Should I cover the top of my bottling bucket?
 

It's bottling day and I wanted to know if I should be covering the top of my bottling bucket to prevent anything from getting in? Dust, contaminates, etc...

I have done both ways with no noticable differences, but I normally just lightly place my fermenting bucket lid on the bottling bucket to make sure nothing nasty from the air gets into the beer. Don't place the lid on tight though.

I've never covered mine through 88 brews.

put a lid on it better safe than sorry.:mug:

When I still bottled I usually put some cellophane over the top to prevent anything airborne from falling in accidentally

Just try not to drool when your head is over the opening.

Just don't sneeze into it and you should be good.

I always grabbed a clean plate to cover the top while bottling. Was just the right size.

Necessary? Not really, but made my mind rest a little easier.

This is not funny:ban:

It's alcohol at this point, and not a friendly environment for bacteria or wild yeast. I have never covered my bottling bucket, but if you have an extra lid sitting around, it certainly wouldn't hurt.