Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey guys:

We cut open two IBCs two. I had my son try to wash out the veg. oil that was in them. It just isn't coming out.

Any suggestions as to how to clean the oil out?

I was thinking of going to the car was today where they have warm soapy water and a high pressure sprayer.

Is there an easier backyard way?

thanks

detergent and hot water... just like washing a massive bowl.

You can also use oven cleaner that you buy in a pressurized can but use with extreme caution including eye protection and some sort of a breathing mask. spray it on, wait 30 minutes, then hose it off and give it another good clean once it's rinsed off.

Is the vegetable oil a film covering the inside of the IBC? In this case, some ordinary dish-washing detergent with a little hot water and some elbow grease is all that is required. As the Nepalese say, "Pistari, pistari," which means "slowly, slowly," do a little area at one time and you'll get there in the end. Try some general-purpose or kitchen surface cleaner which is advertised to "cut through" grease, then wash out the IBC with mild soap and rinse well.

If you want to clean the IBC with chemicals and have the ability to dispose of the residue and wastes properly (i.e. NOT in the storm water drain) and have the ability to then clean the used chemical from the IBC, to dissolve oil/grease you can use commercial degreasers (either BBQ or engine degreaser works OK), oven cleaner (sodium hydroxide aka caustic soda) or even petrol. These are all nasty solutions and require further clean up before the IBC can be used; the chemicals are all dangerous to handle/use and create toxic fumes/vapours. Unless you don't like your grass, don't clean your IBC on the lawn; cleaning your IBC on the pavement will cause stains which are even harder to remove than the oil contaminant!

If the oil has coagulated into thick a thick, sticky ooze then a high pressure cleaner will be the best (non-chemical) solution. Does your local car-wash have a degreasing bay?


Scott

my totes had vegetable oil in them.. in the yard with a hose, i used detergent and a brush, hosed it out, then a diluted bleach rinse, then a diluted vinegar rinse
i had to do a couple of the totes 2x

I wouldn't use petrol... it's a pretty nasty solvent and may impregnate the plastic. or alter its chemical structure.

Stick to "household" chemicals

I bought some cheap bleach, scrubbed with a broom and spent a week filling and draining and drying the IBCs in the sun, to remove any traces of the bleach. Worked a treat for me and not too expensive.

Wow! You guys are great and very

Thanks for the advice.