Sanitize cellar
After eliminating the root cause, which led to the appearance of mold in the room, it’s time to move on to the “cosmetic repair” – disinfection of the cellar, which must be completed 20-30 days before the harvest for storage. Before you deal directly with the disinfection of storage, carry out preparatory work:
- throw away the remains of last year’s harvest of vegetables and take out preparations in banks;
- remove all debris and remove the floor layer of sand to the ground, if any;
- take out on the street all wooden elements of designs, carefully wash them with warm soap solution and leave to dry in the sun at least for a week then process with antiseptic and impregnate with drying oil.;
- open the door and all air ducts and dry the room for 1-2 weeks in dry weather.
After these procedures, you can proceed to direct disinfection, armed with a proven tool.
We use a disinfectant solution
The traditional remedy is lime solution, in which copper sulfate is added. To prepare it, take 10 liters of water, 1 kg of slaked lime and 100 g of copper sulfate. Water pour into 2 containers: one to dissolve the lime, the other with vitriol. After that, pour the solution of copper sulfate in a thin stream into the lime solution, stirring the contents constantly.
With a brush, roller or sprayer, apply the solution to the walls, ceiling, concrete floor and all structural elements of the cellar. This tool also disinfect the wooden boards, if you have not yet applied to them another antiseptic. After drying of the first layer of whitewash, repeat the procedure. If the floor in the cellar earthen, pour it 10% solution of copper sulfate, after absorption sprinkle with lime.
Some friends use a 10% solution of copper (or iron) sulphate and to process the whole cellar. Others carry out disinfection with a solution of aluminum-potassium alum, a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate or prepare a strong tobacco decoction (0.5 kg of shag per 10 liters of water).
Fumigate by sulfur
Great effect fumigation of the premises sulfuric smoke bomb. This tool will quickly destroy pathogens, bacterial infections, mold and a variety of pests, as well as scare away from the vegetable store rodents. The drug will appreciate the low price, high efficiency and long-term effect after use.
Before using it, isolate all metal structural elements (for example, grease with solid oil), so that after processing they are not damaged by corrosion, and tightly close all the air ducts of the cellar. Be sure to take care of personal protective equipment-glasses, respirator, gloves, etc.
Fix the checker on any incombustible surface and press the wick between the tablets. For fumigation of 10 m³ of the room you will need 10 tablets. Light the wick and immediately leave the cellar, tightly closing the door behind him. The room after fumigation a couple of days keep closed. Then open all the holes for 2 days for ventilation, and then safely proceed to bookmark the harvest for storage.
The treated steam from the lime slaking
You will need quicklime at the rate of 3 kg per 10 m³ of space. The procedure is similar to working with sulfur checker. We need to seal off all air ducts and arm ourselves with personal protective equipment. Then pour the lime into a capacious container, put it on the floor of the cellar, fill with water and do not hesitate to leave the store. Keep the room sealed for 2 days, then carefully ventilate.
Do not forget that even the most thorough disinfection of the cellar will not be able to protect the crop from damage if you put it in the affected vegetables and fruits. Carefully inspect the fruits before laying them for long-term storage: suspicious specimens immediately start up for processing or throw away without regret.
Vegetables and fruits that you put in the cellar should be cooled and thoroughly dried. With this approach, the harvest will be preserved in the best possible way, and a clean cool cellar will help to extend the pleasure of its consumption until the new season.
Undoubtedly, among readers there will be those who had to fight with mold in his storage facility. Tell us in the comments how you were able to eliminate the cause of increased dampness in the room and how it was disinfected.