Seasoned orchid people, what do you use to get rid of salts on your pots?

[Katt]

I've tried everything and the salts keep showing up. I'm talking on used pots, not pots I've used forever but maybe a couple years.
Whaaa?

[Lorraine]

Hi Katt,

I usually soak the pots in a bucket, you can add a little bleach to kill any bactreia but you need to get rid of the bleach. Rinse well and then scrape off any salty crusty stuff with an old sharp knife blade, scrub well and put in the dishwasher run through a wash cycle. They turn out pretty clean. Not new but close enough for me.

Lorraine

[kiki-do]

Yup, I was going to suggest the dishwasher. Good luck. kiki

[Ray]

Soak in a solution of a couple of tablespoons per gallon of Epsom Salts, calcium nitrate, or both.

[Brooke]

Soak the pots first, then use an SOS pad and then into the dishwasher. They will be totally free of deposits.

Brooke

[Des]

I soak mine in a weak solution of phosphoric acid for a few days My wife would kill me if i used her dishwasher for cleaning pots!

[Don Perusse]

Seems to me you have been given all the ideas I have heard of......GOOD LUCK. They are stubborn to get off!

[Ross]

Don! Where have you been? Missed you, guy! (sorry for the jack)

[Tommyr]

I soak mine in a 3-5 gal. bucket with 1-2 cups of bleach overnight. They almost clean themselves!

[lepanthes89]

I use vinegar on the alkaline,salty crust.It fizzes away,then rinse.
I will try the epsom salt though!