How to Clean Plastic Hive Frames

As more people take up beekeeping for a hobby or a living, more plastic beehive frames are sold. Although the frames come unwaxed, you must apply a thin coating of wax to the frame so the bees will use it. You can get bees to use the plastic hive frames by not offering them the choice of wood or plastic. Simply hang the plastic frame where you want the bees to live and work. Cleaning the frame involves removing the wax from the plastic foundation and hosing it down.

Things You'll Need

  • Gloves
  • Bucket
  • Putty knife
  • Garden hose
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on a pair of long gloves. Clean all the dead bees out of the plastic hive frame by sweeping them out with your hands into a bucket.

    • 2

      Scrape the wax off the hive with the putty knife. Scrape in long, gentle motions down the hive, always scraping from top to bottom. Don̵7;t scrape too vigorously, or you̵7;ll destroy the hive.

    • 3

      Push all the wax down to the bottom of the hive with the putty knife, and remove the wax with your hands by pulling it off the hive.

    • 4

      Spray the plastic hive frame thoroughly on both sides with a garden hose to remove any wax shavings.

    • 5

      Dispose of the wax and the dead bees.