Cleaning an aerogarden can be an unpleasant task.
While it’s simple, there is an easy and correct way to clean it.
The correct way will not only kill all the germs that may be growing there, but will maintain the aerogarden system.
You should clean and sanitize the aerogarden system before you start new seeds.
White vinegar is non-toxic and earth-friendly. It’s a perfect cleaner.
To clean the aerogarden, find a large bowl to fit its parts. Mix white vinegar with warm water.
Remove parts of the aerogarden and place them all the way under the solution for approximately 20 to 30 minutes to kill any bacteria or pathogens that may reside there. After the time is up, wipe down the aerogarden bowl and any other surfaces, and reassemble the parts when they are dry.
How to Your Aerogarden With Vinegar
Gather the Materials
Some of the materials you will need include:
- White vinegar: It is capable of naturally limiting the effects of bacteria.
- Large bowl: The bowl has to be large enough to fully submerge the aerogarden parts in solution. The bigger the aerogarden system, the bigger the cleaning bowl you’re going to need.
- White paper towels: For cleaning the areas around the grow deck, and the tricky parts to reach.
- Soft towels: For wiping down, the non-submergible parts of the aerogarden like LED lights and screens.
- Warm water: To add to the vinegar to create a sterilizing solution (Warm water will help the dirt dissolve faster).
Unplug from Power Source
First things first, of course, is to disconnect it from the mains power source.
This could prevent you from being shocked with electric shock injury or breakage.
Prepare the Sanitizing Solution
Using the big container, make a solution with vinegar and warm water in a 1:1 ratio.
Blend the solution according to the size of your aerogarden.
This is what you are going to use to soak the taken apart pieces.
Detach All the Aero Garden Parts
To clean and sanitize your aerogarden completely and correctly, you will need to dismantle it
Be sure to review all your aerogarden instruction manual, as well as parts info, before you break it down into smaller parts, since you’ll want this information for when you need to put it back together.
Be certain that each part is prepared for sterilization.
Prep the Aerogarden Pump
Nutrient residue and/or roots that have been established over time can develop and clog your pump; this will stop the delivery of water and nutrients to your plants.
Sometimes the planted aerogarden may even start to sound noisy due to the clog, so be sure to clean it out.
To clean out the pump or aerator filter, remove the cover screw that attaches the semi cover to the pump casing and take out the filter pad.
If your pump happens to be too clogged, you may need to process it through a detailed root cleaning process:
- Grab some toothpicks and some tweezers and carefully remove the roots.
- After dealing with the roots, submerge the parts in the solution.
Prep the Grow Deck
Start by giving both sides of the deck a thorough cleaning with the soft towel to wipe away any surface dirt.
Next, break the tabs that are clasping both sides of the deck apart.
After the two sides are separated, you will need a pipe cleaner and some q-tips to get into all the nooks and crannies of both sides.
Once you have put the two sides back together, you will want to put the whole thing in the bowl with the cleaning solution.
Begin the Sterilization Process
Once the pieces, including all the little parts, are completely submerged, begin agitating the water with your hand or a big wooden spoon to ensure the solution has penetrated all areas and compartments of your aerogarden pieces.
Allow the pieces to sit and circulate in the vinegar solution for 20 to 30 minutes so the solution can kill any pathogens present or bacteria that might be lingering.
Remove the pieces and rinse with running water to remove the white vinegar.
Lay all the pieces on the soft towel or paper towel and allow them to dry.
Clean the Aerogarden Bowl
- To begin with, remove the water that might be in the bowl, and you will likely see algae and a little debris on the bowl; this is due to the continuous flow of water through the bowl.
- Fill the bowl just up to the 3/4 mark with the water solution and run the motor inside the base for roughly five minutes.
- Then, remove the dirty water. Then rinse it under running water, and let it dry.
Clean other Surfaces
With the solution, soft towel, and paper towel, wipe down all the aerogarden surfaces not submersible.
Be careful of the LED light’s fragile glass.
Allow these surfaces to dry.
When all pieces have been cleaned, sanitized, and dried, reassemble the parts and create your next garden (use manual for quick assembly and placing the aerogarden back together).
Benefits Of Cleaning Your Aerogarden With Vinegar
White vinegar is just one of many varieties of vinegar available, but it is the most effective choice because of the acetic acid it has.
You can enjoy a wealth of benefits when you choose to clean your aerogarden with the aid of white vinegar, such as:
- Safe to Use: Since it is a natural product, vinegar will not produce any adverse reactions upon your aerogarden equipment or on your hands, eyes, or skin upon application. It is also clear in color, so it will not produce any discoloration to your aerogarden equipment.
- Cleans Stubborn Stains: When cleaning with vinegar, you are assured a good clean because it’s extremely efficient at cleaning stubborn stains on your aerogarden equipment. The foggy or cloudy grow lights are one of the primary problems you’ll encounter with your equipment, and they definitely don’t look cool or attractive. This pure, natural cleaning product will have your aerogarden lights shining bright, clear of any streaks or haze.
- Not Expensive: Vinegar is inexpensive and readily available and can be found at any local grocery store.
- It Is Environmentally Friendly: Many people like to use vinegar to clean simply because it’s a good, environmentally friendly option. This is because vinegar does not release any toxic substances into the air when cleaning.
- Absorbs Bad Odors: It works by creating a hostile environment for bacteria and viruses to live. These bugs are what contributes to the harsher or unpleasant odors that can develop in your aerogarden equipment over time.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing quite like keeping your aerogarden well-organized and tidy.
Cleaning the interior of a system makes a huge difference in how neat and clean the aerogarden is kept for the life of the unit.
Experts in aerogarden care suggest using vinegar to clean your aerogarden because of its ability to clean dirt also due to the high acidity of vinegar.
Vinegar is also an effective and inexpensive way of cleaning that is non-toxic.
Vinegar is clear and a natural cleaner so it does not leave behind undesired color on the inside of systems.