I just clean my little giant stryofoam incubator, with bleach water, and now it smells like bleach. I have 15 eggs ready to go in, will this smell ruin my eggs? I have the lid off trying to air it out, but doesn't seem to be helping. Any Suggestions?

-- Lesa in Va (Lemaradd@aol.com), February 24, 2002

Answers

I know nothing about these incubators nor the effect of bleach on eggs. But you can somewhat neutralize the bleach by rinsing with white vinegar or water and baking soda. Personally, I do both -- start with the vinegar rinse, then follow up with baking soda in water, then lots more plain water. Hope this helps!

-- Joy F {So.Central Wisc.} (CatFlunky@excite.com), February 24, 2002.

Hi there I have had the same problem but didn't seem to affect the eggs or hatching. I sun mine for an hour or 2. Don't worry.

Karen

-- kiwikaren (fp116@ihug.co.nz), February 24, 2002.

I agree with JOy, I would wash with baking soda. I don't think you should have any problem with it affecting your hatch as long as there is no residual bleach in the incubator!

Kim

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), February 24, 2002.

I don't think it will affect the hatch, but if you're worried about it and your hatchin' eggs aren't too old, you can keep turning your eggs a day or so and clean/air out your incubator. We have kept hatchin' eggs that way for quiet a while and still had a good hatch.

Hope that helps some.

-- Phil in KS (pemccoy@yahoo.com), February 24, 2002.

The bleach smell won't hurt your eggs in the slightest. In fact, you might want to add bleach to the water that you add for humidity once or twice. It will help kill bacteria on the shell of the eggs. 2 tablespoons bleach to 1/2 gal. water. You might find your hatching percentage boosted! Have a wonderful hatching season! :^)

-- Judy in IN (whileaway3@cs.com), February 24, 2002.