky in bottom you could scrub with a brush and rinse out then...wear gloves and old clothes and bin everything after if you worried about germs etc.

My other thought would be if you have someone who comes round jet washing dustbins get them to clean once water emptied

MisterBaxter

Well I am just a bit disappointed by the misleading title.

Looking at my own butt I think the only way to really get it clean is with a pressure washer on it's lower setting. It gets all the gunge and green stuff out. Obviously it needs emptying first.

27col

Pressure washing is the only way to go sensibly. Empty it and then lay it on its side.

Valli

Just empty it, then tip it upside-down on the lawn to let it dry. There is absolutely no point in sterilising it as it is set up, one assumes, to catch rainwater which isn't clean anyway. If the critters are living in the water chances are they will all die in the air - problem solved.

dcouponzzzz

Thanks guys, looks like it's bucket on a string time!

Ectophile

Alternatively, stick a hosepipe on the tap and run it to a drain. You may even find that the tap has a standard hosepipe connector built in (mine has).

phill99

Valli wrote: »

to catch rainwater which isn't clean anyway.

Of course rain water is clean. Its perfectly drinkable.

Davesnave

OP, don't ever get ideas about getting away from it all and living in the countryside! We have all kinds of s hit and crap here; animals wading about in it, stuff all over our boots etc at this time of year. Right now, I've been busy smashing ice on the drinking troughs which havent been cleaned-out since I don't know when....but the sheep are all pretty healthy-looking. They get wormed, and I guess your pets might too.

Meanwhile, as perhaps you never went to scouts....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_permanganate

Ebe_Scrooge

OP, I think you're being a bit paranoid. Just empty it out and give it a clean, either with a jet wash or just a nylon pan scourer. There's nothing in there that's going to hurt you. And anything that is living in there will be dead within a few minutes of you emptying it, and it'll provide a delicious banquet for the birds.

ManuelG

Worth a thanks for the topic heading.