The old thirty day dried hockey pucks don't smell at all. Now if they were a freshly 'cooking' hydei culture full of brown gravy, then yes. Gross.
Some people have high tolerances I guess. I was over at Craig's frogroom making vivs the other day and we both had a few flies in our beer glasses. I drank em down like I always do.
Meh. Nothing compared to baby diapers, Indian food or both of those at the same time.
Glad to see ya over here John!
I reused my containers for 4 years then hubby put his foot down, even freezing them or drying them still yuk in the sink, when you make 35 cultures a month can be daunting. I am reusing my lids, easy bleach water soak and dry.
Phil posted something a few years ago, to the effect of, do they really need to be clean? That made sense to me, of course they don't need to be sparkling, I am going to put bugs in them!!
So I get the "hockey puck" out, rinse with super hot water once or twice, and if there's a bit of debris in the bottom, who cares?
My cultures are working out just as well as when I used to have super clean, pristine cups. The flies really don't care!
FFS people, buy the 'good culture cups' and the FABRIC coted lids and hand wash in hot water, no soap even! Tiny plastic scrub pad -you don't need super clean as it's just gonna be a FF Cx again.
I've seen goofy panty hose, coffee filter and rubber band. Mites congregate around the lip of the lids. Don't make it easy for them. Buy and use the proper cups and have less problems to worry about.
Wash and re-use!
I have cups and lids over 12 years old!
On washing the cups and lids:
I'm seeing posts where people recommend using bleach solutions and soap ect. Why? The fly larvae and media residue is organic and non toxic. Just use @ 120F hot water and a small plastic scrubber square while using rubber gloves of course.
I would not want soap or bleach or disinfectant residue on the plastic cup awaiting the next culture being made up in it!
Just use hot water to clean cups and lids. I've been doing in for over 12 years without a problem.