Best methods for cleaning bottles?

[EvilGnome6]

I keep a 1 gallon pitcher filled with a mild oxyclean solution next to my kitchen sink. After I pour a beer, I give it a quick rinse to get out any sediment (pour in a little tap water, stick finger in bottle and shake vigorously. Repeat 2-3 times). Then I fill it with the oxyclean solution and drop it in the pitcher. The oxyclean solution will get rid of any labels or remaining gunk.

The next day, I'll pull the bottles out, pour the solution back in the pitcher and give them a quick rinse. I let them dry and then store them in boxes.

On bottling day, I fill up my sanitizing bucket (a retired Ale Pail) with sanitizer solution. I dunk the bottles in the bucket in batches (however many will fit) and give each batch a 2 minute soak. Then they go onto the dishwasher racks, ready for bottling.

 

[imprez25]

Any new homebrew bottle is soaked in oxyclean to remove the label. On brew day the bottles are all placed in the dishwasher and sanitized. This takes about 2 hours, so about 1.5 hours in I start to get the priming sugar boiled and the beer transfered from fermentor to bottling bucket. Once the bottles are sanitized in the dishwasher I then prepare a batch of sanatizing solution. I then dip the bottles in the solution fill each bottle then dump it back out into the bucket. This final step is done just before I fill the bottles.

I can bottle and cap a 5 gallon batch in about 45 minutes now (not counting the dishwashing time).

 

[RobbyBeers]

1) Dunk n' shake in a bucket with sanitizer.
2) Cycle through the dishwasher (preceded by an empty rinse cycle).

Oh...and the "sanitizer," it's just One Step. Alone.

It's not that I don't take sanitizing seriously, but I place much greater emphasis on using bottles that I've emptied myself, rinsed clean soon after, and then stored under a cover.

 

[ChuckinWA]

Seems like there are a lot of posts with what seems to be a "double sanitize". i.e. "first I run them through the dishwasher to sanitize, then I dunk them in a sanitizing soloution". I've never bottled before, but I'd like to give it a try soon (I've spent 4 hours over the last 2 days cleaning swing-tops). Is the dishwasher sanitize cycle not good enough or something?

 

[rico567]

I've found the vineator to be far faster than any dunk, shake, dry process.

+1, and Amen. New, labeled bottles = PBW for an hour, cleans & delabels in one step (can't use Oxi-Clean, water is too hard). Sanitize with Star-San & vinator (one of the BEST brewing accessories, along with auto-siphon), then run through dishwasher. Never any problems. Dishwasher doesn't get up inside the bottle. There are those that just rely on the dishwasher temps to do the job inside the bottle; I don't.

 

[Cheaton]

+1, and Amen. New, labeled bottles = PBW for an hour, cleans & delabels in one step (can't use Oxi-Clean, water is too hard). Sanitize with Star-San & vinator (one of the BEST brewing accessories, along with auto-siphon), then run through dishwasher. Never any problems. Dishwasher doesn't get up inside the bottle. There are those that just rely on the dishwasher temps to do the job inside the bottle; I don't.

I don't think Oxi-clean is too concerned with the hardness of your water.... did you mean star-san? Oxi-clean can take off hard water stains after all...

 

[joejaz]

It seems like a lot of you guys just love to spend extra time and money. You can't get a bottle cleaner than clean.

I agree with you, a lot of this is overkill ( no pun intended). A little bleach and rinse is just as effective as any of these methods and you don't have to let them soak all day.

 

[imprez25]

Seems like there are a lot of posts with what seems to be a "double sanitize". i.e. "first I run them through the dishwasher to sanitize, then I dunk them in a sanitizing soloution". I've never bottled before, but I'd like to give it a try soon (I've spent 4 hours over the last 2 days cleaning swing-tops). Is the dishwasher sanitize cycle not good enough or something?

It's not that it's not "good enough" I just prefer the two lines of defense. If the DW doesn't kill it the Iodine solution will. I'd hate to ruin beer due to poor sanitation.

I have read that it is also good to switch up your sanitation choices every once in awhile too. For example, if you use iodine, change over to Star-san for a few batches. You need to catch those little beasties while they are sleeping.

 

[Hoppus_Poppatopolis]

How do you pronounce "vinator"? I don't want to sound like a rube when I go to buy one.

 

[Bobby_M]

I think it's pronounced exactly how you'd expect. Vin - A - tor with the emphases on Vin.

For $14 or so bucks, it's a gem. I'm pissed that I sold mine. I figured that I only bottle a sixer at a time but even so, it's nice. Dunk and gurgle is a chore. You need a basin filled with enough sanitizer to reach over the top. The vinator can do 50 bottles with about a quart of sanitizer and each bottle will take you 5 seconds.

 

[rico567]

I don't think Oxi-clean is too concerned with the hardness of your water.... did you mean star-san? Oxi-clean can take off hard water stains after all...

A soak in Oxi-Clean will leave a white film on my bottles that must be removed with an acid wash (vinegar solution). PBW doesn't. In other threads, some people have said that PBW has chelators added that Oxi-Clean doesn't. Someone said you can make a PBW equivalent by using bargain ("Sun," etc.) brand percarbonate cleaner mixed with Arm & Hammer WASHING soda. I don't know the mix ratio, and haven't tried it yet. Maybe I will when my PBW runs out.....

