---
title: "Just wondering what you all do to clean your used pots? I clean out…"
description: "Just wondering what you all do to clean your used pots? I clean out the dry dirt with a scrubbing pad then place in sink with hot water and dish soap. Then I…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/YCZlkHxCdAGrY0Lyjdx0Yr"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Stephanie"
published: "2025-02-05T19:36:05.048847Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/everythingHousePlants.jpg"
---

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# Just wondering what you all do to clean your used pots? I clean out…

_Posted by Stephanie on 2025-02-05_

Just wondering what you all do to clean your used pots? I clean out the dry dirt with a scrubbing pad then place in sink with hot water and dish soap. Then I spray with a mix of water and vinegar. Then I rinse thoroughly and let them dry. Do you have any other tips? I know you can use bleach too but I only do that if there was an issue with the plant that was in it beforehand. Please let me kbow your thoughts. Thanks

## 13 comments

### MummaDeb commented on 2025-02-05

I rinse the dirt out then run them through the dishwasher.

### Lynda commented on 2025-02-05

I agree with MummaDeb…. there’s nothing like a dishwasher for speed and cleanliness. Save yourself the hassle, and let the dishwasher do your dirty work!

### Sunny commented on 2025-02-05

My pots are plastic nursery pots that sit alone or inside a ceramic pot. I toss the plastic pots if a plant dies or if i repot. I rarely repot. I use the old soil to fill frog holes my yard.

I use a rubbing an alcohol solution to soak the ceramic pots after washing with hot soapy water.

#### Lynda replied on 2025-02-05

If you’re going to toss your old plastic pots, we can recycle them here in Oregon; I hope you can, too! I also recycle my old dirt; it’s great for the flowerbeds. However, I always let my dishwasher sanitize my pots, even if they’re plastic pots, so they’re clean for recycle, or reuse. It saves so much time and hassle… and voilà… I’ve got clean and sanitary pots!

### Wolfen 🐺 commented on 2025-02-05

Honestly unless something died or there was something wrong, I just toss them in the 'Pots' bin until i need them again. Then wipe them with a paper towel to remove old soil and a spray of 70% alcohol before i reuse.

### Stephanie commented on 2025-02-05

Our local nursery has a bin that we can recycle or pick up if we need one (or 20). I get a lot of mine there so they don't go to waste.

### kenny+plants commented on 2025-02-06

Once I scrub all the soil out, I rinse with near boiling water and let it run out the drainage holes (i use ceramic pots typically) until the stuck bits of soil are gone. Then disinfect with a mild bleach solution or a Clorox wipe.

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