Michael Francis in England asked about spring cleaning.
Michael, no cleaning might be necessary.  Knowing your climate, and with
your statement that the bees have been bringing in pollen for several weeks,
you should remove your mouse guard.  On a day when the temperature is at
least 55 degrees, take off the covers.  Remove one of the two frames closest
to a side.  there shouldn't be any brood in it.  Set it aside.  Look at the
next frame, using a little smoke if necessary.  It probably won't have any
brood in it.  If not, remove it and set it aside.  If it does have brood in
it, slide it over where the other end frame was.
 
Look at the bottom board where the one or two frames were.  Is there a lot
of dead bees?  If not, keep moving frames and looking at the bottom board.
If you get 1/2 way through the frames and don't see a lot of dead bees,
slide the frames back to where they started, insert the frame(s) you took
out, and close the hive.  You're done; no cleaning.
 
If you do see a lot of dead bees at any time in the inspection, stop.  No
need to look further.  Use your hive tool and "crack" the hive from the
bottom board.  Do this on both sides.  Lift the hive, and put it on top of
the covers (on the ground), as close as possible to the hive.  Using your
hive tool, scrape all the dead bees off the bottom board.  Put the bottom
board back, put the hive on top of it, replace the frame(s) you took out.
Close up the hive.  You've just cleaned it.
 
[log in to unmask]