Life of sanitizer
 

Does anyone know A- how long sanitizer lasts and B- what's the best way to store it ? Also how do I know if its too old and won't do the job ? I don't want to have to mix up a new batch every time I want to brew or test or bottle.

Is it Starsan or iphodor? If its iphodor it's one time use if its Starsan it is good until the Ph level drops to a certain level, I don't remember it at the moment. I switched to Starsan and I keep it in a 5 gallon bucket and switch it every few months. There is a YouTube video that Immolatious did over a several month period showing how long it can keep. Check out this video on YouTube:<br/><br/> .

meh i bought a 32 oz (at least i think its 32 oz) over a year ago, and it isn't even half done. i don't brew that often, but frequently will mix up 2.5 gallons (.5 oz star san), or even less.

point being it lasts a loooong time, and isn't that expensive.

i have heard that people will store it in sealed buckets, and something about it going clear means its not good enough anymore?? pH checking i think is the better way to check if it is still good.

A: as long as it is < 3.0 ph, made with tap water it tends to get cloudy as it looses it's effectiveness.
B: I use a 5 gallon plastic water jug. If you use distilled water it lasts almost indefinitely.
C: I also would recommend a cheep spray bottle, it is handy to have around full of Starsan.

I'm curious how long it can be used.
I typically make up ~4 gallons of it, and because I typically brew ~3 beers a month I have been keeping it in a covered bucket and using it for maybe a month w/o any problems, but I have no idea how long it would last when sanitizing clean stuff.

There are a few podcasts that feature Charlie Talley of 5star chemicals (makers of Star-San). He says 3.5 or below for PH and not cloudy.

Apparently, Star-san reacts with minerals in tap water and when it turns cloudy it is no longer effective.

Link below references the podcasts.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/charlie-talley-five-star-chemicals-notes-brewcasts-58928/

The cloudy myth has been debunked a number of times. Mine turns cloudy the second I make it. As long as you are below the recommended pH you are fine.

With regard to iodophor, it does lose effectiveness over time but according to my reading if it still has a brownish color in the proper dilution, it is good. When it loses the color it has lost it's sanitizing power. On a related note, it is important to use the proper dilution, which is about 1cc of iodophor in 1 liter of water.

That is the truth. Mine comes out cloudy from the word go but I haven't had a problem with it yet. Personally I toss mine at the end of every function that requires sanitation so I don't know how long it keeps for me. 1 oz. (5 gallon dose) is $0.52. I'd rather use fresh Star San and be sure then possibly ruin $30 or more in beer because I didn't want to spend $0.52