Cleaning Primary.......?

[brewagentjay]

So my fisrt batch is in secondary. I have an empty primary I plan on using this weekend with my 3rd batch. So the question is:

How do I clean my primary properly before fermenting a new batch in it?

I washed it with hot water after racking to secondary. I didn't want to use soap. I santaized it no rinse stuff. Just not sure...if that is enough.

 

[Revvy]

If there is noticable crud on it many of us use oxyclean (yes THE oxyclean) even generic and hot water. Let it soak a few hours/ overnight and rinse thoroughly.

That will lift most crud off without needing a brush.

I use one of these Jet carboy/bottle washers to rinse the carboy before and afte the oxyclean.

There's a doohickey you can get to use it even on the kitchen sink.

Sometimes for glass, or if it not that dirty, I don't even bother with the oxyclean and just use plenty of hot water and the jet washer. And then sanitize it after.

 

[IceFisherChris]

After fermenting, I clean out my bucket with very hot water and a soft sponge. Before fermenting I do the same thing again, except I add sanitizer.

 

[ChshreCat]

I'm also an Oxyclean guy. Just throw it in the tub, fill the fermenter up with hot water, add some oxyclean when it's almost full (to keep it from foaming out as you fill it) and let it soak for the afternoon. Rinses out clean as a whistle.

 

[Daparish]

I usually give mine a long soak in oxyclean and hot water after I rack to bottle or secondary. Before I fill it again, I usually fill it with about 1 gallon of star san solution and slosh that around to cover the inside. I bought soft plastic "scouring pads" (although scouring sounds too harsh. They're soft plastic pads that are strong enough to remove any deposits but not strong enough to scratch the plastic fermentor), and I go over the inside of the bucket and the lip and the lid with these. Drain and it's ready.

Also, where did you get a recipe for a 420 clone? 420 is probably my go-to beer when I'm drinking commercial stuff. Excellent.

 

[Suddy]

+1 on the oxyclean. I use a scoop and hot water. Soak it overnight and rinse in the morning. Takes all the crud off without scrubbing.

 

[brewagentjay]

I usually give mine a long soak in oxyclean and hot water after I rack to bottle or secondary. Before I fill it again, I usually fill it with about 1 gallon of star san solution and slosh that around to cover the inside. I bought soft plastic "scouring pads" (although scouring sounds too harsh. They're soft plastic pads that are strong enough to remove any deposits but not strong enough to scratch the plastic fermentor), and I go over the inside of the bucket and the lip and the lid with these. Drain and it's ready.

Also, where did you get a recipe for a 420 clone? 420 is probably my go-to beer when I'm drinking commercial stuff. Excellent.

I got it as a kit at the LHBS he has a clone of all kinds of stuff. I also got a tip from someone on here that he has modified it to be perfect. I can tell you after I brewed it it was spot on as far as smell...........

I have the kit instructions in scan image I can send you.....It's one of my favs as well.:rockin:

 

[kryolla]

I also soak it in oxyclean and PBW overnight. Then the next day I get a wash cloth and scrub the bucket, rinse and put away.

 

[Daparish]

I got it as a kit at the LHBS he has a clone of all kinds of stuff. I also got a tip from someone on here that he has modified it to be perfect. I can tell you after I brewed it it was spot on as far as smell...........

I have the kit instructions in scan image I can send you.....It's one of my favs as well.:rockin:

I would love the recipe if you could send it in a PM or something.

 

[nordoe]

I agree but have been told to use oxyclean free. It is sometimes harder to find. I found it at my local target. I also clean my corny kegs with it and of course always sanitize well.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I rinse mine. Next brew day I rinse it again, spray with star san, drop in a liner, and spray that with star san. Then I rack.

Buckets and Liners. I love them!

 

[Daparish]

I rinse mine. Next brew day I rinse it again, spray with star san, drop in a liner, and spray that with star san. Then I rack.

Buckets and Liners. I love them!

Liner? Like a plactic lining inside the bucket itself? Never heard of those.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Liner? Like a plactic lining inside the bucket itself? Never heard of those.

Reynolds 24lb Turkey bags. I have been using them for nearly 2 years now.

I'll never worry about scratched buckets again.

 

[Daparish]

Reynolds 24lb Turkey bags. I have been using them for nearly 2 years now.

I'll never worry about scratched buckets again.

Neat. I may need to pick some of those up. They're big enough to fit inside a regular fermenting bucket?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Mine are 6.5 gallon and the liner is tall enough to leave just an 1 inch lip over the bucket rim. Filling and purging can be tricky I am told but, have never experienced that.

 

[jmkratt]

I have been cleaning mine with soap and hot water with a spong right after kegging. I then do the same before sanitizing before brewing.

I might try Oxyclean next though from all these posts. I haven't experienced any problems with soap and water, but I haven't had many to clean yet!

 

[brewagentjay]

I'll clean it again tomorrow. I can still smell beer when I smell the primary. So I guess I need to clean it further.......

 

[bigjoe]

Dude I'm trying to put my head around how you just put your first in secondary and have all of this:
Primary - Apfelwein, Sweetwater 420 Clone, JChrapewein
Secondary- Irish Stout

Damn. I The last brew I did was stove top as the weather has sucked a$$ here KC, MO. The last beer before that was in early december. I guess that the bonus living in the south.

On to the topic at hand... I use the spray hose on the sink and that usually does the trick. If its bad I do like the others and use oxiclean (generic) from wally world.

 

[IceFisherChris]

I'll clean it again tomorrow. I can still smell beer when I smell the primary. So I guess I need to clean it further.......

No. My fermentor smells of beer all the time.

 

[jmkratt]

No. My fermentor smells of beer all the time.

I also can't seem to get the smell out no matter what I do. Haven't come across any problems yet.

 

[Rentachik]

Just after I finish fermenting, I'll use dish soap and rinse well. Works all the time. No funny flavors.

 

[Wellshooter]

I spent a lot of time and elbow grease trying to soak and brush out my PET primary carboys. I read about the oxyclean soak on this forum and just tried it this weekend. One scoop of oxyclean, fill with cold water, let it sit overnite. Next morning all I really had to do is dump and rinse. Thanks guys/gals.

 

[brewagentjay]

Dude I'm trying to put my head around how you just put your first in secondary and have all of this:
Primary - Apfelwein, Sweetwater 420 Clone, JChrapewein
Secondary- Irish Stout

Damn. I The last brew I did was stove top as the weather has sucked a$$ here KC, MO. The last beer before that was in early december. I guess that the bonus living in the south.

On to the topic at hand... I use the spray hose on the sink and that usually does the trick. If its bad I do like the others and use oxiclean (generic) from wally world.

I just keep buying primaries.........Also my apfelwein and JChrapewein are in 1 gallon deals.........

Brewing Pete's Wicked Ale today.......

 

[brewagentjay]

I'd brew every weekend if I could afford it........... Right now it's nice 55 and sunny..

 

[sp1365]

OxyClean soak overnight gets out 99% of the gunk in my primary. For that other 1% I fill up with a little water, throw in some wet paper towels and swirl.

 

[brewagentjay]

If primary still has a beer smell when I ferment in it will it give tastes to the new beer? Just curious?