How to clean Click and Grow gardens

Wondering how to clean a Click and Grow garden? I was too when my first round of basil was done. I’ve tried a few ways to clean it, and this is what works best for me.

To clean a Click and Grow, first pour out the water and remove the lamp, light arms, and power cord. Wipe the lamp clean and set it aside. Remove the plant pods and covers and soak them in soapy water. Pull out the float, then separate the top grow deck from the bottom water tank. Wash the tank, deck, and float by hand, or on the top rack of the dishwasher at no more than 50°C (120°F). Scrub the pods and covers in the sink.

Here are the details for each part of the garden.

How to clean Click and Grow smart gardens?

Click and Grow smart gardens are easiest to clean once you take them apart. The inside of the water tank is much easier to reach once the reservoir is apart. That lets you clear out bits of root and plant debris, plus any pests that moved in.

Taking it apart is also a good time to check for damage and order any replacement parts. Start new plant pods once everything is clean.

The supplies I used to clean the Click and Grow were:

• Lysol Disinfecting Wipes
• Dish Soap
• Sink
• Lysol Kitchen Spray
• Scrubby Brush
• Plastic Putty Scraper
• Drying Mat
• Dishwasher

Here is how I clean each part of my Click and Grow.

Grow light

The grow light is the easiest part to clean. It doesn’t touch the water, so it just gets dusty.

Pour out any water left in the tank. Remove the light arms, the lamp, and the power cord from the tank. I take these parts to the kitchen island and wipe them with Lysol disinfecting wipes. Keep the electrical parts away from water and stay away from the plug itself. Click and Grow says the lamp should not go in the dishwasher.

Click & Grow plant capsules

Pop the plant pods out of the garden if they’re still in there. Transplant the plants outdoors or into pots, or compost them if they’re finished.

I spray the pods and pod covers with Lysol kitchen spray. Then I set them in a bowl of warm water in the sink to soak. Hand-wash the covers, since Click and Grow says the U-shaped lids, the clear germination domes, and the wicks should not go in the dishwasher.

Once the pieces have soaked, I rinse them and give them a good scrub. I follow up with a soap scrub and a good rinse, then set the pieces on a clean drying mat.

Main water tank reservoir body

The water tank is easiest to clean once it’s all the way apart. There are a lot of ribs and ledges inside the tank that are hard to reach through the pod holes.

Start by taking out the float. If it feels heavy, there may be water inside. The float clicks apart into two pieces, so you can pour it out and wash it.

The water tank is harder to take apart, and the first time is the hardest. You can sometimes pull the top off by pulling between the float hole and the first pod hole (see photos here). I use a plastic putty scraper that isn’t sharp but is thin enough to fit in the narrow gap between the top deck and the bottom tank. Don’t use sharp tools, since they could hurt you or damage the plastic.

There are six small plastic tabs inside the tank that hold the top deck onto the bottom. Use the putty scraper to pop each tab off its clasp. The photos below show where the six clasps are.

Once the tank is apart, wash the parts by hand or on the top rack of the dishwasher. Click and Grow says the tank, tank lid, and plastic cups of the Smart Garden 3 and 9 “can be washed in the dishwasher, but do not use temperatures higher than 50 °C / 120 °F.” It also notes that “any product malfunctions caused by dishwashers are not covered by the warranty.” If you have limescale, Click and Grow says it “can easily be dissolved with some mild food vinegar or citric acid solution.” Check out the video tutorial on this page for more on using a dishwasher to clean your Click and Grow parts.

Click and Grow cleaning FAQs

Can you put a Click and Grow in the dishwasher?

Yes, in part. Click and Grow says the tank, tank lid, and plastic cups of the Smart Garden 3 and 9 can go in the dishwasher at up to 50°C (120°F). The lamp, domes, U-shaped lids, and wicks cannot.

How do you remove limescale from a Click and Grow?

Click and Grow suggests a mild food vinegar or a citric acid solution, then a good rinse.

What should I do after pests in my Click and Grow?

Click and Grow says to wash and disinfect the garden and wait at least 3 weeks before planting new pods. It names ethanol as a good disinfectant.

How often should I clean my Click and Grow?

Click and Grow recommends cleaning the garden before you put in a new set of plant pods.