One of the most important things when it comes to maintaining your polytunnel is sunlight. Sunlight allows plants to grow. Too little light and plants within your polytunnel will soon begin to suffer. Cleaning a polytunnel is also important - if you clean your polytunnel it will let more light in, to the benefit of the plants you are trying to grow.
In summer, it can be a challenge to keep the temperatures in a polytunnel at a reasonable level, since there is so much sunlight shining through the polytunnel cover. Other seasons with low light levels can be the major impediment to growing your own food.
How To Clean Your Polytunnel
Before you begin a deep clean of the inside and outside of the tunnel, it is a good idea to tidy up and clear out any old pots, labels or plant debris that might be lying around. Sweep any paths and check corners for any pests that might be hidden there.
The next job is to clean the outside of the polytunnel, which may have become dirty over time. It is important to clean the algae and other dirt (bird dropping, etc) off of the polytunnel.
A window cleaning brush or car wash brush can help you to reach the top of the polytunnel. For larger tunnels, you can create a cleaning rope (rope, with an old sheet wrapped around it) that can be pulled back and forth by two people across the top of the tunnel and used to clean the structure.
Alternatively, a high-pressure jet of water from a pressure-washer can make the job a lot easier and should be strong enough to dislodge most dirt and algae. A pressure-washer will also allow you to get into any creases where the plastic cover is folded around the ends of the polytunnel.
Once you have done this, begin cleaning the inside of the polytunnel cover. First, wipe off any algae that may have grown inside, and clean off any dirt with water on a soft brush or sponge. Once you have done this, you may already see that your polytunnel has become lighter and brighter.
