Listerine for cleaning water troughs

[goodhors]

Our horses are pretty picky on drinking, so bleach made them quit drinking from the troughs for a while. A COTH tip was clean the troughs using the power washer. We do that with plain water and the troughs look great, no one quits drinking. Stays nice for a couple weeks before the alge is back in summer heat.

I took the two troughs to the car wash the first couple times, to see how the method worked. Had to chase one I did not set next to a wall! Ha ha. Entertaining for the folks washing cars! I did rinse troughs again at home with clean water, to insure there was no car wash residue. We ended up buying a power washer, so now I can wash them at home.

[Kyrabee]

I tried the Listerene (generic) and I have gone back to bleach. The Listerene cleaned the scum fast but it was back in 2-3 days. Tank was minty fresh:winkgrin:. If I use bleach, the green scum stays away at least a week (in summer) or 2-3 weeks the rest of the year. My horse doesn’t mind a bit of bleach taste although I rinse the tank very well. Now she will NOT drink well if it gets green and slimy. I had one mare that used to come lick the tank before I got the bleach rinsed out!

The bleach is quite a bit bit cheaper too. I usually take care of my horse’s water tank. The barn owner cleans tanks once a month whether they need it or not:p. I know, she has a whole farm of tanks to clean so I just take care of my horse’s one tank then everybody is happy.

Susan

[lorilu]

DOes anyone use those small pool chlorine tablets? I have heard they work to keep the algae down…

[goodhors]

@lorilu

DOes anyone use those small pool chlorine tablets? I have heard they work to keep the algae down…

That was suggested to me, but they are for HUGE amounts of water. No way to break them down consistantly for a 50 or 100 gallon tank. One kind was for over 10,000 gallons, with the tablet the size of a half golf ball. I do not want my horse drinking those kind or volume, of chemicals, because they are desperate for a drink.

[Jarpur]

My local store brand knock-off of the original brownish Listerine is $3 for 1.5 liters, so we haven’t found it to be more expensive than using bleach,

The layer of scum comes right off the water troughs (these are the 50 gallon Rubbermaid ones), much more easily IMO than using the bleachy water. Our tanks are looking cleaner, for longer, so perhaps the mouthwash does keep the algae down, but that may also be due to the fact that the troughs start out cleaner overall.

I’ve used both Stock Tank Secret and Stock Tank Defense to help keep algae in check (these products are available from Tractor Supply), although not at the same time; I’d say they both helped a bit, Stock Tank Defense more so. Since switching to mouthwash to clean the troughs, I’ve gradually quit using STD, but I’d recommend trying it.

One of my horses is the curious type, and would consider fishing a tablet out of the trough, so I wedged the STD between the wall of the trough and the automatic float valve, where he couldn’t reach it.

STD is described on the TSC website as containing natural bacteria that break down the organic matter on which algae feeds; STS contains barley straw, and this link explains how barley straw breaks down and eventually retards algae growth: https://pondinformer.com/how-to-use-pond-barley-straw/

[MoonWitch]

Yup, been using Listerine (generic) for years. Love the way it smells and can use it for many things around the barn to disinfect without worrying about chemicals.

[equinelibrium]

Thanks for sharing this great idea! I’ve used Listerine for itchy tails, but never thought to use it for cleaning water troughs/buckets.

[FatCatFarm]

I clean then toss in a capful per 100 gallon tank; less if smaller. Keeps them cleaner between scrubbing, cutting the need to dump and scrub by half. Horses seem to like it, particularly when the weather was still very hot and humid. I use the minty fresh store brand of Listerine.

[4horses]

Please don’t use chlorine tablets. A friend’s horse nearly died from eating one.

[mvp]

IIRC, real Listerine as a longer list of crap-killing ingredients than does generic Listerine. This might be one place that it’s worth the extra money to buy the original formula.