cleaning sand

[littleraspberry]

Hello all!
Not sure this is the right place for this post, wasn't sure where else though!
I've bought a small sandpit for my littlies, and keep it covered whenever we're not using it. However, I'm not sure how long and 'lasts'. I know about regularly sieving it through, but how regularly? Is every two weeks sufficient? Also, I used to know a teacher who poured a few kettles of boiling water through sand last thing on a Friday. She reckoned that sterilised it. Was she right?

[onceinabluemoon]

Hello all!
Not sure this is the right place for this post, wasn't sure where else though!
I've bought a small sandpit for my littlies, and keep it covered whenever we're not using it. However, I'm not sure how long and 'lasts'. I know about regularly sieving it through, but how regularly? Is every two weeks sufficient? Also, I used to know a teacher who poured a few kettles of boiling water through sand last thing on a Friday. She reckoned that sterilised it. Was she right?

Hmm, speaking as a biologist, I very much doubt it was all sterilised but probably a lot cleaner than before she did it so good as...

I make up Milton fluid (as for making bottle steriliser up) and literally drench the sand in it, so the sand is sitting in water, then drain it out.

I just keep topping it up through the summer but my mindees are pretty good at keeping it clean and if any falls on the floor it gets brushed up and thrown on the garden not put back in the sand tray.

[mama2three]

i seive it and pour miltons through it - seived every week or so , miltons every month or so. other than that i just dig it over regularly and my lot were happily playing in last summers sand much of the afternoon.

[Katiekoo]

Really glad to find this thread - my sand goes green after just a few weeks even though it is covered!

[littleraspberry]

Thanks for the replies. I hadn't even thought of Milton!

[SandCastles]

Thanks for asking this question , i was also wondering, milton and sieving sounds like a money saver for me as well, and then I know its clean. Last year we emptied and filled with fresh sand every month, but this method should make the sand last longer.

[KimW]

I regularly use sterilising liquid too, even own brands which are much cheaper work just as well. I also regularly sieve bits out never but back spilt sand.