Guys, I need your advice.  I found a sweet deal and got a shipment of food grade 55g barrels for $10 each.  I'm going to cut the barrels in half and make fig containers out of them.  The barrel has all but about a gallon of the syrup removed.  I've tried scraping this stuff out and it's not working.  I never knew how sticky this stuff was until I cut the barrels and tried scraping it out.  I've already broken 3 spatulas!!!!  Only the bottom portion of the barrel has the syrup but I tried boiling water and it just not working. 

Is there anything I can buy that will cut that syrup and make it easy to pour out?

Now that winter is here, there is no way I can clean out those barrels.  Here's a thought!  Maybe if it was frozen, I could pop it out in one piece.  I have tried that yet but its a thought.  Any suggestions?

thanks in advance!

I don't know I would bother if a huge effort. Just fill with you potting mix as I don't see what the remaining syrup would hurt. Maybe it will sweeten the figs;)

You know Strudedog, I did not think about that.  Hmmmmm.  That just might be the solution.

Let the racoons get in on them.....................?any bears about?

I agree leave the syrup, it can feed beneficial microbes in the soil. I would inoculate the soil mix with mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial microbes.

Very funny Liza!  But it's winter time in Charlotte and all of the critters don't come around my trees in winter except mice and rats.  And the hawks do a good job getting them. 

I thought about kitty litter but I don't have any pet cats and not sure how it would work.

Since it is mostly sugar could you soak the half-barrel in water (the warmer, the better) for a day or two.  Maybe add a little detergent too.  Once it is re-hyrdated I would think it would be much easier to remove - perhaps with a hose and spray nozzle attachment.

I'd go with soaking the barrels too. Or perhaps cutting the barrels in half and letting them totally dry, and perhaps like freezing, peel the stuff out.

I would not leave it in the barrels. Sugar (like salt) is used as a preservative (jam/jelly) because it kills cells by drawing water from inside them. You wouldn't want that to happen to any fig roots if there was too much syrup remaining.

The water might work. The first time I tried using water it did not work. The syrup is industrial super thick syrup. I mean real thick. Thicker than cane molasses! Water doesn't even mix. I'll try again. Thanks!

You might try alcohol or acetone, soak and then rinse that out.  The warmer it is the better it will work.  If you leave the syrup in it will mold and potentially kill your plants as it slowly dissolves in the water.

You need an industrial size microwave to put those barrels in to heat em up and pour it out. Lol

I had that with my water system. Just put water and allow it to soak... however if you put a bunch of wood chips at the bottom, eventually it will flush out with watering the trees and a bit of syrup, should make the figs sweeter, those syrups are used are being used for food consumption...should not be as bad as other stuff people put in like fertilizing, poison, gnat control...

I agree with those that just say ignore it.  

I would not ignore it. You will have a huge ant problem, besides whatever harm it does to the roots. If you leave the barrels out side the ants and other critters will make short work of it. The fastest way would be to use a pressure washer, preferably with hot water. Good luck!

Dennis, that was a really *sweet* deal for you!
I would agree with ADelmanto, leave them outside half-cut with drilled holes at the bottom and the Nature clean them up for you.

yeah.. my first thought was ants..  I'd try to get it out, if at all possible.  maybe fill with water and cover with clear plastic and leave in sun?  or perhaps a steam cleaning device?

I would leave it alone.  Ants might be attracted to it but they aren't that difficult to control.  I line of borax around the barrel would keep them away, if needed.  Several years ago I used a rather elaborate nutrition program that included applying a solution with microbes into my sprinkler system for my chestnut orchard.  The microbe solution was first mixed into feed grade molasses.  The sugar is a great food source for microbes that can benefit your soil and sugar won't harm your roots.  From what you've already explained, it's too much work for something that really isn't a problem.

BTW, I got a similar deal on barrels for $8 but they had glycerine and other things that were easy to rinse out (all food grade).

Power wash at the quarter car wash which is not a quarter anymore just a older term.

Course you could always pour some kerosene in there and fire it up melt syrup along with part of the barrels
and have the most unusual shape plant containers !

or
Stick a nice metal rod in there with a buried electrical connection tell your most hated friend or relative to hold the rod you will be right back turn on the juice wait for the scream afterwards it will liquify the syrup and your hated friend will never talk to you again.
2 for 1 . ; )

Well, Martin, what works in Chicago might not in some other parts of the country :D

Boiling water should liquidize it.  It will melt honey and maple syrup crystals, why not this?