Since contaminations are commonly reported here I thought I'd share some thoughts. So many here have the wisdom of vast experiences here and therefore alot can be gained from those more experienced. I have experience woking in clean environments for many years from which I draw my thoughts. THOUROUGHLY THINK CLEAN Sterile means free of all living organisms. To expect that we will have effective kills on all conatimants from alcohol burners is very dependent upon one's skills and the environment in which this work is carried out. When completing the use with an hypodermic one should thouroughly clean these devices with hydrogen peroxide. Even leaving it to soak in peroxide until the next use would be better than laying out in a room. Soak it in alcohol for a few hours before trying to flame sterilze it would be more adventageous. A more thourough technique would be to sterilize these items the same way you sterilze your casing mixes. Simply use an envelope sealed and immediately transfer it to a ziplock baggie once it cools to room temp. The cleaner these tools are kept the better they will serve you. Keep these items in a sealable plastic container after sterilizing them. For the novice or impatient it may behoove one to acquire fresh hypodermics from pharmacy outlets when he/she prepares to inoculate using that method, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". When innoculating consider using more innoculant per jar as to speed up the colonization process. This will use up resources quicker, bu the pay off will be speeding up the colonization process possibly faster than other contaminating microbes.
I would suspect that a lack of hand washing accounts for most contaminations. When working with our fragile little friends wash your hands and arms thouroughly, lathering for atleast 45 seconds vigorously, rinse and then dry the excess water with a clean towel, (paper towels may be cleaner than your kitchen towel). For the more obsessive like myself use a hand sinitizer after drying your hands just before working with the various grow chambers etc...
Another idea is to wipe down the outside of these containers with a cleaner, being careful not to spray in the direction of the container but rather the clean cloth used to wipe down these surfaces. Wipe these surfaces before and after you work with them. "Cleanliness in next to Godliness".
The more time and effort you place into cleanliness the more success you will meet. If this option of cleanliness does not fit your life or situation you may want to consider consider your initial fruiting as your only one and maximize your efforts towards cleanliness. Every time we enter a grow chamber we are introducing contaminants, the fewer times you enter the better off your chances of staying contam free. Cleanliness is a good thing to get obsessive about. Good luck...
Edited by AtrioVent (09/15/07 07:18 PM)
-------------------- "The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness" John Muir (1890)
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