What you’ll need: 

Nitrile Gloves or Cleaning Gloves (recommended) when operating Farmshelf
1 Alcohol Diluted Spray Bottle
Fill/Drain Vessel (Bucket/Water Cart)
3-4 Cleaning Cloths
1 Soft Bristle Brush
1 Squeegee
1 Shears
1 Trash Bag / Compost Bag
1 pH Solution Kit

Hydrogen Peroxide to Water Ratios (Check your Hydrogen Peroxide for %)

For 35% Hydrogen Peroxide, 25mL for every bucket (5 Gal) of water

For 12% Hydrogen Peroxide, 75 mL for every bucket (5 Gal) of water

For 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, 300 mL for every bucket (5 Gal) of water

Step 1: Drain your Farmshelf: Instructions will appear on your LCD Screen. Open the bottom compartment door on the left. You’ll see two valves. The empty valve at the top is to Drain. Attach your water cart quick connection hose to this valve and wait for a click. On your touch screen activate drain mode under ‘tank’ and then select ‘drain’. You can pause draining and filling if needed on the touch screen.


Step 2: Turn off Functions - On your touchscreen under ‘Water Flow’ Turn OFF ‘water circulation’ and ‘Auto-doser’.


Step 3: Root snipping - Starting at the top shelf, lift the tray cover to find the roots of your crops. To remove crops from pods easier, use your shears to separate the connecting roots. Reattach the tray top and remove crops with the pods from the top- they should pop off easily. You’ll also want to remove all plastic pods in this step. The tray should be empty.


Step 4: Remove debris - The less debris, the less likely you’ll have clogs. Remove plant debris from the top of the tray. Lift to check the tray to remove floating debris. 

Step 5: Remove tray cover - Remove covers completely from the unit and set aside to be cleaned. You’ll also remove any floating matter. Repeat steps 3-5 for each shelf.

Note: Covers are dishwasher safe. Warping is potential in high heat systems.

Step 6: Release the dam on the top shelf - Find the round black dam on the far right drain of the shelf and remove. Do this one shelf at a time. You’ll hear the water start draining.

Step 7: Squeegee Basin - Use your squeegee and microfibers to push the remaining water towards the dam. Wipe down the dam and place back into the shelf immediately after draining (very important to put the dam back).

Step 8: Soft Brush Scrub - Using your brush and light force, scrub the left corner remembering to scrub on and around the water emitter. Follow up this step with scrubbing the back wall of the dam in the right corner. Repeat step 6-8 on each shelf one by one. 

Step 9: Hydrogen Peroxide Wipe - Using pre-made hydrogen peroxide diluted spray, spray the base of the tray. Take a microfiber cloth and wipe down the basin thoroughly, wipe corners and the emitter in the left corner. Repeat on all shelves.

Step 10: Drain remaining water - Completely drain your unit of water.

Step 11: Sensor cleaning - Find the water tank. Disconnect the ‘fill valve’ attached to the tank. Without removing fully, pull the tank out 2-3 inches to expose sensors. Find the sensor holder which holds 3 sensors attached to the right of the tank. Slowly wiggle and pull the sensors from the holder and gently wipe down. Reassemble the valve and tank.

Note: Avoid wiping the tip of the probes for a longer lifespan. 

Step 11: Tank wipe down - Using your microfiber and hydrogen peroxide spray. Spray and wipe down the sides and floor of the tank. 

Step 12: Remove and clean filters - Remove the tank lid. Reach for the black tubing and gently wiggle this up slightly. Grab and rinse filter in an available sink. Place filter back in its groove and pull down the black tube slightly. 

Step 13: Overnight flush unit - Prepare your water cart with the water to hydrogen peroxide measurements. You’ll be running a cycle of hydrogen peroxide diluted water through the unit. Be sure the unit is placed back together: Reinsert sensors, tank, tank lid.
Reconnect your quick connection hose and fill your unit to capacity with hydrogen peroxide diluted water by using the touch screen to activate fill. Close unit doors and allow the unit to run its full cycle overnight.  Final step completed next day.

Step 14: Morning drain - Prepare your water cart and follow steps above to drain the unit completely of hydrogen diluted water. 

Step 15: Refill unit - Refill your unit with a normal water supply to capacity. 

Step 16: Spot check - Do a quick spot check for debris, wipe down unit doors and you are ready to germinate. For more resources, and questions we are always available. Contact support@farmshelf.com any time!