Star San

I recently picked up some star san and am overwhelmed when I use the search function to determine the best way to use it!

Can someone give me a quick breakdown on the best method of use to sanitize the buckets, equipment, and bottles?

Thanks!

Read the instructions on the bottle. (/sarcasm)

But seriously, use the ratio described on the bottle to guide you. You should clean beforehand with whatever your normal cleaner is, then mix up some starsan solution.

If I'm not mistaken, it says it requires 20 seconds of wet contact to sanitize. So swirl it around and let it sit for a bit, then pour the starsan solution into whatever you need to sanitize next. DO NOT RINSE. The bubbles turn into yeast food.

If the solution becomes milky to the point of translucence rather than transparency, it has lost it's effectiveness and you need to mix up another batch.

I would think that a gallon of solution would get you pretty far in your sanitizing.

Any other questions?

Reuse the gallon of solution?

Oh and use your bucket to multi-sanitize, like bottling wand/racking cane/auto-siphon/whatever. Also, I put some in a spray bottle, which is insanely handy for sanitizing on-the-fly.

DWavs said:

Reuse the gallon of solution?

Click to expand...

You can use it until it's milky.

Awesome. Thanks!

Use it for the bottles also?

DWavs said:

Use it for the bottles also?

Click to expand...

Get a Vinator at your local LHBS and use a small amount of starsan solution (like a quart) in it on bottling day. Spray a few bottles, then fill, then repeat.

Jakemo said:

You can use it until it's milky.

Click to expand...

Actually it's the ph that matters not the color, as long as it's under 3.5 it's still effective. Some have "nasty" water and it will cloud almost immediately, if you use distilled water it will stay clear forever.

_

wildwest450 said:

Actually it's the ph that matters not the color, as long as it's under 3.5 it's still effective. Some have "nasty" water and it will cloud almost immediately, if you use distilled water it will stay clear forever.

_

Click to expand...

We are on well water with a softener. Do you suggest that I just pick up a couple of gallons of distilled water?

But some in a spray bottle and use it when taking gravity sample and doing other tasks that involve sanitation. It will stay good for some time.

DWavs said:

We are on well water with a softener. Do you suggest that I just pick up a couple of gallons of distilled water?

Click to expand...

That's what I do, it's really not that expensive when you consider how long it will last. I change mine out 3 times a year, just to do it, it's still well within specs. I just put 3 gallons in a bottling bucket and use 1/2 ounce, works like a charm.


_

wildwest450 said:

That's what I do, it's really not that expensive when you consider how long it will last. I change mine out 3 times a year, just to do it, it's still well within specs. I just put 3 gallons in a bottling bucket and use 1/2 ounce, works like a charm.


_

Click to expand...

Once you have done that, you funnel it back into the 3 containers?

DWavs said:

Once you have done that, you funnel it back into the 3 containers?

Click to expand...

No, I just sanitize everything in the bucket. I fill a spray bottle to do little stuff.

_

wildwest450 said:

No, I just sanitize everything in the bucket. I fill a spray bottle to do little stuff.

_

Click to expand...

So you are not saving the 3 gallons of mix for future use?

DWavs said:

So you are not saving the 3 gallons of mix for future use?

Click to expand...

Certainly, I make it up and store it in the bottling bucket with a lid. I pour a small amount in fermenters and kegs to sanitize then pour it right back in. I sanitize funnels and auto siphons right in the bucket.


_

Good info for me too!

wildwest450 said:

Certainly, I make it up and store it in the bottling bucket with a lid. I pour a small amount in fermenters and kegs to sanitize then pour it right back in. I sanitize funnels and auto siphons right in the bucket.


_

Click to expand...

Ahhh....I see what ya mean.

Jakemo said:

You can use it until it's milky.

Click to expand...

You can use it until the ph falls out of range. With my water here in CO, it turns milky within mins.

DWavs said:

Ahhh....I see what ya mean.

Click to expand...

Good, I was beginning to think one of us had brain damage.


_

wildwest450 said:

Good, I was beginning to think one of us had brain damage.


_

Click to expand...

LOL...I just don't have a whole lot of buckets (1 bottling and 2 fermenting) so I may just transfer it back into the jugs.

In other words, if I had a batch going in my 1 fermenting bucket and needed to rack a second batch to my bottling bucket, I would have no where to put the solution.

DWavs said:

LOL...I just don't have a whole lot of buckets (1 bottling and 2 fermenting) so I may just transfer it back into the jugs.

In other words, if I had a batch going in my 1 fermenting bucket and needed to rack a second batch to my bottling bucket, I would have no where to put the solution.

Click to expand...

Dood buckets from home depot are like 3/4 bucks with a lid if you can't find em free.

Beezy said:

Dood buckets from home depot are like 3/4 bucks with a lid if you can't find em free.

Click to expand...

That I am aware of. I was commenting on his point that he kept it in his bottling bucket.

Star-san: I just want to clear up a couple of points:

Star-san is a sanitizer not a cleaner, It's for use after all the gunk is removed by something else. If there is some gunk left, adding star-san will do nothing for you.

Most homebrewers, use a spray bottle with "distilled Water" and the proper ratio of star-san, that way they don't have to worry about how long it will last.

Star-san, in the proper ratio, with no excess puddles or spots, is considered one of the few no rinse sanitizers. It does have a taste and you can taste it in your beer, so make sure you let it drain completely.

DWavs said:

That I am aware of. I was commenting on his point that he kept it in his bottling bucket.

Click to expand...

Most Chinese places have 5 gallon soy sauce buckets the will give you. Bakerys have a lot of buckets also. Great for star san but they are a little small for fermenters