Oxiclean and Star San

I've been using Oxiclean for my general cleaning and StarSan for sanitizing for a while. I was recently browsing the Oxiclean website and noticed the ph is 11. Star San, of course, is an acid (ph ~3).

With those stats in the back of my mind, I went to work cleaning and sanitizing some equipment. As I was running the Star San out of the carboy, I remembered that there had been some residual Oxiclean in the bottom when I dumped the sanitizer on top. I wondered if the ph of the Star San had been knocked out of the effective zone by the additional base in solution. So I tested the ph coming out of the carboy: 4.

Star San must be 3 or lower to be effective, right?

So, I ran a dilution "experiment". I took my premixed Oxiclean solution (don't know the ph or the ratio of powder to water, but I'd guess it was 1 scoop to 5 gallons) and premixed Star San (ph ~2.9) and added 1/2 ounce Oxiclean to 8 oz Star San. My ph sticks only go up to 4.4, but it was off that chart.

I continued diluting until it got into the measurable ph zone of my sticks. At a ratio of 1:32, the ph was 3.6. At 1:40, the ph was about 3.

So, at a ratio of 1:32, the solution would be outside the range of effectiveness of the sanitizer. This equates to 1/2 cup Oxiclean per gallon of Star San.

I've never had an infection, but I think I will rinse better between cleaning and sanitizing in the future.

Am I over thinking this? Not thinking at all?

I would rinse all the Oxyclean away but Starsan is great stuff.

Or, clean well ahead of brew day so the equipment is dry prior to sanitizing with San Star.

I am spending the time around Christmas cleaning and sanitizing my brewery equipment and glassware. It is a preventative measure if you will.

Anyway, this post is very timely for me as I have most things soaking in Oxyclean as I write. San Star is my go to sanitizer, so I thought I would do a switch for this project and use an acid base sanitizer I used early in the hobby.

Then, on brew next, I will return to San Star.

Thanks for pointing this out.

You obviously need more hobbies, you have to much time on your hands.

wildwest450 said:

You obviously need more hobbies, you have to much time on your hands.

Click to expand...

LOL
Yup...retirement is wonderful. I could be oiling my bicycle chain. I rode 3,400 miles January to September. Then pretty much stopped when my wife and I bought a 2,200 sqft. farmhouse that needs some work. (Including a dedicated standalone brewery)

Rinse and rinse well. Sanitize and ferment. Easy as that! You're probably right that oxyclean neutralizes starsan, but not if you rinse well. Also, I only use 1/4 scoop oxyclean per 5 gal and have never had a problem. I would only go with full scoop if I had just bought some really dirty, caked equipment from craigslist. Maybe you're making rinsing more difficult by using too much oxyclean?

I don't see how oxiclean effects the ph of the StarSan if it is rinsed well.

I have always used oxiclean and rinsed well, then sanitized with starsan.

Yeah, I'm not stressing out over this, and I'm not suggesting anyone else should. I had never thought about it, I'd never seen a PSA on here about it, and I just thought it was noteworthy. If you don't rinse your Oxiclean, your StarSan might not be as effective as otherwise.

Carry on.

I also noticed my starsan got cloudy after cleaning with oxiclean. SO...I switched to a less expensive vinegar solution and am saving starsan for bottling day.

I'm still having trouble with streaks on my bottles after a PBW clean though (streaks wipe off on outside but can't wipe inside)

I also use Oxiclean and Star San to clean and sanitize my equipment. This past weekend I washed my kegs as normal, but forgot to rinse the oxiclean before sanitizing with star san. This oversight has just dawned on me. Am I freaking out over nothing or will the batch I kegged taste all funky? Has anyone else done this? If so, what were your results?
Thanks!

I completely emptied the kegs of all of the oxiclean before adding star san just forgot to rinse.