Star San in spray bottle?
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vinylrooster
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Best way to know for sure that it will work is to check the pH. as long as it's around pH of 3, it should be fine, but in my experience a sealed bottle lasts at least a month...
I realize that not everybody has pH paper but litmus paper is actually pretty cheap if you look at a your LHBS
I realize that not everybody has pH paper but litmus paper is actually pretty cheap if you look at a your LHBS
petrolSpice
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From what I've read, san star in a bottle with distilled water will last for months. But it's always good to check the pH as mentioned.
If you use very soft water, pretty much forever. The minerals in hard water degrade the detergent part and use up a little of the acid. Use RO, distilled or DI water.
If its clear and the pH is 3.5 or less, its good. If its cloudy when you mix it, its ok that day, but you should make a fresh batch on the next brew day.
If its clear and the pH is 3.5 or less, its good. If its cloudy when you mix it, its ok that day, but you should make a fresh batch on the next brew day.
Craigtube did a test about clear vs cloudy starsan. Cloudiness has no effect on it's acidic effectiveness. I've kept Starsan in my spray bottle for months,but keep it topped off as well.
I have no real idea how long my Starsan lasts. I have a 5 gallon water bottle and top up my spray bottle from it. The 5 gallon bottle usually has a couple of gallons in it. When it gets low I add another gallon or 2. I never use it all, but use ph test strips to check it. It has never gone bad and I guess my water is good because it never gets cloudy either.
For some reason,the Starsan in my spray bottle stays clear. But the SunnyD jug of it clouds up. I guess the spray bottles seal better?
If you dont want to believe me, how about the guy that invented it, or the company that makes it?
The conventional wisdom is that its the acid that kills, ignoring the DDBSA.
If it was just the acid we could use vinegar or lemon juice.
Clonefan94
Senior Member
Are you reusing the stuff in the SunnyD Jugs? I keep starsan for quite a while, but eventually it will start to cloud up if you are reusing it. I'm pretty sure for me, it's the use of hard water to clean things, then dipping that in the bucket to sanitize. Eventually, those minerals from the hard water will build up and cloud the starsan. In the spray bottle, you are just using it up, then adding fresh. You aren't introducing any minerals into the solution.
At least this is what I assume is happening to mine that I re-use. It does slowly get cloudier.
We have soft water,but I only use it for Starsan & PBW. Under a microscope,it has a lot of seemingly dead ameabas in it,with little bits of crud.
So I think maybe a filter would help in that regard around here?...
So I think maybe a filter would help in that regard around here?...
Are you serious? Who provides your water service? Is it your own well?
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Our water comes from the station in Avon Lake,right on the shore of Lake Erie.
Yup, same here. I make up a fresh batch any time I need some. Normally I will make 5 gallons of solution and use that to clean everything for a brew day, or make 3 gallons to sanitize my bottles before bottling. If need be I will make a small amount for intermittent use (1-2 cups).
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