Find out the best ways to disinfect your Bluelab products to ensure they are kept clean and hygienic in growing environments:
Safeguard the health of you and your plants by incorporating the regular disinfecting of your Bluelab products into your daily standard operating procedures.
Domestic detergent has been identified as one of the most effective protective measures against germs and bacteria.
You will have widely seen the advice to wash your hands for 20 seconds; the same rule applies for disinfecting your Bluelab devices. By scrubbing for 20 seconds, this will ensure that the detergent covers the device and enters all the small gaps. Remember to only use cool water, especially for pH products, as this will protect the pH probe bulb.
Cleaning and regular disinfection will also help to avoid the spread of pathogens. Pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites) spread through direct contact, airborne particles, contaminated surfaces, food/water, or vectors. To ensure you and your plants stay healthy and thriving, make sure to constantly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and products in the correct way (as stated above), ensure adequate air circulation, and ensure proper personal hygiene.
Below, we’ve listed the cleaning agents you can use to disinfect your Bluelab products. We advise disinfecting your products regularly, especially any product that requires direct contact, such as our pens and handheld meters and probes.
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Demonstration: How to disinfect your Bluelab pH Pen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_-_0xaNkOg
Important Handling & Sanitising Guidelines for Bluelab Probes and Meters
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You should only use products from our Bluelab Probe Care Kits to clean your pH probe bulbs or EC electrodes. These should never be in direct contact with your skin, as the natural grease from your fingers could coat and damage the probe or electrode surface.
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Submerge only waterproof Bluelab products; these include the pH Pen, Conductivity Pen, Truncheon, and pH probes.
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Before initiating any of these sanitising methods, please ensure that the battery compartment of your Bluelab device is sealed and closed correctly to prevent water damage.
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The Bluelab ORP Meter tracks solution quality, disinfecting power, and sanitation throughout the growing cycle. This will help to manage your hydroponic systems and water quality by indicating the ability of the solution to break down contaminants. Learn more about the Bluelab ORP Meter: https://bluelab.com/products/bluelab-orp-meter
By following these practices, you will ensure the best hygiene and sanitary growing environment to keep you and your plants safe, healthy and thriving.
Can Bluelab probes be safely sterilised with bleach or a chlorine product to prevent the spread of pathogens, especially viruses, between plants or grow rooms?
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No, you should not use bleach or chlorine products to sterilise your Bluelab probes, or any glass pH sensors for that matter. These substances can damage the sensitive parts of the probe. You can use isopropyl alcohol (with a minimum of 60% alcohol content) to clean both the pH and EC probes. However, it’s important to note that you should not soak the probe in alcohol. Instead, you can gently wipe them with a cloth or swab that’s been damped with the alcohol. After cleaning, rinse the probes thoroughly with water to remove any residue alcohol. For the pH probe, it’s also important to store it in the KCl storage solution after cleaning it to keep it hydrated.
