Cleaning the DWC

So I have a question for all you innovative thinkers.
I am growing DWC style and it is becoming more and more difficult to clean the bucket with a huge plant sitting on top of it. The bucket is starting to get that slime on the bucket sides and bottom, the pump filter needs to be washed out and the pump needs the slime cleaned off of it too.
Access is little to none (closet).
I changed the water culture 4 days ago and 14 days ago.
I did a total clean out 23 days ago.

So what I am looking for are some simple ways to clean the bucket and pump assembly without hauling the whole setup all over the house to the bathtub and back. The setup is in the corner of the closet behind a dresser.

The last time i cleaned I hung the net basket from the closet rod, but now the plant is too huge to do that.

The leaf tips on the big fan leaves are beginning to to turn yellow than brown which has me thinking it is time to follow the "8 step remedy".
I have a week before it is time to clean so any help is good help!

Does anyone think I don't need to clean the bucket?

I am using botanicare grow and karma right now. Next phase will be botanicare flower and karma.

300 watt CFL + 4 T8 4' TFL.

I am going to have clean this thing out some time, because it is getting near to the next phase of growth and the plant is only going to get bigger. I am going to have to figure something out.
Thanks for your input and help!

what kind of bucket are you using? i just started trying DWC(NOT new to growing) and use 5 gallon buckets. i just get a fresh bucket ready with fresh nutes and stones and swap 'em out. then i can clean the old bucket at my leisure.

when i used what sounds like a very close system when i got to the same point as your self i aquired a spair bucket and pump. then with a little help i would lift the lid and plant as one onto a fresh set . then cleaned and kept ready for the next change.

i now use multi bucket with a seperate rez and keep the nute temps down to a constant 67 . and recurculate everything i now only clean inbetwean grows .

growem green ----------------spike

Pogmahthoin said:

I have a black 5 gallon bucket. If i run to Home depot and pick up one of their Orange buckets will it allow too much light in? Those aren't light proof and I don't need algae or root rot to start

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i am a painting contractor, i use cleaned out paint fivers. they usually are white or grey, i just paint the outside black. it might take a couple coats to get totally light tight, but it will work.

i add 1ml per gallon h2o2 a day and my roots stay pearly white.

how about this one for ya, little work but saves u TONS of time and energy. go to your local hardware store, get a garden hose, a valve switch so you can turn it on to let water through and off to stop it, and a hole saw which im sure u already have dill a hole to match the valve size that you bought, plug the valve in and keep it off, when it comes time to change, screw your garden hose in, take it to your bathroom, nearest window sink etc, i know this parts a bit nasty but u get used to it start sucking through the hose, eventually youll get a bit of some great tasing nutrient water in ur mouth after that physics will do its job and drain out your res for you, ive been doing it for a bit now and its so much betterthan switching out