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21 October 2012

How To Sanitize Your Chainsaw

Did you know that the bacteria, fungi, viruses and other unwanted microorganisms that grow on contaminated trees can be passed onto healthy ones via your chainsaw? To prevent this sort of cross-contamination, you should regularly sanitize your chainsaw to ensure that any remaining bacteria and fungi have been killed off.

Step 1: Remove the chain and the guide bar from your chainsaw. Your operator’s manual should provide you with instructions on how to safely do this. Use a brush to remove dirt and wood particles that had lodged themselves in the teeth of the chain and the guide bar.

Step 2: Fill a bucket with 9 parts water and 1 part liquid household bleach (or 70% denatured alcohol) until it is three quarters full. The bucket must be deep enough for the chain and guide bar to be completely submerged. A laundry sink could also work.

Step 3: After 2 minutes, remove the chain and the guide bar from the solution and wash thoroughly with soap and clean water to remove all traces of the bleach. Leave to dry on a clean surface before putting your chainsaw back together.

Keep in mind that bleach can be highly corrosive to metal, even though it is highly effective in killing off bacteria, fungi, viruses and microorganisms. This is why it is extremely important that you remove all traces of the bleach from your chainsaw, as this will prevent unnecessary damage. You should sanitize your chainsaw whenever you cut down a tree that is contaminated.

Posted by: Michael in Chainsaws

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