Cleaning Water Buckets

I’m concerned about keeping our horse’s water buckets clean. So far, I have spritzed them every day with a weak bleach solution followed by a spritz of club soda with separate sponges. Any comments or alternatives?
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Q. I’m concerned about keeping our horse’s water buckets clean. In summer and winter (heated buckets) there is always scum on the inside. So far, I have spritzed them every day with a weak bleach solution followed by a spritz of club soda with separate sponges. My friend commented that I might not be getting all the bleach out; however, I do rinse with plain water as the last step. Any comments or alternatives?

—Terri

A. You should scrub the inside of the buckets (I assume they are rubber or plastic) with a brush, such as a stiff toilet brush (the handle is handy) or general household scrub brush, then rinse with potable (drinkable) water. Routinely, this is all that is needed on a daily basis.

If there is a disease problem at the farm, or if it is a facility where drinking buckets are switched between horses, then the buckets should be scrubbed, rinsed, then washed with a mild detergent (e.g., Tide), and rinsed. A bleach solution (follow directions on the label) should be swished in the bucket and allowed to remain for 5-10 minutes, then thoroughly rinsed again. You might also want to look at a disinfection article I wrote for The Horse in November of 1999. If you need information on disinfecting stalls, see article #14970 at www.TheHorse.com

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Written by:

Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPM, is an equine extension veterinarian and professor at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington, where she also serves as director of the preveterinary advising program. She specializes in veterinary preventative medicine.

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