How Early in Advance Can I Sanitize?

[BonnieJ]

I'm planning on starting a brew tomorrow (my first!). I'm going to use Star-San.

How long in advance can the sanitization need to be done? I'm planning on brewing in the afternoon. If I sanitize it a few hours before, is that OK, or will my stuff get "infected"? On the other hand, is it going to work if I sanitize everything (relatively) immediately before using it? It just seems like such a big project and I don't want to mis-plan anything.

Also, I guess I'm going to sanitize the countertop and lay everything out on it that I'm going to need. Is that a good idea? I can't figure out how to get everything to stay clean, otherwise.

 

[edmanster]

i sanitize everything when i store it and as soon as i use it.. i lay down paper towles and set everthing on them.. you can sanitize with starsan and use it immediately..

 

[dutchoven]

Depends on the equipment. I sanitize my kegs and carboys prior to storing them (I seal the carboys with the caps from water bottles -- endless supply at work). For my other equipment, I sanitize as I go. I keep a 5-gallon bucket of starsan on hand and soak parts as needed.