Scrape and clean the excluder regularly

Remove your queen excluder during each hive inspection and scrape off accumulated propolis and beeswax with a hive tool. For heavy buildup, freeze the excluder overnight to make deposits brittle, then flex the grid and scrape clean.

Why It Works

Propolis and brace comb accumulate gradually on excluder wires, narrowing the 4.2 mm gaps that workers need to pass through. Cleaning every 2-4 weeks during the active season keeps passages clear and maintains normal traffic flow between the brood nest and supers.

Tips

• Scrape both sides of the excluder, paying extra attention to the brood-box side where propolis builds up fastest
• A hot-water soak (not boiling) for 10-15 minutes softens stubborn propolis without warping metal grids
• Keep a spare excluder so you can swap in a clean one and clean the dirty one at home
• Avoid using open flames or torches on plastic excluders as they warp easily