sanitizing question

tim1970 · 03-05-2007, 05:49 PM

I am now on the 2nd fermentation stage of my first brew, and the only thing that I consider a negative in the whole thing is sanitizing. For my first brew I soaked everything in a bleach solution. Trying to get the bleach smell out of a 5 and 7 gallon carboy is not fun

I was thinking, for all my equipment except for the carboys, I could put them in my dishwasher without detergent. My dishwasher has a sanitize setting where it superheats the water. Do you think this would work??

Also what is the best sanitizer to use? I don't mind the sanitizing, but I would really like something that will rinse away quicker and easier.

Tim

**Bobby_M** · 03-05-2007, 06:49 PM

Use any no-rinse sanitizer available online or at your local brew store. Star San and Iodaphor are very popular and cheap enough. No rinse, no bleach smell.

**the_bird** · 03-05-2007, 06:50 PM

For an analysis of exactly HOW cheap, read here...

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/one-step-logic-cleaner-sanitizer-23791/

**chainsawbrewing** · 03-05-2007, 06:51 PM

i use star san, but i still have to rinse, because of the sudsy looking bubbles it leaves behind after i shake/agitate whatever it is i'm sanitizing.

brian

docbee · 03-05-2007, 07:07 PM

How much bleach have you been using? I use bleach due to iodine allergies in the family and only use 2 oz per 5 gals with a 30 min soak while getting evrything set up. The odor is not strong at all and a couple of blasts with the bottle washer attachment and very hot water and it is rinsed and no odor at all.

**johnsma22** · 03-05-2007, 07:22 PM

There is absolutely no reason to rinse off Star-San foam other than esthetics's. What you can do in the future though is to avoid shaking up the Star-San solution so much and avoid making so much foam in the first place. When adding it to your fermenter, don't pour it, siphon it. Then just gently swirl it around and slowly pour it out. You will end up with barely any foam, and what does stay behind is harmless and will not impart any off flavors to your brew.

**TheJadedDog** · 03-05-2007, 07:34 PM

I'm a big fan of Iodophor as long as you don't mind a little staining (not an issue on glass). It's cheap, requires 2 minutes of contact (although I go with 5), and no rinsing.

**EdWort** · 03-05-2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian williams

i use star san, but i still have to rinse, because of the sudsy looking bubbles it leaves behind after i shake/agitate whatever it is i'm sanitizing.

brian

It's perfectly OK to leave the bubbles. Go ahead and rack on them.

Tony · 03-05-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnsma22

There is absolutely no reason to rinse off Star-San foam other than esthetics's...

Exactly. It does leave a film on surfaces, which helps protect items you have sanitized long after they have dried. I love it and have not had any issues with it.

If you are really worried about the foam, use Sani Clean which is basically the same thing, but without the foam.

tim1970 · 03-06-2007, 01:05 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I will definately look into one of the two choices mentioned above.

How about using the sanitize setting on my dishwasher for smaller items. Would this be adequate. Also, I read somewhere that if I wash my bottles in the dishwasher, that I shouldn't use dishwasher detergent. Is this true?

Tim