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Wester · 10-26-2011, 08:40 AM

Just wondering if anyone has a better/quicker way to clean 40 or 50 bottles to get them ready for bottling?

I clean off the label and rinse out all my bottles after using them so in theory they are cleaned but not sterilized. Then I sterilize + rinse each one individually before filling. Not too bad when I'm using 500ml bottles but when using 330ml bottle it gets a bit tedious and I'm wondering if there is a quicker and easier way out there. I thought about using my dishwasher but the max temp it gets to is 65 degrees.

Thanks.

SwampassJ · 10-26-2011, 09:38 AM

If you're using starsan or Iodophor (however the hell it's spelled) you can dunk them, swirl and let them drip dry. They only need 2 minutes of contact time and you do not need to rinse them. They also make a vinator some people use as a really fast sanitation method.

Wester · 10-26-2011, 09:51 AM

Hmmm...unfortionatly I'm using VWP Cleanser and have just bought a big tub of it! Everything needs to be rinsed after sterilizing.

Clann · 10-26-2011, 10:41 AM

My vote is for starsan. I will be getting a vinnator very soon to make bottling even faster.

Wester · 10-26-2011, 10:47 AM

I've been reading though other posts about this and I think I've a solution to speed it up slightly. Because the bottles are cleaned/rinsed after use I just have to sanitize them before bottling. So I plan on soaking them in a large sink in the back porch in a sterilizing solution for a while before bottling then I can decide to rinse them all in the dishwasher at once or give them all a quick rinse one at a time just before bottling....we'll see how I go as I plan on bottling 23l tonight!

birvine · 10-26-2011, 10:49 AM

Give them a run through the dishwasher to clean out the cleanser. Pull them from the dw one-by-one as you bottle.

Brent

OHIOSTEVE · 10-26-2011, 10:57 AM

I would be tempted to skip the VWP, go buy a vinator and some starsan. Once you have rinsed em after emptying, just store em until ready to use..... hit em on the vinator and fill.

dezman · 10-26-2011, 11:08 AM

I used to fill the sink with water and sanitizer and just sink the bottles in the water. then pull them out as needed.

spazzy · 10-26-2011, 12:06 PM

I usually put mine through an autoclave on campus. (one of the perks of being a microbiology student). This summer I wasn't on campus and used a dishwasher with sanitary cycle it worked fine.

65C is only about 150 F so I wouldnt depend on your dishwasher.

janivar123 · 10-26-2011, 12:15 PM

You dont have beer cases there?
Here I have cut the top of a regular plastic beer case and put another half on top
Makes it easy to rinse 1 case at the time

Here is a simpler version of what im talking abouthttp://norbrygg.no/forum/index.php/topic,4858.msg46142.html#msg46142