Re-using sanitizing solution

Is it possible to keep and reuse Iodophor sanitizing solution? I mixed up 5 gallons of it last Monday and it seems like a shame to throw it out. Right now it is sitting in one of my old plastic fermenters. I would love to be able to re-use it a couple of times.

Sometimes I'll use my Iodophor a couple of days in a row. But not after it sits for more than about a day. It loses it's effectiveness the longer it sits.

Its a different sanitizer but I use one batch of Diversol sanitizer from start to finish for each batch, I keep it stored in a couple 10 litre water jugs with a lid. I do however had a scoop full of diversol each time I use it to make up for it loosing its strength.

I think Iodophor is only guaranteed to work for something like two hours. It's fairly cheap, and I don't mind mixing freshies up for each beer, sometimes for different steps in the process. Overkill? Maybe, but I do what I do.

RichBrewer said:

Is it possible to keep and reuse Iodophor sanitizing solution? I mixed up 5 gallons of it last Monday and it seems like a shame to throw it out. Right now it is sitting in one of my old plastic fermenters. I would love to be able to re-use it a couple of times.

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As long as it looks amber, it's still an effective sanitizer.

Kai

King Kai said:

As long as it looks amber, it's still an effective sanitizer.

Kai

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It's still amber so I'm going to use it to sanitize my corny for tomorrow kegging.
Thanks!

Along the lines of sanitizers retaining their strength: what about one-step (oxygen cleanser)? I have some in a keg right now and plan on using it wednesday, and it will be a week old. Should I use it or pitch it?

Nope, not one step. It's only good for a couple hours, then it's used up all of it's oxygen.

WhatsOnTap said:

Along the lines of sanitizers retaining their strength: what about one-step (oxygen cleanser)?

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One Step is not a sanitizer...it was originally advertised as such, but the company that makes it no longer makes that claim.

El Pistolero said:

One Step is not a sanitizer...it was originally advertised as such, but the company that makes it no longer makes that claim.

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EP--can you elaborate on this? I'm looking at a Northern Brewer catalog right now, that's dated "Spring 2006," and in the blurb for One Step, they say "...One Step is an excellent oxygen based sanitizer."

I had actually been thinking about switching to this, which I suspect is a little greener thing to be dumping down my drains than Iodophor. (And won't stain plastic, etc.)

I'm interested to hear more about this.

I'll try to track down the website and post it.

El Pistolero said:

Walker wishes he had my hair

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LMAO! :fro:

cweston said:

EP--can you elaborate on this? I'm looking at a Northern Brewer catalog right now, that's dated "Spring 2006," and in the blurb for One Step, they say "...One Step is an excellent oxygen based sanitizer."

I had actually been thinking about switching to this, which I suspect is a little greener thing to be dumping down my drains than Iodophor. (And won't stain plastic, etc.)

I'm interested to hear more about this.

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Apparently it's a legal issue...

In the U.S.A., "sanitizer" is a legal term defined by the Environmental Protection Agency. In order for a product to be called a sanitizer in promotional literature or on its packaging, that product must be approved by the EPA, assigned a registration number, and have an open file maintained with the EPA. Unless a company would like to invest an enormous amount of capitol in this process (or use another company's product through a process called "sub-registration"), they may not call their product a sanitizer.

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I'm still looking for the sites where I found this discussion previously. The above quote is from this site. I believe you're correct in thinking that One-Step is "greener"...IIRC that was one of the goals of the mfg. in developing this product. The discussions I've seen implied that the mfg still adamantly believes that it's a one-step no-rinse cleanser/sanitizer, but has chosen not to pursue the cost of the EPA certification. I've also seen other arguments that implied there was more than just a legal problem, so I guess it comes down to who do you believe. I'll post more when I find it.

I bet it's just a legal issue. I've always used one-step or equivalent oxygen sanitzer and I've never had a batch go bad.