How do you clean your incubator?

Okay, I am freaking out a little because I am setting eggs tomorrow for my sons class. I really want it to go well. I bought a Brinsea mini last month and did a trial run. What a great little incubator!!!

But, I meant to order the cleaner from the Brinsea website too - but forgot. So, I cleaned the bator with soap and water. Is that okay? Should I bleach it? Last year my first hatch (in a hovabator) went really well. I cleaned it with a bleach solution, set it in the sun for a while and set another batch. Well, that went horrible - 2 chicks out of 40 made it. Now I am wondering if it was the bleach. I did everything the same as the first hatch. ??

Is just cleaning it with dishsoap and water okay?

Thanks! I am stressing because I want the kids to be able to have some fuzzy butts to cuddle in the end. Good grief, does everyone else stress out this much???

Hi Blackdove,

You can use a VERY VERY mild bleach solution, but be extremely careful not to get it on any metal parts (screws), or the sensor assemblies or fans. You should also wipe it off with clean water after a couple of minutes.

I got a warranty call last week from a very high-profile bird breeders nearby me here because the sensor in his Ova-Easy 190 was not working. This unit was delivered in February, and when I pulled the sensor out, it looked very aged. After I replaced it, I was looking at the trays and racks in the machine and they were all very corroded. After I did some questioning, I found out that they were cleaning it with a very strong bleach solution and wiped the sensor, causing it extreme damage.

The Brinsea Disinfectant is great, I use it on everything now, its soft, safe and easy to use. It also goes a long way. If you do decide you want some, contact me directly before ordering. If you want more than one, freight should not change, but Paypal cannot figure that out so I can invoice you directly and you can avoid that.

Thanks,
Clayton

Thanks for your reply Clayton! I was hoping to hear from you. I would like to get the disinfectant. I will email you later when I get back from the school.

I decided not to use any bleach. Just washed it with mild dishsoap and rinsed/wiped with water.

Thanks!!

Thank you Clayton!!! Wow, the disinfectant got here fast