Two methods are acceptable. The best time to rinse a container is immediately after you empty it or the product may become difficult to remove.

Triple rinsing is done by adding water to the container and rinsing the inside container surfaces three times. Follow these steps to properly triple rinse your containers.

1. Wear gloves and empty the contents of the container into application equipment (e.g., sprayer). Allow it to drain for 10 seconds after it begins to drip.
2. Fill the container 1/4 full of water and replace cap.
3. Shake container for 10-30 seconds to rinse all inside surfaces.
4. Pour rinse water into sprayer or application equipment and allow container to drain for 10 seconds more after it begins to drip.
5. Repeat steps 2 through 5 two more times. Shake the container in different directions.
6. Rinse the exterior of the container as well. Take off cap to rinse and dispose (just the cap) in normal refuse.
7. Remove the foil seal and label booklet.
8. Render the container unusable but puncturing the sides of the container. Never reuse a pesticide container for any purpose.
9. Apply diluted rinse material remaining in application equipment according to the label where the pesticide was intended to be used.
10. Allow clean container to dry. Store container for later recycling or disposal. Contact your local Household Hazardous Waste collection facility for dates and locations.

Pressure rinsing requires a special nozzle attached to the end of a hose that is stabbed through the container side and the container shaken to rinse the inside of the container. The special nozzle has an on/off valve, and when "on", the water released by the nozzle forces the pesticide residues from the container. Rinse directly into your spray batch. Consider eye protection when pressure rinsing nonrefillable containers (plastic or metal). Some people think pressure-rinsing is faster and easier than triple-rinsing. Follow these directions for pressure rinsing:

1. Wear gloves (and eye protection if needed) and empty the contents of the container into a spray tank. Allow it to drain for 10 seconds after it begins to drip.
2. Remove guard from pressure-rinse nozzle, which is connected to a water hose.
3. Place the container against a hard object and puncture the side or bottom of container carefully. Do not puncture against your leg. Either puncture the:
   • narrow side with the handle near the bottom of the container, or
   • bottom of the container near the handle side (not the opening side). 
4. Hold the container upside down with the pour spout over the sprayer tank opening so rinsate drains directly into the sprayer tank.
5. Rinse for length of time recommended by the manufacturer (generally 30 seconds or more). Rotate the nozzle to rinse all inside surfaces.
6. Take care to make sure hollow handles are well rinsed.
7. Take off cap to rinse and dispose (just the cap) in normal refuse.
8. Remove the foil seal and label booklet. Never reuse a pesticide container for any purpose.
9. Apply diluted rinse material remaining in sprayer according to the label where the pesticide was intended to be used.
10. Allow clean container to dry. Store container for later recycling or disposal. Contact your local Household Hazardous Waste collection facility for dates and locations.

 A more detailed discussion on rinsing pesticide containers can be found on this page (http://pesticidestewardship.org/container/Pages/RinsingInstructions.aspx).

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