I've never done anything special other than just wiping off the outside of the pot and spraying down the leafs with water.

If you are concerned about bugs you could put the plant in a plastic bag with some moth balls overnight--then take it out and bring it in. That will probably take care of most bugs. Mary t

I agree that a simple rinse with the hose will take care of many bugs. But here's a good article if you want to do more.

those instructions are about what i do, but i don't let the plants soak for 3 hours! for one thing i have way too many to get to, and i think do that could do harm to the roots. i let mine soak for about 3-5 mins each. i fill one of those party tubs halfway with soapy water and have a fishnet handy to scoop out bugs and the dirt & perlite that will float to the surface. do this outside- it's messy. then you may want to spray the tops with an insecticidal soap like safer soap or a very light solution of summer oil, which really helps with scale and mealy bugs (my nemesis). grooming the plants, picking out acorns and topping with a bit of fresh soil if needed is a natural at this point as well. start when the temps are still pretty warm, like 70's daytime- don't do what i do and wait til just before frost. it's much harder on the plants then to adjust from the cooler moist temps outside to our warm dry houses. i mean well but each year i get too busy. you may want to start moving them into the shade soon, too, since light levels in the home are much lower. that will also help them adjust. you could do that a week or 2 before you wash them. if the plants have been kept on a wooden patio or something not touching the ground, there will be lots less bugs (though probably still wood roaches). anything that sits on the ground through the summer is liable to be full of hitchhikers. oh, and i have found black widows down in my plant foliage a few times, so be careful!

Tamelask....what are wood roaches?

Where can you buy safer soap or summer oil?

wood roaches are different than the german cockroaches that you tend to get in houses. they live in cellulose matter- ie: wood- and so like to nest in the potting soil. they are harmless, really, but i don't like them much more than regular roaches. they don't have the really obvious wings, don't get as big, and are a reddish brown color. they come right out if you soak the plants in soapy water.

you can by safer soapand summer oil , which is lighter than dormant oil, at big box stores and nursery centers. you mix it into a sprayer (like a couple tbsp to a gallon of water), shake it up to emulsify and then spray. it leaves a very thin film of oil on the surfaces, which smothers any insects. insects cannot develop an immunity to it and it's very safe to use. there are combo oils that will give different dilution rates for summer and winter (dormant) use. as much as i hate mixing up sprays and spraying, i've discovered that one application goes a really long way toward keeping my plants insect free for the bulk of the winter. read your label- you can't use it on all plants- some don't do well, and some with a glaucous bloom will lose the blueish color to the oil.

safer soap is a mix of fatty acids and such that is very safe to use on things you plan to eat. 'safer' is actually a brand of pesticides & insecticides (they make a combo dormant/summer oil that i use). you can sorta make your own version with a bit of dishsoap and a teaspoon or so of tabasco in a hand spray bottle with a good bit of water. i also add in 1:1 rubbing alcohol to the water. but don't inhale when you spritz or you're in for major pain from the tabasco- spray fast and leave the area til the mist dies down. the combo of the alcohol, soap and tabasco seems to break down any barriers the insects have but it doesn't hurt the plants that i've observed, and i've used it lots.

I keep some home made pepper spray on hand in the winter "just in case" too. I steep a bunch of hot peppers, roughly sliced, in hot water for several hours then strain it. Keep it in a mister. This doesn't take the place of "the treatment" but it makes me feel better, especially about the African violets and gardenias.

As the days shorten and nights cool down considerable before the first freeze, a lot of pests will have scaled back their mating and egg laying.

Unless you see a massive infestation of mealy bug or aphids, etc, I'd not get too wigged out about a mass cleaning or wipe-down of all plants.

Have a look at the plants, and do as others have mentioned, hose the plants down, soak pots if there are ants, etc.

Thank you for all this great information. I will definately get the safer soap and soak the plants before I bring them inside.