We're just getting to the stage of cleaning all our outdoor items we're shipping over i.e, gardeny things, bikes, boots etc and was wondering just how fussy we need to be.
Will a good thorough scrub with soap and water suffice?
Any advice, tips most welcome

I was advised to wash, scrub and use disinfectant on these items. Canadian Customs are apparently very twitchy about this sort of thing. I was told that if customs open a box or container to be met by the whiff of disinfectant, they are much more likely to be reassured that everything within is clean and therefore less likely to do a thorough inspection looking for dirty tools, bikes, boots etc. which would delay clearance.

Thanks for that.Strong smelling disinfectant it is then.
I'd better get cracking

We left ours behind but regret not bringing them. Lots of people use Jeyes to clean their garden stuff. It does stink though.

I know there are a couple of things we wished we brought with us especially decent spades as dh keeps abusing them now on our third but appears good quality and actually imported from the UK. Only reason I think we didn't was we shipped boxes instead of shipping container

We used PSS to ship and they sprayed our stuff with canadian approved stuff after we had thoroughly cleaned.

We then signed a decleration form that went with our container,(which PSS gave us) if you do this, makesure you get a copy of the form for yourself as we were asked the question by customs when we went to clear our container and I didnt have a copy, the bloke let us off, but I had a slight panic he was going to pull our container for inspection

Did PSS charge for this Nikki? It's PSS we're using.I remember reading somewhere they could do this for a fee.

I didn't bring gardening tools and regret it. I was anxious about having the container opened (and paying for it) but maybe I should have taken the risk.

I used Jeyes fluid for the patio furniture and cycle.

When we were obtaining quotes the companies all advised that if we were planning on taking gardening tools, bikes etc that they be pressure washed and then cleaned with Jeyes fluid.

I think they charged £20, probably a bit of a rip off, but saved me doing it

We hired a pressure washer for the day and then sprayed all our outdoor stuff and shoes etc with a bottle of spray Jeyes fluid which we got from Wilko's.

We brought our stuff over after giving it all a good scrubbing with Jeyes Fluid (as recommended by the guy at Robinsons (and also PSS)). We painted some of the older looking spades with Hammerite too so it was all stinking and shiny looking!!

Thanks everyone.Really appreciate your advice.The Hammerite is a good idea, as i've got loads of it which would have got binned, so might as well use.

Cheers Colin