Homemade PBW Recipe

[user 204491]

We don't have Korger's out here, but I took a look online. This product:

Says compare to Oxiclean Versatile, which is different than the Versatile Free version, so likely has scent added to it as well.

Probably NDB for most folks, but some people are pretty adverse to using scented cleaners in their home brewery, so wanted to point it out.

 

[TripelDubbel]

Let me start by saying I'm a beginner and initially used bleach as cleaner and sanitizer. I'm now using bleach as cleaner and starsan as sanitizer. I wash bottles with soap, but always sanitize with starsan prior to bottling. I plan on using this PBW recipe as my future cleaner.

My perhaps stupid question...the argument against bleach or soap is the difficulty of getting soap and bleach out and risk of having bleach or soap flavor to beer. So can I use PBW soaking to get rid of soap and bleach smell in my current equipment? To put another way, is PBW more powerful than bleach? Please tell me I don't need to replace current glass and plastic equipment.

 

[Jwin]

Let me start by saying I'm a beginner and initially used bleach as cleaner and sanitizer. I'm now using bleach as cleaner and starsan as sanitizer. I wash bottles with soap, but always sanitize with starsan prior to bottling. I plan on using this PBW recipe as my future cleaner.

My perhaps stupid question...the argument against bleach or soap is the difficulty of getting soap and bleach out and risk of having bleach or soap flavor to beer. So can I use PBW soaking to get rid of soap and bleach smell in my current equipment? To put another way, is PBW more powerful than bleach? Please tell me I don't need to replace current glass and plastic equipment.

Bleach requires lots of rinsing.
Some soap can leave behind other substances that effect head retention, etc.
Pbw rinses clean and the oxy element "scrubs" for you, saving you some trouble.
Starsan is no rinse. Look into using starsan in a spray bottle(use distilled water for long term storage).

 

[jtratcliff]

so likely has scent added to it as well

The Kroger brand stuff that I got from Ralph's was scent-free...

Note that on the West Coast, both Ralph's and Food4Less are owned by Kroger... Possibly others. So it is possible to find.

 

[TripelDubbel]

Thanks for the reply JWin. I agree with your comments, UT my question is around what to do now that I have already used bleach on equipment. If there is any residue from bleach or soap, will PBW and/or starsan take care of it before my next batch?

 

[BrunDog]

Gotta be careful with bleach. It will react with and pit stainless. It belongs nowhere near a brewery, IMO. Unless you have a real infection problem, keep it away.

 

[Jwin]

Thanks for the reply JWin. I agree with your comments, UT my question is around what to do now that I have already used bleach on equipment. If there is any residue from bleach or soap, will PBW and/or starsan take care of it before my next batch?

Rinse all hdpe and glass well and brew on. Set it out in the sun for a day if you would like.
Old timers used bleach all the time.
Now, on soft rubber/plastic, could be an issue if any reaction occured.
If your hose feels gummy or tacky, toss it. Hose is cheap.

 

[TripelDubbel]

Thanks

 

[DarkStarNJ]

I gave up on finding cheap oxy substitute and purchased Sodium Percarbonate & Sodium Carbonate separately. Had to order an ass load of the Sodium percarbonate for a good price but I've driven this baby pretty low.

Got the sodium percarbonate via amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016CW5N3I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 ($1.75 lb) Yes i bought a lot of it. (I keep telling myself i'll use it elsewhere but it's still a freakin lot of it. Won't need to buy oxy for a while)

Got the rest from "Jet". never used them before but they gave a discount for multi items and a discount for first time customer. and free shipping over $35.

Red Devil: $2.52/lb
Super washing soda (Sodium carbonate): $.87/lb
Seventh Generation : $1.25/lb

 

[Amadeo38]

So I've been using this mix to soak bottles for label removal and I've noticed it doesn't do as good of a job as straight up oxy free... there is still goop on my New Belgium bottles and usually those come out sparkly clean with straight oxy. Is this an indication that my mix is off?

Edit: when I doubled the dose to two tbsp, it worked perfectly. I suppose half of my sink holds more water than I thought.

 

[indolent]

I didn't see what containers people were storing this mix in. For future reference for others, I made a batch of the 96oz oxy, 64 oz tsp, and 40 oz 7th gen, and it perfectly filled a 23 cup container.

