How to Clean an AeroGarden

Clean your three-, six- or seven-pod AeroGarden unit with dish soap and natural vinegar to prepare for the next plantings.

Cleaning the AeroGarden

1. Unplug the unit and position it near a sink.

2. Remove the bowl and grow surface from the stand and place it in the sink. Dispose of the water from the bowl down the drain.

3. Remove all seedpods from the grow surface. Cut away any tangled roots to make removal easier. If the seedpods and baskets are from a regular seed kit, dispose of them. If they are the reusable seedpods from a Master Gardener kit, remove any plant residue from the baskets and dispose of sponges. Put the baskets aside to clean.

4. Remove the grow surface from the bowl and thoroughly wash inside and out of both with warm water and dish soap using a sponge or paper towels. If you have Master Gardener seedpod baskets, wash them as well. Thoroughly rinse and set them aside.

5. Wipe the outside surfaces of the unit with a damp sponge to remove dust and dirt, being careful not to touch the lamp area.

6. Remove the pump filter from the stand. Scrub the filter with a brush to remove any roots.

7. Wipe down the pump stand with a damp sponge or paper towels. Use the scrub brush to remove roots.

Sanitizing the AeroGarden

1. Fill the bowl 3/4-full with warm water. Add 1/2-cup of white vinegar to the water.

2. Place the bowl back on the base and attach the grow surface.

3. Plug in the unit and run it for two minutes. This will pump the water and vinegar solution through the system to sanitize it.

4. Unplug the unit and empty the solution into the sink. Wipe down external surfaces of the unit with the water and vinegar solution.

5. Add fresh water and run the unit for two minutes to rinse out the vinegar solution. Unplug the unit and dispose of the water. Dry all parts of the unit with a towel before reassembling.

Tip

If the unit has been stored since previous use, clean and sanitize it again before starting a new seed kit.

Warning

Do not submerse the unit base and lamp hood assembly in water.

Do not get the lamp unit wet.

Do not use the water from the bowl on houseplants, as it is too highly concentrated.