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  1. #1
    "Sorry" Woody's Avatar
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    My Water Barrel is Disgusting

    My water barrel is all one piece in that I cannot take the lid off of it. It has two threaded holes in the top. One with a screwed on lid and one where there hose from the downspout goes.

    Although I emptied it in the fall it was probably stagnate last summer for awhile. There was a black ooze in there this week and the inside walls are black and pink. I filled it with half way with water and put some bleach in it. The water is clear and the gunk is gone but the walls are still pink and black.

    Should I be worried? A co-worker says I should get rid of it?
    Thanks Everyone!!

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  2. #2
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    There's a whole lotta NOPE in that barrel!

  3. #3
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    What is it made out of?

  4. #4
    "Sorry" Woody's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by janedoe View Post
    What is it made out of?
    I really don't know it's a hard white plastic. I bought it via rainbarrel.ca which does fundraising for schools and groups. I think part of the problem from what I have been reading is that it is white and that allows the sun to get through it and make algae easy.

    With no lid I can't clean it either. I was thinking of sawing a hole in the top of it and cleaning it and then using the piece and some mesh to cover the hole back up. If it doesn't work then just buy a new one.
    Thanks Everyone!!

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  5. #5
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    I would soak it in vinegar. Keep turning it to get good coverage. We get pink slime from our tap water. I use vinegar to clean it off and was told by our plumber that vinegar keeps it under control in the plastic pipes.

    If that doesn't work, I personally would cut off the lid, improvise a new one and turn it into a red wiggler worm composter. It's a great size.

  6. #6
    Senior Dog Black Labbies's Avatar
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    I think we have the same rain barrel; white plastic. We cut the original mesh off (and put on new mesh every Fall) and stick the water gun in it to blast off the gross gunk. I've heard from someone who takes her barrel to the car-wash and blasts the gunk on the high-pressure soap setting.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Bleach ought to do it but where are you going to put that now poisoned water when you're done with it? We scrub ours but it does not get that bad. Car wash sounds like a good idea. Our barrel is blue plastic from a nearby vinegar factory. We lost the lid but a garbage can lid fits.

    LOL, the first year we had a Swish barrel from the nearby whisky factory our backyard smelled like a still.
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  8. #8
    "Sorry" Woody's Avatar
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    Here is the barrel in question. No lid that I can remove is the problem. It just can't be cleaned easily.

    Thanks Everyone!!

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  9. #9
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    How to remove the top of a plastic barrel - YouTube

    But you would have to make a new lid.
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  10. #10
    "Sorry" Woody's Avatar
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    Thanks. I am going to check out a local green garden community that I am going to visit tomorrow. Their website says they have a rebate program on rain barrels.

    On the water, the chlorine will breakdown like it does in a pool or hot tub.
    Thanks Everyone!!

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