bottle rinser vs. spray bottle?

[fun4stuff]

I've read a few posts on here with people recommending bottle rinsers (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064ODV1Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20) for cleaning bottles with starsan. Would it really be any faster than just using a spray bottle?

 

[Jeffinn]

When I bottled I used one of those and for me it worked great. Others seem to disagree. There are many different ways to sanitize your bottles. Whatever works for you!

 

[geoffey]

When used in conjunction with a bottle tree then yes, I'd say it is much easier. You can use two hands at once and place a bottle on the tree while sanitizing the next, etc.

 

[eadavis80]

I've never really thought of using a spray bottle to spray inside beer bottles for sanitizer. If it works, then there is no reason to buy that item. Test it and try. I have that item and it does save time on bottling day. I used to fill a bunch of beer bottles (12 at a time) in a Star San solution I had filled in a 5-gallon bucket. I'd then dump the solution out of the bottles and back into the bucket and then place the sanitized bottles on the bottling tree prior to bottling. IT would take a while and it hurt my back after a while - all the leaning over the fill and empty. So, it saved my back and some time. That being said, if the spray bottle shoots an effective jet of sanitizer into the bottles, I feel dumb for not thinking of that myself and could have saved $20...

 

[flars]

Would probably take the same amount of time as a spray bottle. Depends upon your set up also. For myself, it would be extra work and then the expense of the bottle tree or some other method to recover the sanitizer.

 

[ncbrewer]

I've heard of using a spray bottle but have never tried it. I'd say before you bottle a batch using a spray bottle, try it on a test bottle to be sure the liquid is getting on EVERY part of the inside of the bottle. I would use Star San for the test rather than water in case it runs down the side different from water. Just my thoughts.

 

[fun4stuff]

yeah, im just trying to save the money of buying the rinser +bottle rack. Still a novice to homebrew and wasn't sure if I was entirely understanding how the rinser worked.

I was thinking of just using the spray bottle on each bottle then but them upside down in the dishwasher rack to dry rather than a bottle tree.

 

[flars]

Using Starsan, you don't want the bottles to be dry before filling, just turn bottle mouth down to let the excess drip out. Starsan is only effective while it is wet.

 

[Nagorg]

If you bottle then a tree and one of these vinators is a great addition to your gear. Really saves time and works great. I wouldn't want to bottle without mine!

http://www.love2brew.com/Articles.asp?ID=286

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnD4Xln-E9k[/ame]

 

[ArcLight]

I've read a few posts on here with people recommending bottle rinsers (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064ODV1Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20) for cleaning bottles with starsan. Would it really be any faster than just using a spray bottle?

The bottle rinser (sulfiter) is very useful (I bottle) and one of my best purchases. No way I'd use a spray bottle.
Its easy to use and maintain, and does its job well.

 

[Oginme]

I use a sulfiter (bottle rinser) for sanitizing the bottles before brewing. It's just so very easy to pull the bottles out, inspect them and pump them on the sulfiter a couple of times to fully flood the bottle on the inside. I use a spray bottle for touch up sanitizing of small items when I've touched them or they are exposed for what I feel is a long time where exposure could be an issue.

Even if you spray the inside of a bottle, you will need to rack them upside down to allow the sanitizer to drip out.

 

[BowAholic]

two best purchases I've made are my vinator and bottling tree... I even take them with me to help friends bottle...

 

[CJ-3]

I am on the cheap side. I bought a turkey baster and use it to squirt StarSan into each bottle. When it's time to fill I just pour them out into the 5 gal bucket I keep the StarSan in.

 

[sfgoat]

I use it without a bottle tree. Just pump, shake out excess and fill. I use iodophor so I'm not sure if that makes a difference but I love it. Best $20 I've spent. No more tubs of sanitizer I need to use a fraction of the amount and it's fast.

 

[youngdh]

Here's my protocol for my bottles. It might seem like overkill but it cost me no additional time all things considered.

I keep a spray bottle of Star San under my kitchen sink so when I decant a bottle of homebrew I immediately rinse the bottle with warm tap water to remove sediment and visually inspect for any remaining sediment. I repeat until all sediment is gone. I then reach for Star San spray bottle giving bottle 2 or 3 sprays including the mouth of the bottle. I leave bottle on kitchen counter top until I load my dishwasher when I put bottle(s) upside down over a tine for a thorough cleaning. After dishwasher cleaning cycle the cleaned bottle(s) get carried to my basement workshop where I keep a 5G bucket of Star San solution where I completely submerse the bottle(s) for a minute or two after which I pull the bottles out, empty Star San back into bucket, and store bottles inverted (mouth down) in the segmented cardboard case the bottles originally came in (bacteria can't "crawl" up inside the bottles). If you don't have a segmented container use a plastic tub with lid and lay bottles on their side and keep cover on tub.

