Clean pots

Well I always do, and with a bit of Milton or something as well in the water, then I rinse very thoroughly.

B uses disinfectant rather than washing up liquid to kill any bugs.

I don't see the need for washing-up liquid. I wash in plain water then drop the puts into a tub of disinfectant for a few minutes before putting outside to dry,
The RHS is starting to put out that washing pots is un-neccessary. I have always washed mine before re-use and will continue to do so.

I've got a confession to make here - Its such a faff washing the damn things, I usually don't bother unless there's been a problem with plants in a container! And I remember my Dad (great gardener) never washed pots, and always used garden soil in them - which is also a no no. I don't do that, though, its a bit too risky for me;-)

I just drop the plastic ones in one of the water butts and leave them there for a while. Clay pots though are a different matter. these I scrub with silver and and then soak in a mild bleach solution. Being porous these definitly do harbour fungus etc.

I have been known to put them in the dishwasher on an eco setting

I used to never wash them unless they looked dodgy or the previous plant had something wrong... until I read you should wash them and now I do, but never had any problems when I didn,t.

I just brush out my plastic pots with an old washing up brush to get rid of the stuck on soil. I wash the clay ones with soapy water though and Jeyes Fluid.

Thks loads of great comments

I've never washed pots and have grown hundreds of things in them, especially fuchsias. Rarely had a problem.....and then I doubt it came from the pots.

Me too - I've never washed pots either and never had any problems

Most of the ones we wash have had special alpine bulbs in them which we repot every year. We always wash the pots to ensure there is not risk of infect. Certainly would not bother for some things but B does all the pots so...

I will tell you when it is absolutely essential to sterilise any pot, that is when you have found root aphids in the compost of a plant you are planting out or repotting. Even if you cannot see the individual pests, you can tell if they are there by the 'flour' like white dust on the inside of the pot.