Sterilizing cutting tools

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

I'm leery of using the flame techniques as I am a klutz and I would rather loose an orchid than get a bad burn- heresy, I know.
I'm a doctor and there are viricidal cleaning products for medical equipment. I've been using Xacto blades as I find the handle stabilizes the blade, and then discarding them. I've also used surgical scalpels which are actually the same thing only sterile. I'm going to have to come up with a less costly way though especially as I collect more and more 'chids!

Hi Connie,

I personally don't go with the flame approach either and have always thought it to be a "guy thing". (Apologies to any gals on the Forum using it, however.) I use disposable single edge razor blades and then discard them. For knives, I use plastic handled steak knives and do sterilize them in a 5% chlorine solution.

To the best of my knowledge, chlorine evaporates and if the solution is left out in the sun, the chlorine will dissipate.

I am not a chemist by any means but I am very suspicious of the info Baz got, as it flies against all previous information I have ever heard. Perhaps someone can clarify this for us all.

CL