How am I supposed to clean glass carboys?

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I have a couple 1 gal carboys.

And I have one gal too,

Restaurant style bus tubs work well for moving 1 gal glass and Little BMBs. The longer ones will hold two Little BMBs - which is perfect for those 2.5 gal split batch experiments.

 

[Zadkiel]

Sorry for the small tangent as this hasn't anything to do with carboys, but with so many people agreeing on using PBW & Starsan I'm wondering if I'm doing anything wrong - I've only been using VWP as both a cleaner and a steriliser, is that OK?

 

[Snuffy]

I think I'll just bite the bullet and go with plastic. Broke as hell

You just need one of these that fits your carboy, some PBW, elbow grease and Starsan.

https://www.amazon.com/E-C-Kraus-EC...phy=76475&hvtargid=pla-4584070153034808&psc=1

 

[user 348755]

As title says. The opening seems too narrow to do any serious scrubbing.

Not sure why diversol is never mentioned when it's the best for this job and cheaper than pbw. Just dump some in, add hot water and soak at least 24 hours or just leave it in there until you need it. Rinse and use. We used to use it commercially and never had to scrub a single carboy using stupid brushes or use any sanitizer and never got a single infection with tens of thousands of carboys we washed.

 

[strawberrycow]

Not sure why diversol is never mentioned when it's the best for this job and cheaper than pbw. Just dump some in, add hot water and soak at least 24 hours or just leave it in there until you need it. Rinse and use. We used to use it commercially and never had to scrub a single carboy using stupid brushes or use any sanitizer and never got a single infection with tens of thousands of carboys we washed.

Noted, but I'm gonna need a second opinion

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Products we for cleaning and sanitizing are likely specify to the country (USA, CA, UK, ...) where the home brewer is located.

 

[user 348755]

Products we for cleaning and sanitizing are likely specify to the country (USA, CA, UK, ...) where the home brewer is locate

Noted, but I'm gonna need a second opinion

lol. Ok

 

[SFC Rudy]

Damn... first result. Yeah, we don't want to lose lose any CO2. That stuff can get expensive. Plus, no one wants to suffocate. Better ditch the glass.

View attachment 881267

Me and my fat fingers!

 

[Flushot22]

I think I'll just bite the bullet and go with plastic. Broke as hell

My advise for what it's worth, look for some Fermzilla conical or all-rounder fermenters locally. It's what I use. I have 3 of them. You really cant go wrong with them for the price.

 

[passedpawn]

As title says. The opening seems too narrow to do any serious scrubbing.

IMO, glass carboys are disposable / one use. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...orror-stories-compendium.376523/post-10330035

Use plastic or steel. Lots of options there. For plastic, I really like the all-rounders. For steel, the SS Brewing Brew Bucket is nice.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

Half fill with hot water, add PBW, add more hot water till full, scub with carboy brush after letting it soak. Rinse well.

DO NOT USE HOT WATER!!! Glass carboys will break if you do. Often ending with a visit to the emergency room.

Here’s my story.

 

[SFC Rudy]

I think I'll just bite the bullet and go with plastic. Broke as hell

I used plastic buckets for almost 20 years with no issues. I only bought some Anvil fermenters because I had some disposable cash at the time. They didn’t make my beer taste better.

You don’t need a bunch of expensive shiny equipment to brew great beer.

 

[RonnieBiggs]

Very carefully lol

 

[hungupdown]

I've found a pressure washer is good for shifting the bulk of any deposits - in demijohns.

I have a 60L carrboy, but keep it as work of art, as it's too heavy to lift when full!

 

[MaxStout]

Look into the plastic Speidel fermenters. Never used one myself, but have heard nothing but good things about them. A little pricey-- the 7.9 gal version is close to $100. But it'll last almost forever and you don't have to worry about breakage

https://www.amazon.com/Speidel-Plastic-Fermenter-Spigot-Lock/dp/B07K7ZN7F9

 

[corkybstewart]

Well damn. What am I supposed to be brewing in? Plastic? My diet is pretty plastic rich already.

(joking. no hate)

I brewed in plastic buckets for 25 years, I love them and still use them occasionally. I only use glass carboys for vinegar-the carboys sit on a shelf, occasionally I siphon off a gallon, and add another gallon of wine(or cider). I never move them so they are not AS dangerous.
I lost 5 gallons of beer once when a defective bottle on a shelf exploded, and dropped the bottle bottom onto the shoulder of the glass carboy, exploding it and letting 5 gallons of imperial hefeweizen IPA (much better than it sounds) run across the garage floor.

