If the frames are already scraped you can soak them in a drum of hot lye
solution.  USE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS FOR A STRONG HOT CAUSTIC SOLUTION
(goggles, gloves, body armour and careful movements).   Sodium hydroxide
gives off a lot of heat when it dissolves.  The wood parts will come out
bleached and looking squeaky clean.  I did it once about 35 years ago.  I
had much fewer hives then.  AFB never returned for about 20 years, and when
it did it was from a different source.

I would never do it again,  but the reason is because of the amount of
labour scraping the frames.  If they were already scraped it might be
easier than irradiation depending on how far away and expensive that option
is.  I have found lye is the best thing for thoroughly cleaning plastic
foundation and combs as well, but am unsure whether it is really necessary
to clean them that well (just rewaxing over top of some cocoon material
seems to satisfy the bees most of the time).

Stan

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