How to Clean Greenhouse Evaporative Cooling Pads

  You can clean evaporative cooling pads for reuse in a greenhouse cooler. An evaporative cooler or swamp cooler moves air through a porous pad. The pad is often rotated through a water trough to keep it moist. Moisture evaporation can leave behind a buildup of mineral deposits on the cooler pads. These deposits close the pores in the pad and limit the effectiveness of the cooling system. Clean reusable cooler pads to improve the efficiency of the greenhouse cooler. Follow the steps below to clean greenhouse evaporative cooling pads.

   1.Remove the panel on the side of the evaporative cooler to access the dirty cooling pad. There may be two or more screws or bolts that must be pulled out to remove the panel. Reference the maintenance section of the original owner's manual if you have one.

   2. Pull the cooling pad out gently to avoid tears. Carefully fold the pad so it fits down into the tub or sink. Add hot water to the cooling pad until it is covered.

   3. Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into the water. Wait for eight hours or overnight.

   4.Drain the vinegar and water from the tub or sink. Refill the container with fresh hot water. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the water.

   5.Agitate the water gently until it has a foamy layer of bubbles on top. Press the hot soapy water into the cooling pad. Drain the hot soapy water.

   6.Cover the cooling pad with fresh hot water repeatedly until the soap is rinsed out. Return the damp cooling pad to the swamp cooler. Replace the panel and secure any fasteners that were removed.

  Most manufacturers suggest removing and cleaning the reservoir when servicing or replacing the cooling pads. Distilled white vinegar is often used in a diluted form to clean mineral deposits from the reservoir.
Clean an evaporative cooler pads and reservoir at least every two months of use to keep it working properly.
  Some cooling pads made from natural materials like wood are easily damaged by cleaning. Contact the manufacturer if you are unsure of whether or not the cooling pads in the cooler unit are reusable.