How do I Unclog a Roundup Sprayer?

Do you want to maintain a clean and healthy garden? Having the right and properly working tools gets you one step further to ensure you keep a clean, neat, and healthy garden or yard. Amongst these tools is a roundup sprayer. However, for it to be effective enough, you need to learn how to unclog roundup sprayers.

How do I Unclog a Roundup Sprayer

Using a roundup sprayer, you can do anything whether you need to clean your garden deck, control bugs, or kill weeds. To do this the sprayer distributes weed killers or pesticides from a reservoir tank through its wand or sprayer. Nonetheless, to ensure this tool does its job, you should learn how to properly upkeep it. So below, we’ve shared a guide of what to do when your roundup spray stops working.

Steps for Unclogging a Roundup Sprayer

If you notice your roundup sprayer keeps clogging, chances are that it needs cleaning. So, the first step to addressing this issue is to thoroughly clean the sprayer and unclog it. The steps below outline what exactly needs to be done to properly unclog and wash your roundup sprayer.

Step 1 – Empty the Roundup Sprayer’s Tank

Even if you are not cleaning a roundup sprayer, it is a good idea to empty the tank after every use –  don’t let the chemicals remain in the tank even overnight.  You don’t need the chemicals settling at the bottom of the tank as this may have long-term effects. This is because, over time, the chemicals become difficult to clean.

Start by wearing proper safety gear such as rubber gloves, a face shield, and safety goggles because you may be dealing with harsh chemicals.

The first step is to empty the roundup sprayer tank after using it. However, don’t empty the contents as if you were just emptying regular water.

Since the pesticides or herbicides you use in the sprayer may be harmful to healthier plants or flowers, you need guidance from your local health department or environmental agency.

In fact, if not properly discarded, the herbicides or pesticides may even be harmful to pets if you have them around your home. You should not pour the chemicals down the drain either.

To safely empty your roundup sprayer, pour the chemicals in a glass or plastic container so you can discard them later in a safe designated area. Then, seal the container and store it away. Alternatively, you can spray out the remaining chemicals in a large gravel parking lot (in a less populated part of the lot).

Step 2 – Rinse the Roundup Sprayer

Start by wearing proper safety gear such as rubber gloves, a face shield, and safety goggles because you may be dealing with harsh chemicals.

After emptying the tank, you want to rinse it. However, before you do so, check the label on the herbicide or pesticide label to find the right way to clean out the tank.

How do I Unclog a Roundup Sprayer

Generally, you should add hot water to the reservoir tank to halfway fill and squirt hot water through the sprayer until you deplete all the water. When you are spraying the hot water, make sure you spray in a safe, less-trafficked space – keeping away from any water sources, pets, or even, children. Alternatively, you can spray the water where you applied the herbicides and pesticides. After all, it will be the same composition you are spraying on.

Once done with the hot water rinsing process, mix a solution of 1-ounce ammonia and 130 ounces of water to make the cleaning solution.

Fill the reservoir tank with a cleaning solution (about halfway full) and proceed to spray the solution as you did with hot water.

But, do not empty the tank. Make sure the solution passes through the nozzle and wand at least five times to ensure they are thoroughly cleaned.

If you feel that the ammonia solution is not enough, you can opt for other chemicals. Amongst the solutions, you can use include powdered detergent, liquid dish soap (for petroleum-based pesticides or herbicides), or kerosene solution (although you will have to thoroughly clean out the tank after).

 After spraying the cleaning solution at least five times, leave it to rest overnight.  Doing so allows the remaining solution to work into the chemical residues at the bottom of the spray and seamlessly breaks it down. In many cases, you will find a roundup sprayer not working or clogged due to the residue.

During the next day, spray the remaining solution through the garden sprayer until it has emptied. Again, spray out the remaining cleaning solution in a safe place as it may still contain some chemicals.

After completely emptying the cleaning solution, add hot water to the reservoir tank again until it is halfway full.

Spray the water until the tank has emptied.

When this is done, empty the tank and start working on the smaller pieces. Take out the hose, wand, and nozzle. Then, rinse them in a bucket or basin filled with warm, soapy water.

As you rinse them, scrub them with an old toothbrush or a small bristled brush – focusing around smaller crevices to ensure you thoroughly clean them.

After scrubbing the parts, rinse them out with clean warm water, let them dry, and put them back together.

Once you have put the sprayer together, calibrate it for your next spraying.

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