Fermenter Funk

[thebane90]

This forum is great. So many new guy questions have been answered

I just bottled my first batch last night and washed all of the buckets, equipment, etc. I woke up this morning and the fermenter bucket still has quite a funky smell. Is this normal, or is there a special way I should wash it? I used regular dish soap, but apparently that's not strong enough.

Thanks.

 

[Nurmey]

No big deal on the smell but the favorite around here is Oxyclean Free for cleaning. Dish soap will leave a head killing residue in your equipment so it's not ideal for cleaning. Hot water and a half scoop of oxyclean will clean everything out of fermenters. Rinse a couple of times after you've cleaned.

Welcome to HBT!

 

[BlindLemonLars]

I don't use buckets anymore, but when I did they always smelled faintly of beer, no matter how well I soaked and cleaned them. I wouldn't worry about it.

Nurmey speaks the truth...soap and brewing gear are generally not good friends. Once you get a tub of Oxiclean, you'll wonder how you did without it. I always thought it was typical late-night infomercial fodder, but now my house will never be without it. It's amazing to watch the bubbles attack and break away the krausen ring inside a better bottle or carboy.

Actually, my girlfriend has started picking up off-brand "oxygen cleaner" at a 99 cent store, and it works just as well as the name brand item. Whatever brand you buy, opt for the unscented version.

 

[HughBrooks]

Just what I had been wondering.. I had been getting PBW wich works awesome but gets exspensive. I am glad to hear that the oxyclean is a good thing for CLEANING the fermenter with.

 

[thebane90]

Thanks a bunch for the info. Now another question: Is there an effective way to remove the soap residue that is now present on all my equipment?

I knew I should have some here first for cleaning info

 

[Nurmey]

Thanks a bunch for the info. Now another question: Is there an effective way to remove the soap residue that is now present on all my equipment?

I knew I should have some here first for cleaning info

Yes, Oxyclean!

 

[thebane90]

Awesome. Thanks so much

 

[rico567]

When I started brewing, I noticed that the stain and hop smell built up in my fermenting bucket over time. Eventually, I decided to do something about it, so I dumped in a heaping 1/4 cup of Oxi-Clean and filled the fermenter up with hot water. I left it overnight, and the next day the inside was nice & white again, and the smell was hardly noticeable. I then fermented a couple more batches in it, and noticed that the stain & smell were starting to come back. I then asked: 1) What is the stain hurting? Answer: nothing, and 2) what does beer smell like? Answer: like hops. That was the last time I worried about that issue.

 

[kuphish]

When I started brewing, I noticed that the stain and hop smell built up in my fermenting bucket over time. Eventually, I decided to do something about it, so I dumped in a heaping 1/4 cup of Oxi-Clean and filled the fermenter up with hot water. I left it overnight, and the next day the inside was nice & white again, and the smell was hardly noticeable. I then fermented a couple more batches in it, and noticed that the stain & smell were starting to come back. I then asked: 1) What is the stain hurting? Answer: nothing, and 2) what does beer smell like? Answer: like hops. That was the last time I worried about that issue.

Same thing here. I soak and clean the bucket with Oxiclean, but there is still some faint coloration and residual hop aroma. Hasn't made a bit of difference in any of my beers.