Cleaning a used keg for its first batch of homebrew

[MrBJones]

When getting a used corny keg ready for its first batch of homebrew, how difficult is that first cleaning? I've read that at least some used kegs will still have syrup that's been inside for many years. Is it usually enough to

1. disassemble
2. Fill the keg, soak everything else, overnight with Oxiclean
3. Rinse
4. A good slosh with Starsan

Or is a certain amount of scrubbing or scouring needed? If so, might it be worth spending $15-ish extra for reconditioned kegs that have already been cleaned and sanitized?

By the way...ball lock vs pin lock...are there any inherent benefits or drawbacks for either?

 

[brewdude88]

I've never had a problem disassembling and puting all parts in the keg, followed by filling it with HOT PBW. After 1-2 hours, dump and rinse with hot water. I would suggest having a new oring kit ready.

That being said, if you want the keg to look nice on the outside, buy a new keg.

 

[greywolf]

sometimes you have to clean the nasty soda out of it. An oring kit is always a good idea.

 

[Nokie]

When getting a used corny keg ready for its first batch of homebrew, how difficult is that first cleaning? I've read that at least some used kegs will still have syrup that's been inside for many years. Is it usually enough to

1. disassemble
2. Fill the keg, soak everything else, overnight with Oxiclean
3. Rinse
4. A good slosh with Starsan

That’s all I’ve ever done. Sometimes if I still smell the syrup I’ll do it twice.
Then when I reassemble I replace the o-rings and then starsan.

 

[seatazzz]

A couple of my cornies were used for soda before I got them (specfically homemade rootbeer). A good soak with hot water and oxyclean, and replacing ALL of the o-rings, took care of that. It's the o-rings that retain that soda smell/flavor. And they're cheap if you buy the kits.

 

[DU99]

warm/hot water,with sodium percarbonate,leave a for awhile,empty leave to dry.remove posts and dip tubes, soak posts in cleaning solution,disassembly poppets and give a scrub(old toothbrush),inspect dip tubes for any crap ,clean if need to,replace o-rings on tubes and lube,reassembly posts ,lube top of poppets,and reinstall on kegs.basically is what i do

 

[Jayjay1976]

Get yourself a new toilet brush to scrub the inside. I've always done the pbw soak, etc. but its also good to get a good, solid scrub on those inside surfaces, especially where the level sat for some time and left a ring. Feel free to use Barkeepers Friend just be sure you give it a really thorough scrubdown rinse to avoid residue.

 

[Nate R]

When getting a used corny keg ready for its first batch of homebrew, how difficult is that first cleaning? I've read that at least some used kegs will still have syrup that's been inside for many years. Is it usually enough to

1. disassemble
2. Fill the keg, soak everything else, overnight with Oxiclean
3. Rinse
4. A good slosh with Starsan

Or is a certain amount of scrubbing or scouring needed? If so, might it be worth spending $15-ish extra for reconditioned kegs that have already been cleaned and sanitized?

By the way...ball lock vs pin lock...are there any inherent benefits or drawbacks for either?

After you clean it, It might be worth it to purge it of oxygen rather than just slosh the star san.
Fill it up with diluted star san/water and push that out with c02. If you daisy chain kegs together it goes faster.
Much less oxygen in your finished beer.