Bottling first batch Sunday, got a sanitizing question though

[STLExpat]

Is it a good idea to spray sanitizer on the tops of full bottles before capping (from the side, not above), or should I stick with putting the caps in sanitizer before capping, or both? Sanitizing the caps makes sense, but spraying the bottle after I've put beer in it makes me nervous. It's the direction I got with the kit, but I'm worried about the sanitizer getting inside the bottle.

 

[passedpawn]

Sanitize the caps by putting them into a bowl of sanitizer for a few minutes.

I've never heard of anyone spraying the bottles after they were filled. You should sanitize the bottle before you fill it. A vinator (search) is a great way to do this. Combined with a bottling tree, easy work. You could also just squirt some sanitizer into each bottle and shake it up.

Just take it easy, try to enjoy the process. It'll be fine. This is a fun hobby, not your job.

 

[phoenixs4r]

I always make a large batch (3-5) gallons worth, to soak my bottles. For some reason, I have never sanitized bottle caps. For some reason I never even thought about it lol.

 

[gypsyhead]

I've had mixed results sanitizing caps. I don't normally, but thought I'd try it one time, just rinsed them through a StarSan solution for a few minutes then bottled, about a week later, those caps had little rust spots starting to form. Not sure if this was just a really bad batch of caps or what.

 

[STLExpat]

Sanitize the caps by putting them into a bowl of sanitizer for a few minutes.

I've never heard of anyone spraying the bottles after they were filled. You should sanitize the bottle before you fill it. A vinator (search) is a great way to do this. Combined with a bottling tree, easy work. You could also just squirt some sanitizer into each bottle and shake it up.

Just take it easy, try to enjoy the process. It'll be fine. This is a fun hobby, not your job.

Yeah, I took Revvy's advice and got a vinator, little tricky to put together bt it's definitely going to be handy. I'll do my best to chill, work's stressful enough lol

 

[Revvy]

The wet with sanitizer caps, you pull out of the vinator or whatever you soak them in WILL sanitize the glas lip of the bottles. But that part of the bottle cot in contact with the sanitizer during regular sanitization anyway.