Cleaning This final cleaning is the process of removing excess scales, dirt and roots. Roots should be removed with a gentle twisting motion, being careful not to remove the entire basal region. During the removal of the roots, a gently rubbing of the bulb will take off excess scales and dirt. Scales and dirt that do not come off easily should be picked off by hand, and the bulbs gently rubbed with a soft cloth to eliminate the remainder of the dirt. This whole process will leave the bulbs the way you find them at the better commercial garden centers in the fall.
Healthy bulbs have a range of soft fall type colors.
Keep in mind that you should accomplish this process with gloves, for two reasons. First, fungicide is a poison, and second, it avoids blisters on the hands for us office workers. Inspection Inspect each bulb as you clean it. Check the basal area for sign of the bulb fly larva. Dispose of the bulb.