Funky carboy....

[Ize]

I really wasn't going to use this 5 gallon glass carboy that I got from an attic at work. (my original is gone) But I've changed my mind and want to use it as my secondary and get a 6.5 for my primary when funds ease up... (Going to use my plastic as my primary for the moment...)

The thing is was dusty and funky but clear. However I have no idea what it may have been used for... There's a hazy layer of something on the bottom that I think will come off with a good hot water soak and a good scrubbing. But I want to make sure the thing is definitely clean and safe for incoming brew... any recommendations?

(and if someone says bleach, that scream your dogs will hear will be coming from Illinois... )


Ize

 

[Ivan Lendl]

umm bleach...bleach...and more bleach.

 

[Lounge Lizard]

Fill it up full of PBW (powder brewery wash) and and water let it set overnight. The guy at my LHBS says that stuff will even take scorched areas off of boil kettle bottoms. It's bound to remove anything from glass....

 

[Ize]

umm bleach...bleach...and more bleach.

Good thing I can type, I think I blew a vocal cord on that one....

 

[Ize]

Fill it up full of PBW (powder brewery wash) and and water let it set overnight. The guy at my LHBS says that stuff will even take scorched areas off of boil kettle bottoms. It's bound to remove anything from glass....

thanks :rockin:

Ize

 

[Alx Rains]

Caustic Soda will eat any "funkiness" away too, And it rinses easily too, just don't let any frogs get near it!

 

[Ivan Lendl]

I was going to use this 5 gallon glass carboy that I got from an attic at work... However I have no idea what it may have been used for...


Ize

where do you work? in an agent orange factory or something?

 

[Ize]

Radio Station... might as well be the same thing.

Just another building to hide the psychopaths...


In all honesty the stations are in a decrepit "downtown" building that was built in the early 1900's. The carboy isn't that old, but it was your typical attic filled with years and years of work junk.... and well, it IS radio... friggin thing could have had beer in it for all I know. It was a 5 gallon carboy. FREE...

Now that I think about it, there are things that could have been in it I DON'T want to think about....



Ize

 

[Regicider]

Caustic Soda will eat any "funkiness" away too, And it rinses easily too, just don't let any frogs get near it!

I used to be a fan of caustic soda. However, you have to rinse very well, because that stuff leaves a residue at the drop of a hat. (Note to self: quit dropping hats into carboy.) Even more so than sodium hypochlorite. (My dog didn't hear nuthin' now. Probably 'cause I ain't got no dog. )

 

[Catfish]

Fill it up full of PBW (powder brewery wash) and and water let it set overnight. The guy at my LHBS says that stuff will even take scorched areas off of boil kettle bottoms. It's bound to remove anything from glass....

It will also apparently remove the teflon from your cookware, eats the stuff that holds the teflon on.

 

[Lost]

You know, I've been meaning to try this pbw but I haven't run into a situation that calls for it yet. Hot water usually rinses just about everything clean.. though a while back I noticed two bottles were not rinsed after use and had developed quite a nasty bit of mold and dried beer gunk in the bottom. Fortunately, a good soak in some unadulterated bleach cleaned it right up.

I say bleach it.. it's cheap and it sure works good. That pbw is pricey.

 

[Ize]

You know, I've been meaning to try this pbw but I haven't run into a situation that calls for it yet. Hot water usually rinses just about everything clean.. though a while back I noticed two bottles were not rinsed after use and had developed quite a nasty bit of mold and dried beer gunk in the bottom. Fortunately, a good soak in some unadulterated bleach cleaned it right up.

I say bleach it.. it's cheap and it sure works good. That pbw is pricey.

I'm going to bleach and hot water it and see what results I get. I have to get sanitizer and some other stuff anyway tho, and MoreBeer has a packet of PBW that will do 2 to 5 gals for only 1.45... I may just get it to be extra safe even if bleach cleans the beast out... Ultimate sanitizer on a brew day I guess...

Better safe than funky beer.

Ize

 

[Dude]

It will also apparently remove the teflon from your cookware, eats the stuff that holds the teflon on.

Did Charlie tell you that? I just bought some PBW this week, after listening to the show last week. Can't wait to use it.

Did you listen to tonight's show? I missed it, gotta see if my itunes subscription dowloaded it....

 

[Lounge Lizard]

How about PBW eating teflon tape?

Or does it just like the stuff that binds it to pans?

I downloaded the Sunday show from here:

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/archive.php


Haven't listened to all of it yet. I do wish they would quit grab assing so much. Who are those guys? Do they really have a clue, or are they just guys like most of us?

 

[Ize]

FUNKY CARBOY LIVES!

Ok it will anyway... it's sitting over there across the room winking at me saying, "Isn't there supposed to be something fermenting in me???"

Oxi Clean (which i KNEW we had around the house) and some seriously hot water... soaked for 3 and a half hours, brushed it out and VIOLA! Funk-Free. (which is BAD if you're a George Clinton fan, good for your carboy)

I'm going to run it thru again just to be safe, and still put some PBW thru it before any beer touches it, but man it cleaned up nicely. And this puts me that much closer to being back, and having my own "Brew Day"

Thanks for everyone's help, a bit anal on my part, I know, but what the heck... I also think I'll also get some Iodophor because I like the idea of a no rinse sanitizer...

So, order ingredients, cleaners and a couple of new airlocks and things should be rockin...

Like they say in Jamaica, "Soon Come"....

Thanks!

Ize