 

[corkybstewart]

So Homebrewer, the system won't let me reply directly, but I remember that thread, it's one reason I quit using glass for beer. What has been your long term recovery Everything back to normal?

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I still have no feeling in my thumb, index, and middle fingers. It's not easy sometimes, but I've learned to live without feeling in those fingers. I've had to learn how to do many things with my left hand. It's surprising how much you can't do if you can't feel your fingers.

 

[bwible]

Look into the plastic Speidel fermenters. Never used one myself, but have heard nothing but good things about them. A little pricey-- the 7.9 gal version is close to $100. But it'll last almost forever and you don't have to worry about breakage

https://www.amazon.com/Speidel-Plastic-Fermenter-Spigot-Lock/dp/B07K7ZN7F9

+1 for Speidels. They’re great. I have (2) 5 gallons and (1) 3 gallon. There are videos out there showing you how to do closed transfers with these. They are a little pricey.

Fermonsters are another less expensive option. They are not as sturdy or rigid as the Speidels. Get one with a faucet and I’d recommend the carrier strap. Fermonster has 1 gal, 3 gal, and 7.9 gal sizes. For some reason they do not make a 5 gallon.

I still have a bunch of glass carboys and I’m getting to where I’m going to get rid of them. They’re heavy and slippery and I’m old. I might keep a couple 3 gallons for aging barleywines and such.

I have some plastic buckets. I don’t know if I would trust them for fermentation anymore.

 

[Panderson1]

I haven't used a brush in years. A gallon of HOT water and a lot of oxi-clean. soaked for 10+ mins or longer and all the gunk will be lifted. I normally swish it all around every 5 mins or so. Then pour it out and rinse. Spray it out well then star san

 

[MaxStout]

I haven't used a brush in years. A gallon of HOT water and a lot of oxi-clean. soaked for 10+ mins or longer and all the gunk will be lifted. I normally swish it all around every 5 mins or so. Then pour it out and rinse. Spray it out well then star san

That was basically my method, except I used PBW and I filled to the top. Fill with hot water and PBW, let it sit a while, drain and rinse.

 

[Deadalus]

DO NOT USE HOT WATER!!! Glass carboys will break if you do. Often ending with a visit to the emergency room.

Here’s my story.

I'm very sorry that happened to you.

I must respectfully disagree, I've always used hot water. I've owned carboys since the late 90s. The quality varies, and I have mostly had the ribbed Italian glass style but a couple from Mexico. I've seen bottles separate from the bottom like that, bottle bombs. Carboys, I've had a couple break along that bottom seam, various lengths but from some force applied. I've seen bubbles in a carboy, yours could have been defective, took a hit, been put down too hard. My final rinse always uses hot water. I have a bottle sprayer permanently mounted on my sink to a second faucet. Further, they all have handles, which I stopped carrying them full using the handle quite some time ago, but the handles are much safer than handling without when washing. One hand on the handle, the other arm around the carboy, bottom corner resting on my shoulder about 125-130F rinse. I could feel the glass get hot. I never rinse using the carboy washer, but it would start out with hot water.

As far as soaking with PBW, I've done that overnight and sometimes the krausen ring is just too stubborn. Sometimes a small cloudy patch on the bottom or somewhere on the sides. Even with my carboy washer sometimes I'd need the brush. It's glass, you can check it carefully to see if something was missed. I'm also pretty good about a quick rinse after racking, but that's because once in a while I didn't and they are harder to clean if left to dry out.

I never did get around to buying the flapper brush. Seems like a good tool.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Not exactly on topic, but related to carboy handling safety. A friend lets me pick his muscadine vines after he gets a couple gallons for his wife to make jelly. I pick to make wine and return a bottle to him.

His uncle used to make wine and built the contraption pictured below. It’s essentially a swinging cradle. The two screen door springs are looped over the carboy kneck. It allows you to decant the carboy without having to touch, move, or lift it.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I'm very sorry that happened to you.

I must respectfully disagree, I've always used hot water. I've owned carboys since the late 90s. The quality varies, and I have mostly had the ribbed Italian glass style but a couple from Mexico. I've seen bottles separate from the bottom like that, bottle bombs. Carboys, I've had a couple break along that bottom seam, various lengths but from some force applied. I've seen bubbles in a carboy, yours could have been defective, took a hit, been put down too hard. My final rinse always uses hot water. I have a bottle sprayer permanently mounted on my sink to a second faucet. Further, they all have handles, which I stopped carrying them full using the handle quite some time ago, but the handles are much safer than handling without when washing. One hand on the handle, the other arm around the carboy, bottom corner resting on my shoulder about 125-130F rinse. I could feel the glass get hot. I never rinse using the carboy washer, but it would start out with hot water.

