Even with the most careful work, dust, dirt and other foreign bodies spread inside and outside, so that a thorough cleaning of the greenhouse must be planned at least twice a year. After that, not only are the plants doing much better, but the house will last a few years longer.
Diseased or dead plants should be removed as soon as possible to avoid infection
If it is kept clean regularly, the six-monthly major cleaning in the greenhouse does not have to become a second time-consuming effort. At least during the last days of late summer and when the new vegetation begins in early March, cleaning the greenhouse is on the agenda for most gardeners. Too much dirt on the windows disturbs the growth of the plants and promotes rotting, if it is a wooden frame. The following tools should be available:
- stable stepladder
- water bucket
- garden hose
- Car wash brush and paintbrush
- Spatulas, sponges, mops, chamois leather
- If necessary, brush, anti-rust paint, wood preservatives, varnish
- household cleaners and window cleaners
- plenty of cold and lukewarm water
- Disinfectant solution and sprayer
Exterior cleaning of window surfaces
It is ideal when there is relatively little wind on the day of the major cleaning and the sun is not shining too intensely on the greenhouse windows. Better safe than sorry, so all electrical consumers in the house are first disconnected from the mains. First of all, the entire outer shell of the house should be soaked with a hose or a garden shower and not too little water so that the coarsest dirt can be loosened. Subsequently, the interior on this occasion can be the same any leaks are checked. Ventilation slits, window openings and doors, but also openings in supply lines are particularly critical points that often cause unnecessary heat loss in winter. Then the fine work continues:
- Clean the outside with lukewarm water and a strong shot 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 (it also repels rainwater!);
- wall panels and Frame elements especially towards the ground check for damage and touch up with protective coating and paint if necessary;
Cleaning the greenhouse indoors
The easiest way to proceed is to remove all moving accessories from the interior. We do not want to devote ourselves to the floor now, we have already reported on its optimal condition in another article.
- It is best to bring potted plants, potted perennials and hanging baskets outside or cover them if necessary;
- Dispose of plant debris, waste and garbage from the interior;
- Thoroughly remove dirt from all interior surfaces and frame parts with a painter's brush, then clean the glass surfaces with window cleaner and polish with a leather cloth;
- Damp clean shelves, cupboards, plant tables, heating and ventilation panels as well as the lighting and watering equipment;
As with cleaning the outside of the greenhouse, the same applies here as to checking all load-bearing elements and the windows for damage and any leaks and repairing them if necessary.
tips
Absolute freedom from germs is rarely the case in the greenhouse, but spraying the entire interior with a disinfectant can protect the plant population from infestation. Pressure sprayers or Kärcher devices make this important work much easier.