Advice for cleaning free icing buckets

[arnobg]

Started moving towards all bulk grains so I followed the advice of many and got free 3 gallon and 5 gallon food grade icing buckets from my supermarket bakery.

Cleaning them out has been a hassle though. It seems after multiple cleanings they still have a slick icing feel to them inside from the shortening/fat in the icing sticking to the plastic.

Anyone have any tips on how to clean these things to get all of that out? I'm hesitant to throw new grains in there and add unwanted flavors.

 

[Newsman]

Maybe try a strong solution of PBW or Oxyclean Free and let it sit for awhile? Also try using hot water.

 

[30Bones]

5 gallon buckets at WalMArt are under $5 I think with lids. Hard to beat that. I finally splurged for a few gama lids, those cost more than my bucket!

 

[TX_Brewing]

Have you tried hot water and dish soap? Dish soap is an emulsifier and should remove any oils from the inside of the bucket.

 

[arnobg]

The dish soap was what I was initially using with not much success.

Tried an Oxy soak a bit ago and it appears to have done the trick so far..

 

[slym2none]

If it is oil/fat, and Dawn won't get it off, you might need industrial solvents.

*kidding* - at least about the industrial solvents part.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

My dishwasher worked for me... and then some fermenting sessions, but I used mine as a fermenter, not grain storage. Maybe keeping the grains in a bag in the bucket?

 

[johnsant]

storing grains I would line my buckets with heavy duty plastic bags with ties to help with air seal. the bucket lid would detour any critters that tries to get in. JMHO