Apiary hygiene between hive inspections
Build a clean-to-dirty routine for tools, gloves and kit, and know when routine cleaning needs a bee inspector's advice.
Make the gap between colonies part of the inspection
An inspection does not finish when the roof goes back on. Tools and gloves need attention before the next hive. NBU hygiene guidance recommends cleaning the hive tool between colony examinations and using gloves that can be cleaned or replaced. SRUC also identifies cleaning tools between hives and keeping discarded wax and feed out of the apiary as basic biosecurity tasks. NBU hygiene fact sheet · SRUC responsible beekeeping.
The following packing and handover routine is an editorial way to organise those principles. It is not a disinfection protocol.
Before leaving home
- Pack clean tools and suitable spare gloves separately from kit awaiting cleaning.
- Bring a container for used items and a secure way to collect scrapings and waste.
- Agree the site's cleaning procedure with your mentor or apiary manager before you start.
- Check the maker's care instructions for your suit and equipment. Avoid guessing a chemical mixture or applying one material's cleaning method to another.
At the changeover
| Finish this hive | Prepare for the next |
|---|---|
| Close up and record its identity | Check the identity of the next hive |
| Collect loose scrapings and used items | Keep clean equipment away from the used-kit container |
| Attend to tools and gloves using the agreed procedure | Confirm that ready-to-use kit is actually ready |
| Note any concern or break in the routine | Resolve the concern before continuing |
The point of separate containers is practical: you can see what still needs attention without relying on memory. Write a short packing list for your own setup and keep it with the inspection record.
Cleaning is not proof of disinfection
Removing visible dirt does not establish that equipment is safe after suspected disease. This page gives no chemical concentrations, contact times or instructions for treating contaminated hives. Use the current NBU procedure and inspector advice for the particular situation.
NBU guidance advises regular suit laundering according to the garment instructions and cautions against leather gloves for inspections because they are difficult to clean. Read the glove comparison and suit care checks before changing equipment.
If you suspect foulbrood
GOV.UK says to close the hive, contact the NBU or local inspector immediately, disinfect equipment and not remove colonies, equipment or honey from the site until the disease, if confirmed, is controlled. Ask the inspector how to handle affected kit; routine changeover cleaning is not a substitute. See brood disease concerns for reporting context. Official pest and disease guidance.
End-of-visit note
Add three lines to your notebook: which kit needs attention, what must be replaced, and whom you need to ask. An unfinished cleaning task should be visible when you next pack, rather than hidden in the bottom of a kit bag.
Sources and further reading
Editorial review: 2026-11-02. Follow the original guidance if it changes.
NBU guidance was reviewed using indexed official source text. Direct access to the NBU website was unavailable during review; check its current guidance before acting.
- www.nationalbeeunit.com — /assets/PDFs/3_Resources_for_beekeepers/Fact_Sheets/Fact_03_Apiary_Hygiene_and_Quarantine.pdf
- www.sruc.ac.uk — /business services/veterinary laboratory services/beekeeping/beekeeping best practice/responsible beekeeping advice/
- www.gov.uk — /guidance/honey bees protecting them from pests and diseases