Cleaning plastic tubing?

[benzy4010]

What's the best way to clean your tubes. I noticed one of my tubes developed some mold I believe. What's the best way to clean tubes?

 

[CarnellSitka]

after using them i run warm water through them, then when i am sanitizing i siphon some of the sanitizing stuff and water through them and let them sit with it inside the tube just the same as the carboy. after flushing the tubes of the sanitation solution i run water through them again.

Not sure if this is correct but this is how i do it.

 

[YeastHerder]

Before use, I flush with water to get any dust out that may have settled, and then sanitize with starsan before putting beer through them.

After use, I flush with hot water and then run starsan through as a final rinse. I let them drip drain for a bit before storage so there isn't standing water in the lines.

 

[bioguy]

If there is mold, I'd just replace the tubing. Tubing is cheap.

Keep your stuff clean - rinse immediately after use with warm water to flush any sugar. I store mine with iodophor in it, then run some water and more iodophor through before use. I know that's overkill, but I'd rather do overkill than underkill.

 

[Pilgarlic]

I don't reuse tubing anymore. Not worth it. It's cheap.

 

[ssult1]

If you believe there is mold in one of your hoses throw it out! Syphon tubing is too cheap to risk it. I flush my hoses with hot water after use and sanitize before use.

 

[Unibrow]

I've seen mold in my tubing 1 time. I easily got it out with warm water and then ran oxi clean through it for 24 hours. After I rinsed the oxi out, I hit it with star San and it was good as new

 

[Pilgarlic]

I've seen mold in my tubing 1 time. I easily got it out with warm water and then ran oxi clean through it for 24 hours. After I rinsed the oxi out, I hit it with star San and it was good as new

All for two bucks? I admire your patience. I buy it by the spool and cut off what I need when I need it.

 

[ArcticBear]

Not worth risking a 5 gallon batch, especially after all the work of brew day, ruined over $4 of tubing...

If its expensive high temp tubing, boil it.

If its not, chuck it and replace it

 

[Unibrow]

Well I may just pick up a spool then...I ain't never bought a spool of anything before in my life

 

[dmashl]

I've been using the same tubing 7 batches(new brewer). All I do is rinse right after using, using hot water, shaking out the tubing. Always rinse out the tubing at next use and run sanitizer through it before I use.

 

[b-boy]

I have a 6 ft section of 3-inch PVC pipe with a cap on one end. I fill with Oxi or Starsan and put all my tubing in it to soak. It works pretty well. Since the tubing doesn't bend the tubing gets filled and the interior stays in contact with the cleaning agent.

 

[benzy4010]

What's the average price for a spool of tubing?

 

[petey_c]

I always have a bucket of Oxiclean and water sitting around (that's where my empty bottles get cleaned). When I'm done bottling I drop one end in and lower it into the Oxi until there are no bubbles and let it soak awhile. I hang it from a clothes pin turned upside down over a wire and try and keep it as straight as possible until it's dry. When that's done I put it in a plastic bag until I need it again.

 

[Pilgarlic]

What's the average price for a spool of tubing?

$.38/ft for 5/8".

 

[tre9er]

Too cheap to clean and hard to deal with anyway. They make line brushes but it's still not easy to clean with them. I replaced my vinyl with silicone except for the siphon tubing, which I just bought new. I'll use it a few times but the first sign of any buildup I'll replace it for a whopping $5.

 

[logan3825]

It costs about $2 for 10' of 5/16"ID tubing at Menards. I hate throwing it away but if it is questionable at all, you might as well just buy new.

 

[benzy4010]

Do they sell it at like homedepot or is it a food safe tubing?

 

[HeadyKilowatt]

I use one of these jet bottle washers to flush my tubing with hot water after use. I just use the hottest water my sink will deliver and then a soak in StarSan. And as has been posted by several others, if it gets funky, just replace it.

 

[logan3825]

Do they sell it at like homedepot or is it a food safe tubing?

I think it is food safe and I am pretty sure they sell it at home depot as well. I would guess you can find the stuff at most hardware stores as well. Probably not as inexpensive though.

 

[tre9er]

Vinyl tubing, food-safe. Not particularly great at higher temps, though. As I've said, I switched to silicone for all hot-side and kettle-to-fermenter transfers.

 

[rideincircles]

I assume that jet pictured above can apply the most force to clean out a tube. I sometimes leave my tubes in Starsan too long and it winds up with a film on it. I tend to use my racking cane to blast a small piece of lightly snug paper towel through it that cleans off the interior of the tubing. It's not 100%, but gets most of it, usually takes a couple of times.

If there is mold, chunk it. Not worth the risk.

 

[benzy4010]

So the local home brew shop is where I should get a spool?

 

[Pilgarlic]

So the local home brew shop is where I should get a spool?

I buy mine at Lowe's.

 

[logan3825]

So the local home brew shop is where I should get a spool?

If you want to spend the extra money. A few extra bucks there might be worth it in the long run but it will probably be at least twice as expensive. OF course you are looking at maybe $8 vs $3.

 

[PackerfaninSanDiego]

I bought a tube cleaning brush,,,,,,have yet to use it. But buying a spool of tubing is going to take up more space in the garage

 

[dbsmith]

This thread has been inspirational. I broke my arm about 4 weeks ago and haven't been able to brew and it has been pretty lame. This would be a good time to give my little brewery operation a good clean and let my tubing soak in some oxiclean. Before this, I have always just rinsed the tubing with hot faucet water after using it and whipped it around to dry it, and then just sanitized it before use. Hasn't failed me (yet).

 

[EnjoyGoodBeer]

This thread has been inspirational. I broke my arm about 4 weeks ago and haven't been able to brew and it has been pretty lame. This would be a good time to give my little brewery operation a good clean and let my tubing soak in some oxiclean. Before this, I have always just rinsed the tubing with hot faucet water after using it and whipped it around to dry it, and then just sanitized it before use. Hasn't failed me (yet).

Yeah just about what i do but as im cleaning i rinse use oxy,rinse again, the flush with starsan.

Always have funning wipping it around.

 

[logan3825]

I would not use a brush on soft vinyl tubing. I would be afraid of scratches.

 

[Stauffbier]

I bought a tube cleaning brush

I made my own with a long, rigid wire and a cotton ball on the end. I soak the tube in PBW and then pull the homemade tube cleaner thru. It works like a charm. Makes your tubes look like new again...