Oxyclean/Citric acid questions.

[Krovitz]

Hey guys,

First time using oxyclean versatile free. Used 1/2 blue scoop in 5 gallons of hot water and bottles were spotless in less than 3 hours. After reading multiple posts on residue, I was planning on soaking bottles tonight in 5 gallons of hot water and a couple table spoons of concentrated citric acid for 6 hours. However, there is no visible residue. I do not have a bottle washer, I just filled bottles with tap water and brushed the insides. Is it overkill to proceed as planned or better safe than sorry?
Also, if I'm not delabeling, can I skip the oxyclean soak and just soak in citric acid?

Thanks fellas.

P.s. these steps are for cleaning only, I would still sanitize in star san on bottling day.

 

[hopsalot]

if your bottles are residue free a simple sanitzer soak/rinse is all that is needed. If you have residue that does not remove when brushed, PBW is the best bet, although some people use unscented oxyxlean

 

[dbhokie]

I use oxyclean a lot, we get most of our bottles residue free, I have two coolers, one with oxyclean mix, and second with water, I rinse them in the second throw them on a bottling tree. I usually boil the ones that aren't to break it up and scrub a bit, or throw them away, because we drink too much.

I just put them in sanitizer on bottling day as mentioned above, although the bottling tree really helps to dry them out well, I just got a 2 inch dowel, and drilled in a bunch of 3/8 inch dowels the whole way up it.

 

[hopsalot]

or throw them away, because we drink too much.

Same here, IMO if I need to seriously scrub and clean bottles its just not worth it to me. I rinse bottles the same day I drink them and have spotless bottles on bottling day waiting for some sanitizer

 

[Krovitz]

Thanks guys. The bottles are spotless. I just can't tell if I got that slippery feeling out of the inside.

So, if I rinse well after drinking, I can just sanitize the next time around?

 

[hopsalot]

I have never had a problem. Rinse recently opened bottles well with hot water then sanitze when its time to bottle.

 

[Calichusetts]

I love oxyclean but have found that it is very sneaky in terms of when it is "rinsed" off. Often times I have washed a carboy out three or four times and when I fill it up, I can still see oxy bubbles at work. For me its 5-6 rinses minimum...the a few more before actual use. I am probably overdoing it though

 

[helibrewer]

Citirc Acid does an outstanding job of getting the OxyClean rinsed off. With basket presses it is standard practice to clean the wood with OxyClean (Sodium Percarbonate) and then re-acidify the wood with citric acid solution.

Citric acid is also the secret to impeccably clean and spot free glassware.

 

[Krovitz]

Thanks for all the help! I put the bottles in the acid bath for good measure. Can't wait to get this beer bottled.