Better Bottle stuck kreuzen

[TimFarAway]

What's the best way to clean kreuzen that is stuck inside a plastic better bottle? I've got it filled with tap water & a drop of dish soap now, but shaking it around isn't removing the gunge. I know I don't want to use a brush on plastic. Thanks for the help.

 

[flars]

Here is a link to the BB site.
http://www.better-bottle.com/technical.html

A soft sponge is best for wiping, after soaking, to avoid scratches if it is a big mouth BB.
A standard carboy mouth BB can be cleaned by filling about one quarter full and inserting part of a t-shirt or other rag and then shaking.

Soaking the krausen ring doesn't require the carboy to be filled. Use just enough water/cleaning solution to cover the ring when the carboy is upside down. A jet washer will remove any debris clinging to the sides or bottom if done before the interior dries.

Read the cautions on the BB site about leaving cleaning solutions in a BB long term.

 

[Hello]

I did an overnight soak in PBW because even the wash cloth wasn't working. There were three little spots that I just could not get off. Ended up doing the overnight soak and it was fine.

A jet washer did not work for me either. The beer was in the carboy for about 1.5 months.

 

[peterj]

I soak mine with homemade PBW (Oxyclean and TSP/90) in hot tap water for a little while and it all comes right off. I've heard just oxyclean works fine too.

 

[MonsterBrew]

I did an overnight soak in PBW because even the wash cloth wasn't working. There were three little spots that I just could not get off. Ended up doing the overnight soak and it was fine.

A jet washer did not work for me either. The beer was in the carboy for about 1.5 months.

I second that. Soaking with either PBW or Oxyclean overnight and then giving a good rinse usually does the trick.

-Jeff

 

[ram5ey]

Yeah I get the hill off with just some hot water and shaking it...then fill with hot water and oxyclean over night.

 

[TimFarAway]

Thanks all!

If you put a rag in the bottle to help agitate, how the heck to you get it out again?

 

[drewsk]

I've had the same resounding success with PBW soaking my plastic bottle fermenters. Sometimes the rag trick speeds up the process- but then to get it out I have to get the tip/edge of the rag near the opening with the bottle upside down and grab it with my stubby fingers.

 

[coolharry]

Stuffing a rag in with a bit of hot water and swirling has always worked for me. I've seen someone convert a racking cane into a king of pressure washer wand for this as well.

 

[kh54s10]

Thanks all!

If you put a rag in the bottle to help agitate, how the heck to you get it out again?

Turn the bottle upside down, stick your fingers in and grab an edge of the cloth and pull it out. Easy peasy!!!

 

[kh54s10]

Rinse, soak overnight with Oxyclean. Rinse again. Add a quart or two of water and a wash cloth. Swirl, remove the cloth, rinse more, done. The longest part is filling with water. The rest takes maybe 10 minutes.

 

[sumbrewindude]

Fill the bottle over half way and soak bottom, then flip bottle on stand and soak the top. Then put the midsection of a set of the wife's destroyed pantyhose in and swirl as required to "scrub" out the extra. Works every time!

 

[danath34]

one more here for a PBW soak. works wonders.