Carboy Won't Clean
 

Hey there,

So I got a used carboy and, after multiple washes including an overnight soak in oxiclean and hot water, there's still this grainy stuff in the inside that just won't go away.

picture: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8413537425_7ffec5998b_h.jpg

Was told that it looks like just some caked on krausen and if it's clean I can still use it, but I'm worried.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

That won't brush out? bleach overnight maybe or a http://www.carboycleaner.com/

Use some bleach and let it sit and sit and sit. After a few days use a carboy brush as it should be plenty soft by then, change it out and repeat as needed.

Is that glass or a better bottle carboy? Use a carboy brush on it for a while. I'd try the bleach too, but just be sure to rinse the heck out of it afterward.

If you don't want to use bleach, tsp seems a bit stringer than oxyclean. And one time
I found some sodium hydroxide granules. Those worked really well but I got tired of having to be super careful using them.

Yeah, no kidding. I would shy away from NaOH or KOH if you could, since most people aren't prepared to handle those kinds of caustic chemicals (and/or treat any resulting burns).

Okay, but the question is, if that doesn't come out, will I be reasonably safe to put a brew in there if I sanitize?

I wouldn't. the granuals in there couple still harbour bacteria in small crevases/pores or something. I would return it if I could...

The grainy stuff is called scale. I too had this problem. An over night soak in a vinegar solution should do the trick.

Yknow what might work, might NOT work, but would more than likely NOT HURT.... denture tablets. We used to use them to scour out musket fouling from the bores of our Springfields.