Hives and frames must be cleaned before reuse. Mechanical cleaning is also the necessary first step before any disinfection.

The tools

• The hive tool: The most used tool; scrapes propolis and wax
• A sturdy scraper for floors and rebates
• A wire brush for stubborn residues on timber
• A soft brush for finishing

Why mechanical cleaning comes first

Wax and propolis residues flare when they meet an open flame. Anyone flaming a hive part without scraping first gets a flare-up.

Those residues also protect the spores beneath them; the flame then does not reach the timber.

Where most of it sits

• Rebates: Where the frame lugs rest; propolis builds up fastest here
• The lugs themselves
• Corners and cracks: Also where spores accumulate
• The floor: The dirtiest and dampest part of the hive

Scraping the rebates makes every subsequent job lighter. A propolised rebate means every frame must be levered out with force.

Chilling helps

Propolis is sticky at room temperature and brittle when cold. Winter work has that advantage; small parts can be chilled briefly.

Hygiene of the tools themselves

The hive tool is the item that most often carries disease between hives.

• Clean between hives, or at least between groups
• Flame it where disease is suspected
• An alcohol pot in the field — open flame, so with care

What mechanical cleaning does not do

It removes dirt, not spores. American foulbrood spores remain viable for decades; only flame or boiling in soda solution kills them.