Pressure wash your cornelius keg? Or steam?

madewithchicken · Dec 11, 2008

Sometimes when you get a new (used) soda keg there are stubborn deposits.

While scrubbing at these for 10 minutes today thought, "I wish I had a pressure washer."

Can anyone think of a reason this would damage the keg?

How about one of those steam cleaners that you see on late night tv? I do not think that the heat would hurt the keg. I have a steam cleaner in my basement somewhere. I am not sure the arm on it is long enough.

It may work on a carboy as well. But i have never had any issues getting those clean with a bottle brush. I am not sure it would hold up to the pressure and or heat.

Evan! · Dec 11, 2008

A 24-48 hour soak in PBW solution should negate the need for that. I've never had a deposit so stubborn that PBW and some time couldn't get it off.

david_42 · Dec 11, 2008

The only things in/on a cornie that could be damaged by a pressure washer are the o-rings and you'd have trouble hitting the ones inside. I doubt steam would be a problem, either.

camiller · Dec 11, 2008

I know a carpet cleaner that uses cornies for hot cleaning solutions in his carpet cleaning rig. Eventually the heat causes the adhesive to fail that holds the rubber top and bottom on. You would probably be OK steam cleaning a few times, I just wouldn't make a habit of it.

ScubaSteve · Dec 12, 2008

Pressure washers are awesome. They've got a million uses. I wish there were a way to just buy an air compressor and somehow adapt it to be a pressure washer......

Cpt_Kirks · Dec 12, 2008

How did the soda companies clean their kegs?

At a guess, I would say they probably used some kind of high pressure washer.

I have thought of taking kegs to the car wash, but wound up just using a green pad and elbow grease. If I had my dad's pressure washer handy, I would have given that a try.