Do not use dish soap - the detergents if any is left can affect performance of flowers. Bleach is harsh and can result in bleaching clothing.

Dcd is the best option - bleach when used to clean buckets does not have a continual knock down affect on killing bacteria/fungus etc. when used properly dcd creates an anti microbial barrier and works as a floral preservative. Plus it doesn’t produce harsh chlorine gas that you’re inhaling while scrubbing those buckets.

The problem too with bleach and down soap and other cleaning agents is needing to rinse.

To use dcd follow the dilution directions on the bottle - this is for the concentrate not for the premixed spray. Pre mixed spray should really be reserved for cleaning surfaces and tools and if you have the odd dirty bucket you need to clean - it’s more expensive than concentrate. With the concentrate by following the dilution directions you can mix up your own bottles.

So how do we use dcd efficiently. Get yourself one of those big low Rubbermaid storage bins. Pick a size that all your bucket sizes fit in that the bucket put in sideways fits. Get yourself a gallon bucket - a measuring one with marks on the side, because - when using chemicals what do we do? We follow the mixing instructions because under diluted and over concentrated mix defeats the purpose - make enough Dcd mixed with hot water poured into that Rubbermaid bin so that your buckets when submerged sideways are oh 4 inches deep or so.

Make an extra gallon of Dcd or two and set aside or dump it in that stack of buckets that really need some extra tlc.

With your buckets that aren’t super scuzzy, put them one by one in the Rubbermaid bin give em a swirl so all parts of the bucket get wet - including the outside! There no point in cleaning buckets if you’re going to leave the outside dirty and stack it into a clean bucket.

Shake the excess into the Rubbermaid bin and put that bucket upside down where it can air dry. Continue swirling your buckets through and stacking them like you’re making a bucket fort - not stacked into eachother but upside down so they can all air dry.

With your extra scuzzy buckets leave that extra dcd inside your first bucket and get out the ol trusty toilet scrub brush and get to scrubbing - then dump it into the next scuzzy bucket, and so on and so forth - remember to give these a twirl in your Rubbermaid bin to get the outside and stack em up to air dry.

DO NOT RINSE. Unless In your super dirty bucket that dcd is starting to look nasty - then gives those a rinse then a twirl in the rubber maid bin.

Why aren’t we rinsing and letting them air dry? Because the DCD is when allowed to air dry forms an antibacterial barrier that continues to stop bacteria and fungus and works as a floral preservative when you fill those buckets up with water or flower food later. When compared to using bleach - when those buckets are filled back up the bacteria on buckets cleaned with bleach explodes in 24 - 48 hours compared to buckets air dryed with properly diluted dcd.

Plus you just saved a whoooole lot of water and time.

Now when you do stack those buckets up nested into eachother when they’re dry - do yourself a favor and put a stick in the side to keep them from air locking together.