Cleaning the inside of a polytunnel

[BlakeyParticipant]

Hello Charles and other polytunnnel owners.
We built a homemade polytunnel in the spring, and it has functioned really well throughout the season. If anyone has any advice on the best/safest way to clean the insides without doing damage to either the the plastic or soil, we’d like to know. We have just thought about using a sponge and soapy water, but is that enough? As of yet, there isn’t any visible algae growth on the plastic.

[RonParticipant]

Hi.
I’ve been cleaning a poly tunnel today that I’ve been asked to make use of at our allotment. It’s large, 20 x 13ft and though quite old and been neglected for a while but the plastic seems really strong. Just used cold soapy water with a soft hand brush and a long handled soft brush for the higher parts. A light swill off afterwards seemed to freshen it up a treat. Good luck with yours.

[charlesModerator]

Yes Ron I agree, keep it simple.
In fact I have never used anything but water, no need for soap from what I have noticed.
It’s easiest in damp weather, either with condensation on the inside or rain on the outside. Tie two old sheets together, then with a person at either end, on each side of a tunnel in rain, pull against each other to clean the green which builds on the outside.

[BlakeyParticipant]

Thanks Charles and Ron
Much appreciated

[RonParticipant]

Good idea with the sheets, Charles. Our tunnel is a bit too high to reach the top properly, even with a long brush. And yes a rainy day is best as otherwise the plastic sheet dries to quickly. Thanks again.

[CleansweepParticipant]

For the top, you need an accomplice and a length of stockinette roll(Mutton cloth) from a janitorial supply depot. Cut off enough to give you sufficient length to reach across from side to side and simply pull back and forth as if sawing.

[Author]

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