Clean is Good
All that you really need to know is noted on the Sprouter information pages, but we will put it here too.
Basically you should sterilize your Sprouter as often as you can. We do this rarely in our home Sprouters, but when we grew professionally we sterilized in between EVERY CROP (and we used a high bleach concentration). It is always best to have a clean Sprouter - that way your crop will have a head start.
For years we suggested soaking your Sprouter for 10-20 minutes in bleach water (1 Tbs. of bleach per pint of water is good and strong according to the FDA and local Health Department.) and then scrubbing thoroughly. But, we try to stay away from bleach these days - which is partly why we just use soap and water for the most part.
You can also use food-grade Hydrogen Peroxide, and some folks like Grapefruit Seed Extract. We might even be selling something by now. Whatever works for you is fine. As long as your sprouts are growing well your Sprouter is clean. If you start to have problems, and you know you have good seed (which you know if you buy your seed from us), you should sterilize your Sprouter straight away - that may very well get you back on track.
With a few of our Sprouters (SproutMaster for example) you may need to poke some seeds out of some tight places. We use a paper clip or toothpick for this task.
Whatever you use to clean your Sprouter, be sure to rinse it all out before starting your next crop.
