Cleaning question (PBW)

[BaldManBrew]

I've never used PBW, but on my last purchase I bought some. I normally just use an unscented detergent when cleaning my equipment and rinse well. Do you use PBW/Oxyclean every time you clean? I clean my fermenting bucket very well (with same detergent) right after i transfer to bottling bucket, and I don't have any visible ring on the bottom of my fermenting bucket. I was going to brew today, but noticed most recommend letting it sit overnight, I don't have that time.

Is my detergent cleaning, and then sanitizing with star-san not good enough, or is it?

 

[JasonInBTR]

I personally would ditch the detergent and just use PBW/OxyClean then StarSan. Never now what kind of stuff is in detergents (dyes, etc).

Jason

 

[storunner13]

I will oftentimes not even use PBW or oxyclean. I just run it under hot water and rub with a clean sponge right after using it to clean it (spoons, funnel...carboys are another matter). Jason is right however, detergents can have other stuff in it which can be detrimental to the final product. Often they have dispersants which keep water from beading up and leaving spots. This can reduce head-retention.

I wouldn't worry about your fermenting bucket. If you're diligent about cleaning it, rinsing it very well if you've used a detergent, and even more diligent about sanitizing, you should be just fine.