Cube mk2 and WIR

[MedusA]

I usually clean both my eglus with a bowl of soapy water. I'm not complaining when the weather is good, but it does take me about 30 minutes per eglu and on a cold, miserable winter day, it's not quite so much fun.

 

Having read that a lot of people use a power washer to clean their eglu/cube, I've been contemplating buying one.

 

I just wondered how good they really are, how easy to use and which ones you'd recommend?

 

Any advice gratefully received.

[Mrs Kettle]

I go the soapy water route, partly because that's what the man from Omlet told me to do, but mostly because I would worry about the amount of water a power washer used, even if the end result is faster and sparklier.

[WitchHazel]

I started off using a hose with a gun on the end. Then I dug my power washer out of the shed (where it had lived since I bought it to clean the drive, then found it wasn't suitable), and I was...amaaaaaazed at how much cleaner it is using a power washer. No soap needed, and very little water used.

 

Mrs K, even with last year's hosepipe bans, pressure washers were still allowed because they use a tiny amount of water.

[Mrs Kettle]

Sure. But pressure washers are still going to use more water than you would going the soapy-water route. And whilst pressure washers may not have been banned, some councils (eg South Staffs) do recommend reducing their use in order to save water.

 

Ironic to be having this discussion after the summer we've just had, I know!

[chelsea]

we used to do the soap and water method.

 

We then got a power washer and its quicker and much less effort and you do not need any soap/washing up liquid - so after the initial outlay it saves time and money.

 

Also a power washer once you have it can be used on loads of things - cars, patios, patio furniture, windows, etc.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm interested in the outcome of this thread too . I posted a similar thread a few months ago as I use the soapy water and bucket method and wondered about getting a power washer. There are nooks and crannies I just can't get into without dismantling the eglu - totally .

 

I'm still using the bucket, but may still be persuaded by the Omlet effect .

 

Isn't there another thread about power washers doing the rounds just now too?

[WitchHazel]

Sure. But pressure washers are still going to use more water than you would going the soapy-water route. And whilst pressure washers may not have been banned, some councils (eg South Staffs) do recommend reducing their use in order to save water.

 

Ironic to be having this discussion after the summer we've just had, I know!

 

You might be right, hmmm... I'm just trying to picture how much water I actually used the other day. I can judge it because I know that there was a small pool in the nesting box area because I had tape over the draining hole, but it wasn't even enough to cover the whole of the nesting box floor.

 

I would say it was probably a little over half a bucket of water to do everything, including the roosting bars. I also did my wooden steps. There was no rinsing to get rid of the soap, as I didn't use any soap. But I do just use dhort sharp blasts of the washer, I don't go mad with it.

[jlo]

I did get a power washer following a really good deal that someone mentioned on here. I have used it and it was very good. My problem is that the Eglu is some distance from the house and, by the time I have sorted out the hose and lugged the Karcher down the garden, I could have got most of the Eglu scrubbed. Then I would have to lug it all back up again and, quite frankly, I am a lazy tyke really!

[RubyReckless]

We use a power washer - we already had it kicking about in the garage and it is so quick and easy.

[alih]

yes I started the other thread in NB as I had seen the results of a power washer on an eglu and it put mine to shame! I think we will get one as it has other uses as well but I LOVE the new look it gives the eglu - pristine is not the word!

[laurmurf]

Following a tip on another thread (can't remember where) there's a small power washer on Amazon for £40 - it's the Bosch Aquatak100 Compact High Pressure Washer and here's the link:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007P226I/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

 

there aren't any in stock at the moment but it looks okay.

 

Anyone else have one of these to review?

 

Power washers - Omlet effect again.....

[Happybunny]

I used to use a power washer but I found that there were some things that a quick soak and a washing up brush removes much more easily. The power washer blasted everything but the vital scrubbing ingredient was missing!

[Olly]

I don't have a power washer, but I used to find an ordinary hose with a 'gun' fitting worked well.

 

Then I moved the Cube. And discovered on Saturday that the hose doesn't quite reach any more! So it's back to bucket-and-scrubbing brush, it doesn't take long.

[Milly]

Soapy water and brush is ok in summer. But my resolve broke last winter and I got a power washer. It was so cold trying to clean the Eglu, no matter how warm the water was to start with. Plus everything needs cleaning much more in winter because the hens are inside more.

 

Milly

[Mutrix Farmers]

Good old soap and water for me.

 

I'm a bit anti-electric gadgets if there is a perfectly acceptable manual method. We have no need for a power washer (we were advised never to use one on our block paved drive) and I though we were all supposed to be saving energy not finding more gadgets to use more of it!