"Lionel" asked for more details on washing soda:

I use 'Dripak' washing soda which is simply sodium carbonate decahydrate.
Dissolve 1kg in 5 litres warm water and add a good squeeze of washing up
liquid.  When I am working bees I use this to clean hives tools, smoker,
rubber gloves etc. see:

http://www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/Newsletters/May2002.htm

Wax and propolis dissolve very quickly.  I also put porter escapes, queen
cages and anything else that needs cleaning into the solution and all wax
and propolis are removed like magic - even used it to get wax off a shirt
when I splashed molten wax on it.

Peter Edwards
[log in to unmask]
www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::