BBKA Forum

I have been cleaning clearer boards:

2018-06-08 14.42.23 by Diane drinkwater, on Flickr

2018-06-08 14.42.18 by Diane drinkwater, on Flickr

Does anyone have any hints to make it easier next time?

Only to leave them in a soda crystal mix soakin for a good while, did that with my porter escapes, helped to clean them up

Agree with Les, soda crystals are top job when it comes to propolis.

To be honest, I gave up cleaning superficial propolis off everything after a while, the bees certainly don't mind. On the porters that is different obviously. If I get round to a spring cleaning kit in a cold frosty spell it shatters off quite readily and gives me an excuse to leave cleaning stuff for later...

If you don't want bees laying down propolis on hive component touching surfaces, a thin smear of Vaseline keeps it clear.

I think I would have left the clearer board for a while yet!
For porters, I have a bunch of extras so once they get too grotty, I collect them in an icecream container and then clean a job lot using washing soda.

Don't soak the ply boards - they'll delaminate and be ruined. Put them in the fridge/freezer and scrape clean. Scorch and scrape again. I paint my ply boards when they're new with water-based blackboard paint so they stay cleaner longer and are easier to clean.