The next time I fill the bottles I line them up in a plastic container lined with paper towels (to catch any accidental over flows) and spritz the inside of each bottle from my Star San spray bottle again being sure to wet the bottle mouth as well. That spritzing plus the Star San wetted bottle caps from soaking in a container of Star San and thoroughly sanitizing bottling cane and tube I feel I've hedged my bets warding of unwanted bacteria.

Remember that Star San is not a cleaner. All of your equipment must be free of debris for Star San to be effective.

 

[wilserbrewer]

yeah, im just trying to save the money of buying the rinser +bottle rack. .

The bottling products you linked are a convenience and NOT a necessity. You can pour a couple ounces in a bottle and swish it around and drain. The sprayer you linked is nice that it is a one handed operation and this a labor saver. Just be sure that the star san solution contacts the entire inside of the bottle...

 

[truvr]

I use a spray bottle. It takes about 10 sprays while rotating the bottle to fully coat the inside. It is probably a little more effort than a vinator but it works fine.

If you decide to go the dishwasher route I suggest inspecting your bottles very carefully afterward. I found that little bits of food that had remained in the dishwasher would get up inside some of the bottles. The sanitize/heated dry cycle would bake them on making it really hard to clean out those bottles after.

 

[Brauer]

If your trying to save $ I see no need to buy the bottle tree. The racks on your dishwasher work exactly the same. I just run the dishwasher empty and with the drying cycle before I start to ensure it's clean. I use the ol' dunk em method. 5 gallons of Star San in the sink. While I'm dunking one I'm racking one. Then I bottle on the open dishwasher door, it keeps me from having to clean up any overflow.

 

[unionrdr]

I think the 45 bottle tree & avinator are the best money I've spent. 45 bottles take up only about 2 square feet, rather than all over the place. Don't have to camp out in the kitchen where wife is usually cleaning or something. The avinator shoots a steam about the size of your pinky into the bottles, so 3 pumps & it's good. Doesn't use much Starsan that way either & is quick. Very handy & easier on my messed-up joints.

 

[fuelish]

I make a small batch of starsan, siphon a couple ounces into the required number of bottles, invert and shake them well (this is assuming one is starting with clean bottles), put them on the bottle tree (sprayed with Starsan at the start), let 'em drain and commence bottling...I don't think the bottle interior necessarily has to remain wet to remain sanitary, if this is done in an area without strong enough drafts to blow stuff up into the bottles. Have never ever had a bottle sanitization issue, plus this sanitizes your siphoning set, and I take a clean rag and wipe the remaining Starsan in the bottling bucket around the insides and invert onto the top of the tree until all is ready to go (I usually don't use the spigot bucket, just a regular 6.5 gallon bucket....if using the spigot, of course this must be disassembled and sanitized well also)

 

[vanishingpint]

I have to agree with BowAholic and Union, bottle tree and vinator make a pita job so much easier.Totally worth the expense.

 

[unionrdr]

I think they're a great value for ease of use alone. With a bad back & hips, it allows me to sit down while bottling. Keeping all the bottles in a 2 square foot area makes grabbing one while filling one much easier. No lifting above the shoulder helps as well. I like to spend my brewing money on things like this & little gadgets that all combine to make brew/bottling day easier, quicker, etc.

 

[ncbrewer]

You can easily use the vinator without a bottle tree also. I pump the vinator with one hand and let the bottle sit on top of it draining, while filling another bottle with the other hand. That way, sanitizing the bottles is done parallel with another task and adds almost no time to the bottling day.

 

[fun4stuff]

I use a spray bottle. It takes about 10 sprays while rotating the bottle to fully coat the inside. It is probably a little more effort than a vinator but it works fine.

If you decide to go the dishwasher route I suggest inspecting your bottles very carefully afterward. I found that little bits of food that had remained in the dishwasher would get up inside some of the bottles. The sanitize/heated dry cycle would bake them on making it really hard to clean out those bottles after.

