Bottle sanitation

[Metzger22]

I'm new to home brewing. I'll be ready to bottle my first batch very soon. I've read that the dishwasher can be used to sanitize bottles. Is this accomplished without the use of a sanitizing agent?

 

[paranode]

Yes if you just put them in there and just run it without detergent on high-heat rinse/dry then it should sanitize them. They do need to be free of any gunk beforehand though since it might not get that off.

 

[Metzger22]

Thank you. I appreciate you clearing that up for me.

 

[Blender]

I never much used the dishwasher. I used to mix 5 gallons of Iodaphor and keep 12-18 soaking while I bottled. The top rack is great for draining and the door works quite well for filling the bottles.

 

[quickerNu]

I scrub out the bottles with a brush then dishwasher on hot water/dry never had a problem.

 

[Atl300zx]

I have used the oven, the dishwasher (with heated dry), and now StarSan to sanitize bottles. Hands down Starsan is the easiest and quickest.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

Best way I have found is as follows:

1. Oxyclean in a big tupperware container with hot water. Soak the bottles for a few hours and the labels will peel right off. This also helps get any solids from the inside out.

2. Rinse bottles and remove labels.

3. Soak in a bucket with starsan or your sanitizer of choice for atleast 1-2 minutes while bottling.

My system would be one step better if I bit the bullet and bought a bottle rack...

 

[Dextersmom]

Best way I have found is as follows:

1. Oxyclean in a big tupperware container with hot water. Soak the bottles for a few hours and the labels will peel right off. This also helps get any solids from the inside out.

2. Rinse bottles and remove labels.

3. Soak in a bucket with starsan or your sanitizer of choice for atleast 1-2 minutes while bottling.

My system would be one step better if I bit the bullet and bought a bottle rack...

yeah i need on too....there was a diy that i read in byo magazine...real easy to make. need some wooden dowels and a big piece of plywood. the rest should be self explanatory. then put several coats of waterproof finish on the rack and you're good to go.

of course my lazy ass has yet to do this.

 

[Metzger22]

All my labels are peeled and the bottles have been washed out with a bottle brush. I guess I'll just sanitize in the dish washer than bottle right from the racks.

 

[engine3lt]

yeah i need on too....there was a diy that i read in byo magazine...real easy to make. need some wooden dowels and a big piece of plywood. the rest should be self explanatory. then put several coats of waterproof finish on the rack and you're good to go.

of course my lazy ass has yet to do this.

I've seen those diy racks too and been very tempted to build one. Since wood is porous isn't there a risk of contamination?

 

[Atl300zx]

I've seen those diy racks too and been very tempted to build one. Since wood is porous isn't there a risk of contamination?

Hence the waterproof finish

 

[engine3lt]

Hence the waterproof finish

Do you have to sanitize the pegs or will the wet sanitized bottle be enough?

 

[TheJadedDog]

I've got to say, I don't really trust the dishwasher method. I know others use it and have had success and that's great, but I wouldn't do it myself. I'm a big fan of Iodophor and it really isn't all that much more work.

 

[Atl300zx]

Do you have to sanitize the pegs or will the wet sanitized bottle be enough?

TO be safe i would spritz the entire thing with StarSan. Very little effort for some peace of mind.

 

[Teewinot]

I'm getting ready to bottle my first batch as well (Phat Tyre from NB). My Father in Law had a bottle stand from his wine making days, so I'm good to go there. I also have brand new 22 oz. bottles. I'm planning on using my cleaned primary filled with warm water and the appropriate amount of One-Step to sanitize. My plan is to first break down and clean the bottle rack, then soak all of its parts for a few minutes in my bucket-o-solution (BOS). Then I'll remove the parts, reassemble the rack, and set my bottles (right side up) into the BOS so that they fill with the solution. After a few minutes I'll remove the bottles drain the solution back into the bucket, and do more bottles the same way until I have enough.

Does this plan seem reasonable to you all? Am I missing something? And lastly I assume that I must also sanitize the caps. Should I dump them into the solution as well, or simply boil them?

Thanks for any input!

 

[engine3lt]

Sounds like a plan.

Steer away from boiling or heating the caps. I've read that it can break down the plastic liner. A good soak and drain should do it.

 

[whoptbird]

Best way I have found is as follows:

1. Oxyclean in a big tupperware container with hot water. Soak the bottles for a few hours and the labels will peel right off. This also helps get any solids from the inside out.

2. Rinse bottles and remove labels.

3. Soak in a bucket with starsan or your sanitizer of choice for atleast 1-2 minutes while bottling.

My system would be one step better if I bit the bullet and bought a bottle rack...

This is what I do as well, but I use a bottle rinser

like this one. After the soak I rinse and then give 4 squirts or so with this filled with starsan. I let em sit for a few and just pour out any residual before bottling. Hooray Beer.