Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: EOHenry on October 16, 2005, 11:09:24 pm

Title: Cleaning up propolis?
Post by: EOHenry on October 16, 2005, 11:09:24 pm

All you long time beekeepers- What  is the best thing to use on propolis to break it down to clean off tools, hands, clothes, etc.? I am just done extracting my last honey and am cleaning up tools,etc and wondered what to use on my gloves, hive tool and my bluejeans.
Thanks for any info!

Henry

Title: Cleaning up propolis?
Post by: Joseph Clemens on October 17, 2005, 12:50:24 am

Soap and warm water works okay for me.

Title: Cleaning up propolis?
Post by: Michael Bush on October 17, 2005, 08:51:23 am

I haven't tried it but some say the hand cleaners for mechanics work well on it.  You know, like Goop or the orange stuff.

Title: Cleaning up propolis?
Post by: mat on October 17, 2005, 10:55:48 am

Alkohol.

Title: Cleaning up propolis?
Post by: Gabriella on October 17, 2005, 11:05:33 am

We have found that alcohol works well for disolving propolis.  It will work even better when warmed.  The 91% available at the drugstore or Walmart is the most efficient, but the typical 70% isopropyl does the job too.

Title: Cleaning up propolis?
Post by: Jay on October 17, 2005, 11:44:08 am

In the Oct. issue of Bee Culture there is a letter stating the last word on cleaning up propolis is ammonia. He claims the ammonia cleans up his tools, hands etc. and then he tosses it in the garden and the plants benifit from it! I would think it would kill the plants, but you gardeners would know more about that than me! :D

Title: Cleaning up propolis?
Post by: Apis629 on October 17, 2005, 03:28:52 pm

Quote

I would think it would kill the plants, but you gardeners would know more about that than me!

Amonia actually raises the level of nitrogen in the soil and because nitrogen is a catalyst for the reactions inside plants, they become bigger, grow faster, bloom more, and are generally healthy.

As for the main topic, I have found that for removing propolis from a hive tool it works to just heat is up inside a smoker for about five minutes(only heat one side).  Get a heat mit, grab it by the unheated side and jab the heated side into sand repeatedly.  I have found this to work quite well and, as for removing it from clothing...it usually comes out in the wash. (use Oxyclean)