how can i clean my cornelius kegs

[endlesssurf]

Hey everyone i just wanted to know how i should clean my cornelius kegs tubes i have the hand pump for normal american keg lines but i was wondering is there a fitting i can get to clean them the last thing i want is to have moldy disgusting lines. also what suggestions on sanatation solution should i use i think i want something that can be reused but im not sure thanks for the help

Christof

 

[BoxofRain]

Hey everyone i just wanted to know how i should clean my cornelius kegs tubes i have the hand pump for normal american keg lines but i was wondering is there a fitting i can get to clean them the last thing i want is to have moldy disgusting lines. also what suggestions on sanatation solution should i use i think i want something that can be reused but im not sure thanks for the help

Christof

Very informative video. This is one of four. Basically you'll want to pump oxyclean or bleach/water solution through the lines. Rinse a few times then your sterilizer.

[youtube]hC7MDb0IuLs[/youtube]

 

[bsay]

Many people here recommend brewery line cleaner. I just use normal generic "Oxy action" cleaner. I mix up 1-2 gallons, seal and shake the keg, then push it out the serving line with CO2. Follow that with a triple rinse (i.e. do that same thing three times with clear water) followed by a single rinse with Star San.

To push the cleaner, just use whatever you use to push beer. It'll take up a bit of gas, but gas is fairly cheap, so I just use it. If you can get your hand pump to work, then all the more better, just don't serve beer with it. I try to have something going into the just cleaned keg right away, and I flush out the Star San and leave some of the product sitting in the like since Star San sometimes doens't play nice with tubing.

 

[endlesssurf]

that was a very good video thank you for the post

 

[Duckfoot]

I do the same thing, but I use my air compressor instead of CO2.... Had good luck so far...

 

[DutchK9]

I do the same thing, but I use my air compressor instead of CO2.... Had good luck so far...

That's a good idea. I have a portable mini compressor that would work well for that, and save CO2.

 

[Duckfoot]

It's fun too, watching 5 gallons of oxi-clean come flying out at 40psi...

I still have cornies to de-gunk, so I just kind of daisy chain them for now... Don't wanna waste water ya know....

 

[EdWort]

Very informative video. This is one of four. Basically you'll want to pump oxyclean or bleach/water solution through the lines. Rinse a few times then your sterilizer.

You don't want to use bleach in your stainless kegs. It will pit the stainless. Oxiclean or Powdered Brewery Wash (PBW) works fine.

 

[PokeFan]

Perhaps a bit off-topic...

but do you need to clean cornies as soon as they are opened?

I purchased some cornies and opened them to check the seals. They still had soda syrup in them, but I haven't cleaned them because I don't have a CO2 setup to push star-san through them yet.

That should come in the next 4 weeks because I just got a fridge for my kegerator setup. Build picks will come.

 

[Parva]

Perhaps a bit off-topic...

but do you need to clean cornies as soon as they are opened?

I purchased some cornies and opened them to check the seals. They still had soda syrup in them, but I haven't cleaned them because I don't have a CO2 setup to push star-san through them yet.

That should come in the next 4 weeks because I just got a fridge for my kegerator setup. Build picks will come.

Goes without saying really, just clean them as best you can now. If it's still got syrup in then you really need to dismantle everything, posts and all. You may need to replace the seals as they'll likely be tainted with the syrup but as a minimum I would chuck the lid and posts into a pan of boiling water along with the seals. Once you have the CO2 then you'll need to start pumping Starsan through the keg (and diptube).

 

[Wables]

+1 on the ozxyclean through the beer lines. I do this about every 6 months, and I have been using the same lines for about 2 years. Before I do this, I take apart my faucets and soak them in hot water with oxyclean, then scrub them out and rinse. I don't run star san through them, but I probably should.

 

[Wingnutj]

Is the "ozxyclean" you use the same as the stuff you use in the laundry?
Can and if so how long should you soak a keg? I just bought a couple that have crap from the previous owner that used them for HBing. I'd just like to soak for a little before I use them since he told me it has been a few years since he used them.

thanks in advance!

 

[rod]

make sure it is the unscented oxyclean for laundry and you will be fine.

 

[Wingnutj]

Thanks on the quick reply! I'm reading about polishing them also right now.... Sounds like work but I guess when your laid off you have a little time. Yeah and AAHHh.....
Cheers!

 

[shortyjacobs]

Oxyclean + hot water, let sit for 24 hrs or longer, (longer seems to be better, never let em sit too long)....then rinse. Take apart the posts and dump them into the kegs so they can soak too.

 

[legaleagle]

I am pretty anal about beer lines and all the keg fittings/faucets. ( I hate getting served beer at an establishment only to find out they obviously have not cleaned their line in quite some time). So, I always clean and sanitize after every keg is tapped. IMHO, this makes a big difference in taste. By that time, I have invested so much time and effort into making the beer, I am motivated to do all I can to ensure the final product is quality.