 

[Cheaton]

A soak in Oxi-Clean will leave a white film on my bottles that must be removed with an acid wash (vinegar solution). PBW doesn't. In other threads, some people have said that PBW has chelators added that Oxi-Clean doesn't. Someone said you can make a PBW equivalent by using bargain ("Sun," etc.) brand percarbonate cleaner mixed with Arm & Hammer WASHING soda. I don't know the mix ratio, and haven't tried it yet. Maybe I will when my PBW runs out.....

Interesting. I wonder why. Oxi-clean is pretty much just sodium pre-carbonate. Maybe you can just mix oxiclean with the arm and hammer? Must be some sort of reaction going on there with the minerals in your water. I have pretty hard water here in cleveland and don't have any issues with oxi-clean.

 

[Sacdan]

If I start with bottles that have been cleaned previously and just have dust, I'll use the jet bottle washer and then put them in the dishwasher and put it on "sanitize mode". I don't put any soap or bleach in the dishwasher. I haven't had any issues.

 

[rwinzing]

Buying Kegs

 

[Sacdan]

Kegging is definately better. I only bottle what I am going to give away, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[Cheaton]

I know all you kegging guys think its so much better, but the upkeep, parts, peices, tanks, refrigeration, etc. etc. I don't think kegging is any easier. It's just the actual act of putting the beer in the container is a bit less tedious. Valves, regulators, CO2 tanks, lines, faucets, refrigerators, o-rings, poppets. I think you're fooling yourselves :fro: (Yes, I'm being argumentative)

 

[wing-it]

When using sanitize mode on a dishwasher, does it use jet dry? Can the jet dry be turned off? I hear that can leave a film on the bottles.

 

[Sacdan]

I don't use Jet Dry. We have a whole house water filter and softener. That is a good point about the Jet Dry. I hadn't thought about that.

 

[northernlad]

When using sanitize mode on a dishwasher, does it use jet dry? Can the jet dry be turned off? I hear that can leave a film on the bottles.

I am guessing you mean Heat Dry as Jet Dry is an chemical additive. If so, yes, Heat dry will bake on residual stuff to the glass. If you use heat dry for your dishes, that is what causes your glassware to become cloudy, aside from high calcium in your water.

 

[wing-it]

I am guessing you mean Heat Dry as Jet Dry is an chemical additive. If so, yes, Heat dry will bake on residual stuff to the glass. If you use heat dry for your dishes, that is what causes your glassware to become cloudy, aside from high calcium in your water.

No, I'm talking about the chemical additive jet dry. I'm getting the impression it can't be turned off... guess I'll avoid the dishwasher method until it's empty.

 

[northernlad]

I don't use it. You put more than one load worth in at a time?

 

[BubbaK]

When using sanitize mode on a dishwasher, does it use jet dry? Can the jet dry be turned off? I hear that can leave a film on the bottles.

I've got a GE dishwasher, and the jet dry cannot be turned off - at least I can't find it in the manual

 

[JVD_X]

I brought a bunch of bottles off craigslist, and got a vinator and bottle tree thrown in. TBH, I didn't think the vinator would be much better than the dunk method, but I've been impressed.

The vinator is x10 better than dunking for sanitation when used in conjunction with a bottle tree. You use a lot less sanitizer solution as well.

I would not use it for cleaning however.

IMO using the dishwasher to clean bottle is the worst idea ever. You just don't get enough fluid up into the bottles and good luck rinsing them out. Also, JET Dry should NOT be used on your bottles (or your beer glasses).. you will kill your head.

 

[Smogre]

The thread seems to bounce between methods for cleaning and methods for sanitizing.

 

[Sacdan]

The thread seems to bounce between methods for cleaning and methods for sanitizing.

I thought the thread starter said that the bottles were "dusty", not dirty from beer. That leads me to bleieve that they had been cleaned and were in staorage. Even though, both cleaning and sanitzation are critical in brewing.

 

[Smogre]

I thought the thread starter said that the bottles were "dusty", not dirty from beer. That leads me to bleieve that they had been cleaned and were in staorage. Even though, both cleaning and sanitzation are critical in brewing.

Original post quoted for your clarification.

...There is a accumulation of dust, dirt, and debris in them since they were stored in the garage. Any recommendations for a good, thorough cleaning before bottling?

 

[chuggs]

Go to your local Water Department and see if they have any of those Blue Plastic 55 gal drums for sale. Our's sell them, if they have them, for $10.

Cut it in half...and put some water in it. Pour a bit of plain Bleach...and as you collect bottles. Put them in.

Back when I bottled...I kept one of these tanks in the garage. Labels slip right off after a couple of days.

You can followup with whatever regimen you want. But a good soaking in Bleach solution is a great place to start. It makes future washings easier...and if you toss the bottles in right away...in fresh bleach solution...all you really need to do is rinse them well before use.

 

[celts]

whats the dilution of oxyclean that people use?

 

[EvilGnome6]

whats the dilution of oxyclean that people use?

I go pretty mild. 1/2 oz in 1 gallon.

 

[ChshreCat]

I use one scoop in the bathtub with enough water to cover the bottles. Very highly scientific measuring system there.

It's basically what I use for de-labeling and I just throw my other bottles in with it.