Cleaning Seals for Corny Keg

[ZenBrew]

I was given 5 corny kegs, so that was pretty awesome! They just needed a lot of cleaning because they hasn't been used/cleaned in about 10 years.

So I found the sticky at https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/sticky-kegging-faqs-43347/ and got all the stainless steal parts cleaned pretty well. However, the seals have absorbed the smell of the old beer.

It was suggested that I try soaking the seals in a mild bleach solution for twenty minutes. However, how much bleach should I add per unit of water?

If the keg/seals still smell after that I'll just buy new seals.

 

[IffyG]

Don't waste you time trying to get rid of the old soda smell, it just isn't gonna happen (especially if any of them held rootbeer). You can find a thread with part numbers for the gaskets at McMaster Carr and you and you'll have a lifetime supply of them for a nominal cost.

 

[ZenBrew]

I assume that old beer smells would be equally as impossible to get rid of as old soda smells?

 

[Seven]

+1 to replacing the seals. Rubber seals dry out and should be replaced every couple of years anyways.

 

[JRems]

It's only about $2 for a seal kit with all 5 o rings. I replace them whenever I get a new keg. The smell is impossible to completely remove.

 

[bucfanmike]

for about $12 you can get 100 of each of the small orings and 10 of the big lid rings from mcmaster.

 

[ultravista]

I wouldn't use bleach in stainless steel, you're asking for trouble.

Forego bleach and use PBW, OxiClean, or some other stuff.

 

[samc]

He is soaking o-rings in bleach, not the keg.

Buy new O-rings, good to have extras lying around.

 

[subliminalurge]

He is soaking o-rings in bleach, not the keg.

Even still...

Old, dried out (and porous) rubber. + Bleach.

I'm thinking that's a recipe for swimming pool flavored beer.

The o-rings are cheap and sold by pretty much every online homebrewing vendor I know of. Just like light bulbs or toilet paper, they're a disposable item. You use them and replace as needed.

 

[ZenBrew]

Well, this is pretty clear. McMaster, here I come!