Getting rid of "Fermenter Funk"

[captianoats]

We all know that funky smell that gets in the plastic fermenting buckets over time. No matter how much you scrub you end up with that smell. Does anyone know of a way to get that smell out of there? I am considering dumping some bleach in it and letting it sit for a day or two and see what happens, but I didn't know if someone else had found a way that works.

 

[BrewMeister49]

oxyfree oxyclean.

 

[Nurmey]

I clean with Oxyclean, rinse, and leave the lid off or loose so it dries and airs out completely. I think the main thing is to not seal it up after cleaning.

Bleach is not a terrible idea if the smell bothers you. The smell could be coming from scratches in your bucket holding on to bacteria.

 

[Smitty025]

I've used vinegar in the past and it worked nicely.

 

[Brewin_CRAZY]

One simple answer, Oxyclean. That stuff is amazing, just put it in there let it sit for a night or two and clean your fermentation chamber out. Thats all I clean with, I have never once scrubbed a carboy or ferm chamber...

 

[Picobrew]

Scrubbing plastic is bad news! Scratch city. I also oxyclean. Never need to scrub. However, after like 20 batches in the same fermenter, there is still a "beer" smell that oxy doesn't solve. Maybe I should try vinegar.

 

[lowlife]

my thoughts are/
who cares if it smells. it wont affect anything... just my personal opinion.

 

[ifishsum]

my thoughts are/
who cares if it smells. it wont affect anything... just my personal opinion.

+1. My plastic ferm buckets have smelled since the first batch. As long as they are clean and sanitary, there should be nothing to worry about.

 

[SmugMug]

I usually do an oxyclean soak for a couple of hours and then a 10% bleach soak overnight. It tends to knock the smell down some, or at least keep it from getting new funk. I do use the soft side of a sponge to wipe down the inside just for my own sanity.

 

[json2001]

Another vote for Oxyclean. It really is outstanding...it just works. Cleans my boil kettle back to it's original shine as well.

 

[SmugMug]

Another vote for Oxyclean. It really is outstanding...it just works. Cleans my boil kettle back to it's original shine as well.

And gets your whites whiter and your brights brighter!

 

[HairyDogBrewing]

We all know that funky smell that gets in the plastic fermenting buckets over time. No matter how much you scrub you end up with that smell. Does anyone know of a way to get that smell out of there? I am considering dumping some bleach in it and letting it sit for a day or two and see what happens, but I didn't know if someone else had found a way that works.

Even hot bleach doesn't totally remove that smell.
So I just don't worry about it anymore.

 

[json2001]

And gets your whites whiter and your brights brighter!

I'll pour one out for Billy Mays on that one.

 

[SmugMug]

I'll pour one out for Billy Mays on that one.

Yeah, every time I see an infomercial on tv now I say to myself:
"I'd buy it if Billie pitched it to me."

 

[Whiskey]

Hot water and Oxy for the cleaning, if you still have odor issues fill the bucket with hot water add about a 1-1/2 cups of baking soda (arm and hammer),stir, and let it sit for a few hours. It should pull most if not all odors from the bucket. If you have a spigot, it may need disassembled and soaked also.

 

[jennieD]

I've only brewed a couple batches, and I already have that smell in my fermenting bucket. I've soaked in Oxy clean for a couple of days, even diluted bleach, still smells funkie!

I'm not gonna worry about it, as long as it's disinfected and clean, it should be fine.

 

[captianoats]

Hot water and Oxy for the cleaning, if you still have odor issues fill the bucket with hot water add about a 1-1/2 cups of baking soda (arm and hammer),stir, and let it sit for a few hours. It should pull most if not all odors from the bucket. If you have a spigot, it may need disassembled and soaked also.

But if I disassemble the spigot, won't all of the water come out?