Even with the most careful work, dust, dirt and other foreign bodies spread inside and out, so a thorough cleaning of the greenhouse must be planned at least twice a year. Afterwards, not only will the plants feel much better, the house will also last a few years longer.
How do I clean a greenhouse effectively?
To thoroughly clean a greenhouse, you will need a stepladder, bucket, hose, brushes, spatulas, rags, detergent and disinfectant solution. First clean the outside surfaces, then the inside and check for damage and leaks.
If it is kept clean regularly, the semi-annual cleaning of the greenhouse does not have to become a second-rate effort. At least during the last days of late summer and at the beginning of the new vegetation at the beginning of March, cleaning the greenhouse is on the agenda for most gardening enthusiasts. Too much dirt on the panesinterferes with the growth of plantsandpromotes the formation of rot if it is a wooden frame. The following aids should be available:
- stable stepladder
- Water bucket
- Garden hose
- Car wash brush and painter's brush
- Spatulas, sponges, wiping cloths, chamois leather
- if applicable Brush, anti-rust paint, wood preservative, varnish
- Household cleaners and window cleaners
- lots of cold and lukewarm water
- Disinfectant solution and sprayer
Exterior cleaning of the window surfaces
Optimal if it is relatively calm on the day of the major cleaning and the sun does not shine too intensely on the greenhouse windows. Better safe than sorry, so first disconnect all electrical consumers in the house from the power grid. First of all, the entire outer shell of the house should be soaked using a hose or a garden shower and with not too little water so that the coarsest dirt can be removed. The interior can then be checked forany leaks. Ventilation slots, window openings and doors as well as breakthroughs in supply lines are particularly critical areas that often cause unnecessary heat loss in winter. Then the fine work continues:
- Clean the outside with lukewarm water and a generous splash of household cleaner, piece by piece and from top to bottom with a painter's wall brush; Also check the cleanliness of the roof drainage;
- Polish glass surfaces with window cleaner and leather cloth (also repels rainwater!);
- Wall panels andFrame elements especially towards the ground Check for damage and if necessary repair with protective coating and paint;
Cleaning the indoor greenhouse
The easiest way to proceed is to remove all movable accessories from the interior. We don't want to focus on the soil now; we have already reported on its optimal condition in another article.
- It is best to bring potted plants, potted perennials and hanging baskets outdoors or cover them if necessary;
- Dispose of plant remains, waste and garbage from the interior;
- clean all interior surfaces and frame parts thoroughly of adhering dirt with a painter's brush, then clean the glass surfaces with window cleaner and polish with a leather cloth;
- Damp clean shelves, cupboards, planting tables, heating and ventilation panels as well as lighting and irrigation equipment;
As with cleaning the outside of the greenhouse, all supporting elements and windows should be checked for damage and possible leaks and repaired if necessary.
Tip
Complete freedom from germs is rare in a greenhouse, but just spraying the entire interior with a disinfectant can protect the plants from infestation. Pressure sprayers or Kärcher devices make this important work much easier.