Ive done a few batches of wine and mead over the years and found the same thing with the dishwasher- baked on debris in the bottles. I'm going to stay away from the dishwasher.

Do people routinely clean bottles with soap/oxyclean/etc even if they are new or been thoroughly rinsed right after use?

I'm wonderwing if I can just rinse these bottles with star San if they are otherwise free of debris or is it necessary to use a cleaner as well?

 

[vanishingpint]

I would just like to clarify.To the op if the spray bottle works for you and you don't mind it , you can use that method forever or until you decide differently .It's still your beer and you can do it how you want . Enjoy the addiction !

 

[GHBWNY]

Using Starsan, you don't want the bottles to be dry before filling, just turn bottle mouth down to let the excess drip out. Starsan is only effective while it is wet.

^^^ Just before bottling, I lay several bottles in a Rubbermaid basin of StarSan, let them fill about half way, take each and shake it until it really, really foams, dump the excess back into the basin and stand it upright. I want to see foam coating the inside of each bottle just before bottling. If I get too far ahead of myself and it has dried out, I'll re-sanitize. Yeah, it takes more time and effort, but it's worth it to me to know I have effectively eliminated a possible source of infection, esp. at that stage of my brewing process.

I'm not familiar with how a bottle rinser works, but where does the sanitizer go after it exits the bottle? It would be a shame if it went down the drain, esp. when the same StarSan can be used over and over.

 

[Oginme]

Ive done a few batches of wine and mead over the years and found the same thing with the dishwasher- baked on debris in the bottles. I'm going to stay away from the dishwasher.

Do people routinely clean bottles with soap/oxyclean/etc even if they are new or been thoroughly rinsed right after use?

I'm wonderwing if I can just rinse these bottles with star San if they are otherwise free of debris or is it necessary to use a cleaner as well?

I have a 5 gallon pail in the garage filled with PBW solution. Each bottle gets the same treatment -- new, freshly emptied, recycled. Soak in PBW solution, drain, rinse and into the fastrack for drying. When the fastracks are full, I box them up and move to storage. When I go to use them, I take each bottle, do an inspection for spots, cracks, flaws, etc. Sanitize with starsan using the vinator, then back on the fastrack to drip excess out.

Maybe a little overkill, but 71 batches and no infections yet.

 

[1975brewer]

I've had mine for 14 years & would not want to bottle with out them. That being said if your are new to brewing & don't know how much you will be doing or don't want to spend the money right now err on the side of caution. When you know you are going to keep bottling don't think twice about buying them. I now use the fastrack & really like them.

Also just saw this thread https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f16/sale-bottle-tree-vinator-bottle-rinser-226413/

 

[GHBWNY]

Ive done a few batches of wine and mead over the years and found the same thing with the dishwasher- baked on debris in the bottles. I'm going to stay away from the dishwasher.

Do people routinely clean bottles with soap/oxyclean/etc even if they are new or been thoroughly rinsed right after use?

I'm wonderwing if I can just rinse these bottles with star San if they are otherwise free of debris or is it necessary to use a cleaner as well?

Prevention is the best medicine. After I pour, I immediately rinse the bottle 3X in plain hot water -- I have yet to use a cleaner on my bottles (cleaners and sanitizers are two different things; StarSan is not a one-step cleaner/sanitizer; it's only a sanitizer).

Just before bottling, I hot rinse again then sanitize a few minutes before bottling making sure the StarSan in the bottle is still wet. If it dries up, it is ineffective. It will not affect the beer in any way and is actually beneficial. In case you haven't heard it before: "Don't Fear The Foam!"

 

[unionrdr]

^^^ Just before bottling, I lay several bottles in a Rubbermaid basin of StarSan, let them fill about half way, take each and shake it until it really, really foams, dump the excess back into the basin and stand it upright. I want to see foam coating the inside of each bottle just before bottling. If I get too far ahead of myself and it has dried out, I'll re-sanitize. Yeah, it takes more time and effort, but it's worth it to me to know I have effectively eliminated a possible source of infection, esp. at that stage of my brewing process.

I'm not familiar with how a bottle rinser works, but where does the sanitizer go after it exits the bottle? It would be a shame if it went down the drain, esp. when the same StarSan can be used over and over.

You pump the sanitizer in the bowl from the central stalk into the bottle. It squirts a stream the size of your pinky into the bottom of the bottle, now at the top while pumping. It returns to the bowl it's attached to.