This is the container I used: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00416WAM0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

It's air tight, with a flip top lid for easy access.

 

[NeoBrew]

I split mine up into vacuum sealed bags. Oddly enough they tended to inflate over time. There must be some slow reaction going on in there. None of them burst...yet.

 

[DarkStarNJ]

I split mine up into vacuum sealed bags. Oddly enough they tended to inflate over time. There must be some slow reaction going on in there. None of them burst...yet.

I believe the sodium percarbonate is slowly decaying into sodium carbonate.

I was considering doing that now I'm wary. How long ago did you seal them.

 

[NeoBrew]

It's been a long time. Probably over a year. It doesn't seem to be a problem. It's so slow I would think I'd see it was building up pressure before it ever burst.

 

[Bilsch]

I gave up on finding cheap oxy substitute and purchased Sodium Percarbonate & Sodium Carbonate separately.

Did the same thing and purchased the chemicals separately.

Sodium Percarbonate, Ebay, minje.son 10 lb, $24 shipped
Sodium Carbonate, Ebay, cescosolutions 5 lb, $11.39 shipped
Trisodium Phosphate, Ebay, chembasics 5 lb, $17.49 shipped
7th Generation dish powder, Amazon, Soap.com 150 oz, $19.14 shipped

Using the slightly modified formula:
Sodium Percarbonate 35%
Sodium Carbonate 20%
Trisodium Phosphate 28%
7th Generation dish powder 17%

Works out to $0.1638 an ounce, or $5.78/kg
Very happy.

 

[soccerdad]

If any of you have an Aldi store nearby, you can check their cleaning supply aisle for a fragrance free mix of s carbonate and s percarbonate. $4.9x for 4 pounds

 

[Bigdaddyale]

bookmark

 

[TripelDubbel]

I'm at Aldi now. See Tandil brand but can't tell if it is scented or not?? Did yours say unscented soccer dad?

 

[TripelDubbel]

One more question: PBW does a great job removing hard to remove stains...so...after brewing, has anyone ever tried dumping leftover PBW in toilet rather than drain? Would that do damage? Could it remove hard water stain?

 

[aangel]

Use CLR for hard water stains.

 

[user 204491]

I've used very hot water mixed with PBW to unclog a drain in a pitch before. Seemed to work very well. Also, when I used to de-label bottles in the bathtub using PBW, it always left the tub nice and clean to the point that my wife looked forward to it!

 

[soccerdad]

Sorry for the delay - yes the Aldi/Tandil I got was unscented

 

[dleonard5]

drgonzo2k2, using the recipe on page 2 how would you suggest making a batch of the PBW clone? Measure in by weight or volume?
Please provide an example say for 5# or whatever amount works out evenly.

Thanks.

 

[user 204491]

drgonzo2k2, using the recipe on page 2 how would you suggest making a batch of the PBW clone? Measure in by weight or volume?
Please provide an example say for 5# or whatever amount works out evenly.

Thanks.

Well, I follow the recipe exactly as shown on that page:

6 pounds (96 ounces) of OXO Brite
4 pounds (64 ounces) of TSP/90
2.5 pounds (40 ounces) of 7th Generation powdered dishwasher detergent

Couldn't be easier

 

[dleonard5]

Sounds great! Thanks!

 

[dleonard5]

Disregard.

 

[32indian]

One more question: PBW does a great job removing hard to remove stains...so...after brewing, has anyone ever tried dumping leftover PBW in toilet rather than drain? Would that do damage? Could it remove hard water stain?

I use it (leftover and cold) to clean my coffee pot. Just pour into water bin and run a cycle. Works great, do a second time and pour the hot liquid into my thermos bottle I keep coffee in and let that sit overnight for sparkling clean stainless steel thermos bottle.

 

[TripelDubbel]

Good idea. Thanks 32i. Been looking for ways to avoid waste as I get into brewing process. Will definitely try this.

 

[actech]

Where you finding the 7th gen. All i found is in gel form or those little packs.

 

[Yesfan]

Where you finding the 7th gen. All i found is in gel form or those little packs.

Amazon for me.

(link)