Cleaning bakery buckets

[fishy_mcfish]

I picked up a few 5 gal buckets with lids that had butter cream icing in them from a local bakery store and I can't get the things clean! What can i use to clean out the greasy leftovers that are lining pretty much the entire inside of the bucket? I wanted to use one for an auto tip off container so it's gotta be reef friendly type cleaning solutions. Any ideas are welcomed.


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[Vinny Kreyling]

Vinegar?

 

[fishy_mcfish]

Vinegar?

I haven't tried that yet but I was thinking super hot water and vinegar.


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[mcgyvr]

Hot water and dish soap..Then a water/vinegar rinse should be sufficient..

 

[WVfishguy]

None of the above.

Rubbing alcohol with baking soda. Plastics CAN and WILL adsorb soap and only detergent soap will cut the grease. Detergent can leave a phosphate residue. Alcohol and baking soda paste will scour the crap out, and because alcohol mixes instantly with water, no residue can remain. Of course, rinse well.

This is also how you clean glass when you repair an aquarium.

Actually, there may a strange occurrence here; if you've cleaned them at all, there probably is no actual residue in the buckets, but because the plastic is so slick, it simply feels like there is a greasy coating left. I worked in food service for a long time and used many food buckets over the decades.

Whatever - baking soda will rough it up, so it won't feel greasy any more.

 

[fishy_mcfish]

None of the above.



Rubbing alcohol with baking soda. Plastics CAN and WILL adsorb soap and only detergent soap will cut the grease. Detergent can leave a phosphate residue. Alcohol and baking soda paste will scour the crap out, and because alcohol mixes instantly with water, no residue can remain. Of course, rinse well.



This is also how you clean glass when you repair an aquarium.



Actually, there may a strange occurrence here; if you've cleaned them at all, there probably is no actual residue in the buckets, but because the plastic is so slick, it simply feels like there is a greasy coating left. I worked in food service for a long time and used many food buckets over the decades.



Whatever - baking soda will rough it up, so it won't feel greasy any more.

Thanks ill try this! And there is still stuff coming off the sides so it's not just the walls being slick.

Thanks to everyone for the input. I'll try to get them cleaned tonight or tomorrow and report back what happens.


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[lolgranny]

Save yourself the headache, toss them, and go spend $3 on a new one

Those buckets are awful to clean lol. We've got them at my DQ and washing them is a nightmare. I use to save them but now they are tossed.


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[ZenGuitarGuy]

Save yourself the headache, toss them, and go spend $3 on a new one

This. I've been using Lowe's buckets for various aquarium maintenance tasks for over two years, no problem. I have three and have never had to replace them.

 

[fishy_mcfish]

This. I've been using Lowe's buckets for various aquarium maintenance tasks for over two years, no problem. I have three and have never had to replace them.

Do you know if you can store water in those Lowe's buckets to use as an auto top off container? I have one but was concerned with it leaching stuff into the water.


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[lolgranny]

Do you know if you can store water in those Lowe's buckets to use as an auto top off container? I have one but was concerned with it leaching stuff into the water.


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They are food grade buckets HDPE2, they are fine to store water in.


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[WVfishguy]

You would all be surprised over how many buckets I've worn out and broken over the years.

 

[lolgranny]

You would all be surprised over how many buckets I've worn out and broken over the years.

Lol what are you doing with the poor buckets??? [emoji12]


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[Cdogsailr]

Don't be cheap, toss the used buckets. You're spending more money/effort trying to clean them than just buying new food-grade buckets at Home Depot.

 

[WVfishguy]

Lol what are you doing with the poor buckets??? [emoji12]


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When you maintain more than 100 aquariums, and you do it for decades, you will wear out EVERYTHING.

BTW - for godsakes, I can't believe I told him to scrub them out. Just do like everyone here said and get new ones at Lowes or Home Depot. I'm embarrassed. It's not worth the trouble. I just had a brainfart. Sorry.