As far as soaking with PBW, I've done that overnight and sometimes the krausen ring is just too stubborn. Sometimes a small cloudy patch on the bottom or somewhere on the sides. Even with my carboy washer sometimes I'd need the brush. It's glass, you can check it carefully to see if something was missed. I'm also pretty good about a quick rinse after racking, but that's because once in a while I didn't and they are harder to clean if left to dry out.

I never did get around to buying the flapper brush. Seems like a good tool.

I wish you the best of luck with that. I still have some of my glass carboys, but they're in the corner in the basement collecting dust. I will never use them again.

 

[Deadalus]

I wish you the best of luck with that. I still have some of my glass carboys, but they're in the corner in the basement collecting dust. I will never use them again.

You should get rid of them. Potentially traumatic to look at them and taking up space.

Certain brewing topics on here tend to end up down the same tired path. Using the word carboy very often ends up with how DANGEROUS they are. Doesn't seem to happen with something like beer glasses for instance. Do you how many people have been cut by beer glasses (bottles too). Beyond all the bar fights!? And we go and put PRESSURE in the bottles on purpose. How many drinking glasses have broken in your house? Probably nearly all the ones you've ever owned except the ones you still have. Yet we still drink alcohol out of some of them, walk around the house with them, and wash them in hot water, including the dishwasher. We even let young children use them! Honestly, most people are aware glass cuts and they continue using drinking glasses. I'd say 99.95% of brewers using a glass carboy are aware that it is made out of glass.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

I have to admit, I love my glass carboys. Watching a batch of wine work is more fascinating to me than the lava lamps I remember as a kid.
I can’t even tell you without going out to count how many I have. I guess I have what I am supposed to; I sold two and within a couple weeks I acquired three more!
One is a real treasure:

It is labeled “Wheeler Mineral Spring Company”. It’s very heavy, green tinted glass. On the bottom, it’s stamped with the date “1928”. I’m going to hold onto to it a few years and do something named “Old One Hundred”.

EDIT: Well, maybe I missed my chance on “Old One Hundred”. Grok says that the Wheeler Mineral Spring Company only was in existence from 1887 to 1893.

 

[BeerNsteadofH2O]

Soak with PBW and use the flapper on low speed... hot water rinse, I have harnesses that buckle on them,they give support around..if I fill them in use a pump to a manageable weight.

 

[Deadalus]

I have to admit, I love my glass carboys. Watching a batch of wine work is more fascinating to me than the lava lamps I remember as a kid.
I can’t even tell you without going out to count how many I have. I guess I have what I am supposed to; I sold two and within a couple weeks I acquired three more!
One is a real treasure: View attachment 884106

It is labeled “Wheeler Mineral Spring Company”. It’s very heavy, green tinted glass. On the bottom, it’s stamped with the date “1928”. I’m going to hold onto to it a few years and do something named “Old One Hundred”.


View attachment 884107

EDIT: Well, maybe I missed my chance on “Old One Hundred”. Grok says that the Wheeler Mineral Spring Company only was in existence from 1887 to 1893.

I am not sure what Grok was finding but I'd trust the date stamped on the bottle before Grok. There is a group of springs in Manitou Springs, Colorado and there was a Manitou Mineral Water Company that was founded by Jerome Wheeler. The company went out of business in 1893. However, in 1920, Wheeler's son-in-law had a spring drilled and it was and still is called the Wheeler Spring. These were mineral springs and some are naturally carbonated. I can't get a solid hit on "The Wheeler Spring Mineral Company" but given the drill date, seems likely that the date is correct. I like that the writing is upside down to serve in a dispenser. Wheeler had ties to Macy's too.

 

[rallenhall]

I have, and still use, a supply of mixed-sized glass carboys. Heavy and dangerous .... yes, they have to be handled with caution. I remember the first 5 gal. carboys (still in use) that I purchased new from a water supply company @ $5 each. The cost of new ones at the LHBS today gives me shivers.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I have been using 6.5 gallon smooth side Italian carboys for over 20 years now. I have six of them. I treat them like they're grenades.
You will never see me put anything inside or outside that is more than 5°F above or below the current glass temperature. Ever.

That includes rinsing them out after kegging, when the glass is still thoroughly chilled from cold-crashing. Putting even "room temperature water" in at that time would be a ~30°F thermal shock, and accumulating that type of thermal stress is exactly what leads to the thick bottom cleanly separating from the thin sidewall.

Don't do that.

Cheers!