Dear Ian,
 
surely it is also possible to use Hydrogenperioxide for desinfection.
What concentration did you use?
 
> Has anyone tried using Hydrogen Peroxide to wash
> combs with Foulbrood?  After my first winter in beekeeping,
> all three of my hives died of an unknown disease.  .....
 
> A friend of mine suggested washing them with a diluted Hydrogen
> Peroxide solution, and I did, and put new bees in them and they seemed
> to be fine.  Since
> peroxide is used as an antiseptic on cuts, etc, I would assume
> it kills bacteria, which is what Foulbrood is.  No?
 
You are right!
 
> And if it does work, it should be safer than sodium hydroxide, which I
> think is
> the same as bleach or similar.
 
I doubt that it's safer than sodium hydroxide. Both should be quite
similar in efficency if one uses the right concentration. NaOH isn't
something like bleach but an alkaline solution.
 
Sincerely
 
Reimund
 
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Beekeeper in Germany (Bavaria)
Queen Rearing of Carniolan Bees
Insemination Station
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