Beginner sanitation questions

[sdufford]

Hi guys, I'm getting ready to do my first brew and have a few very noobish questions about sanitation.

1. I got two packets of C-Brite Cleanser, totaling 1.6 OZ. The directions say 2 ounces per 2 1/2 gallons of water. So I have enough C-Brite for 2 gallons of water. How is that possibly gonna be enough to sanitize a 7 gallon bucket, a 5 gallon carboy, and 2 1/2 cases of bottles?? (Not to mention all the other misc. materials that will be used.) Am I missing something here? I'm thinking I would have to fill up the entire bucket with c-brite mixture to sanitize it, correct? Or do I just need to get a sponge or something dunked in c-brite and wipe it down?

2. I'm assuming it's best to sanitize materials close to the time they will be used. But is it ok, for ex., to sanitize your bucket and thermometer/hydrometer and let them sit for a few days and then use them?

3. Is there a sanitizer that you guys would easily recommend over c-brite?

Sorry for the newbie question, I just don't wanna make any stupid mistakes on my first go around.

 

[thedude00]

You do need to fill the entire bucket with a sanitize mixture. Put all of your brewing stuff hermometer/hydrometer/spoon so on anything you will be using with your cooled wort. You do not need to have it sit in sanitize for a couple of days, it goes on the sanitizer you are using. Some say 30 sec's to 30 min max.

 

[doctorRobert]

I always start with sanitizing the biggest thing first. I'll sanitize the fermenter, and then pour the solution into a homer bucket, which i use to sanitize everything else. Your carboy will need to be sanitized when you transfer to your secondary (although most here argue that it probably wont be necessary).

I wouldn't sanitize something and except it to be sanitary days later. Unless you had some way to keep in sanitize. So no, don't count on keeping things sanitized for days. I would recommend getting a big tub of one step or star san, and use this wisely and it'll last a long time.


I dont fill up my fermenter completely with sanitizer. I usually do about half, put the lid on, and swoosh it all around for a while, let it sit for a minute, and do it again. I also have a spray bottle with star san in it and I spray the surface area. To me it seems silly to fill up the entire bucket with a sanitizer solution.

 

[sdufford]

Your carboy will need to be sanitized when you transfer to your secondary (although most here argue that it probably wont be necessary).

Not necessary to ever sanitize the carboy? Because of the alcohol content now present from the primary fermentation?

 

[doctorRobert]

Not necessary to ever sanitize the carboy? Because of the alcohol content now present from the primary fermentation?

No I meant using a secondary fermenter. Everything that touches the wort post boil, until it's in your glass, must be sanitized.

 

[Airborneguy]

Get yourself one of those plastic tubs, pour the sanitizer into it, and then put everything that needs to be sanitized into the tub. Anything that is not submerged completely, just move around a few times so it gets completely wet. Presto, done.

 

[SumnerH]

Get yourself one of those plastic tubs, pour the sanitizer into it, and then put everything that needs to be sanitized into the tub. Anything that is not submerged completely, just move around a few times so it gets completely wet. Presto, done.

I'm not sure about this. It's certainly okay with short-contact sanitizers like StarSan or iodopor, but the OP has C-Brite. C-Brite is basically 6% sodium chlorite and 94% filler; when mixed with water, it generates chlorine dioxide, which most recent papers seem to indicate needs 1-2 minutes full contact to sanitize effectively.

I'd be pretty leery about transient contact (just sloshing it around to get wet) being fully effective with longer-contact sanitizers like that, though I think that's a perfectly fine approach with short-contact sanitizers..

 

[Airborneguy]

I didn't know that, never used C-brite. What's the plus side of using that? If it requires full soaking, it doesn't seem like the best one to use in a homebrew setting.

 

[sdufford]

I agree, I've pulled the plug for now on the c-brite and ordered a 32 oz of Star San. It sounds like that will be much more convenient.

And you don't have to worry about getting it on your hands, correct?

 

[Paulgs3]

No, no need to worry about it being on your hands. I actually use it to wash my hands while brewing.

Edit: I keep a Home Depot bucket on the side filled with Star San that I soak everything in. I routinely dip my hands in there before touching anything while brewing.

 

[Hang Glider]

No, no need to worry about it being on your hands. I actually use it to wash my hands while brewing.

Edit: I keep a Home Depot bucket on the side filled with Star San that I soak everything in. I routinely dip my hands in there before touching anything while brewing.

There are threads on this issue too, how it dries out your hands...but I do the same thing as you do. They might be a little dry at the end of the day, but very temporary. And a great excuse to lotion up SWMBOs feet, which, of course, may lead elsewhere...