How I plan to clean brand new kegs

[ILMSTMF]

Got four new kegs and here's what I plan to do for my initial cleaning. Please tell me if I'm doing something wrong.

• pour half a "scoop" of Oxiclean free into keg. The scoop being the scoop that is packaged with the Oxiclean.
• fill keg with hot water
• soak for one hour
• (here's the part I'm unsure of) dump that solution into the next keg
• rinse keg 1 with hot water
• repeat all steps until all kegs are rinsed
• 1 oz of Star San added to 5 gallons of hot water in keg 1.
• let it sit for... 10 minutes?
• Dump into next keg and repeat until all 4 kegs have been soaked.
• (here's the other part I'm unsure of) I don't plan to break down/take apart the kegs for this initial cleaning. Bad idea?
• what should I do with the lids?

Thank you!

 

[Gonefishing]

You should push some of your solution(s) through the liquid side too I think.

 

[microbusbrewery]

I'd break them down myself. It's quick and easy and is insurance against unwanted critters. I figure the five minutes it takes is pretty insignificant compared to the possibility of losing a batch. If you don't, at least follow Gonefishing's recommendation and push solutions through your posts.

 

[mongoose33]

I have two new kegs supposed to arrive tomorrow. What I'll do to clean them is wash them in PBW. I may soak them for a bit.

I'll take apart the posts and soak them in PBW as well, and the lids too. I'll unscrew the PRVs and soak them. The dip tubes will be soaked in PBW as well, probably inside the kegs.

After a half hour or so, I'll dump the PBW, rinse well, rinse all the parts, and dunk the parts in Star-San. I'll lube the o-rings with keg lube and reassemble.

 

[RevKev]

I soaked my new kegs in TSP-free then scrubbed with Mr clean magic eraser. Then poured solution into next keg.

Rinsed.

Started PBW.

Rinsed.

Star San.

When I say soaked i broke down the cornies

 

[Dcpcooks]

I soaked my new kegs in TSP-free then scrubbed with Mr clean magic eraser. Then poured solution into next keg.

Rinsed.

Started PBW.

Rinsed.

Star San.

When I say soaked i broke down the cornies

TSP is a good call on newly fabricated stainless steel. It'll pull off any residual oils from manufacturing.

 

[ILMSTMF]

I have two new kegs supposed to arrive tomorrow. What I'll do to clean them is wash them in PBW. I may soak them for a bit.

I'll take apart the posts and soak them in PBW as well, and the lids too. I'll unscrew the PRVs and soak them. The dip tubes will be soaked in PBW as well, probably inside the kegs.

After a half hour or so, I'll dump the PBW, rinse well, rinse all the parts, and dunk the parts in Star-San. I'll lube the o-rings with keg lube and reassemble.

Glad I asked, thanks all for the tips!

Have had these kegs sitting in the box for weeks. Finally took one out last night to familiarize myself with it.

• Was able to easily remove the PRV
• The liquid and gas posts... appears I will need a wrench to get these off. And that's what frightens me. But, if there's low risk of losing parts (springs, nuts, etc.) then I'll give it a go

I'll follow your steps above but my question is, since I won't be putting all four into use right away, can I save the final Star San step for racking day?
Thanks!

 

[brandonlovesbeer]

I received 2 old Kegs of Coca Cola. I drained the kegs and attempted to clean them using the procedure detailed above. But the ONLY thing that cleaned them was this...

I went to my local craft brewery which doubles as my local homebrew store.
They used Caustic to soak and clean the sofa smell out of them. It was the only thing that ever worked.

 

[mongoose33]

Glad I asked, thanks all for the tips!

Have had these kegs sitting in the box for weeks. Finally took one out last night to familiarize myself with it.

• Was able to easily remove the PRV
• The liquid and gas posts... appears I will need a wrench to get these off. And that's what frightens me. But, if there's low risk of losing parts (springs, nuts, etc.) then I'll give it a go

I'll follow your steps above but my question is, since I won't be putting all four into use right away, can I save the final Star San step for racking day?
Thanks!

This is just my opinion but I don't plan to use these immediately....maybe next week. I'll clean 'em first, *and* I'll probably fill them with Star-San. I'm a little anal that way....I can't see any reason to let any nasties get a reprieve until racking day.

If you have any trouble removing a post, here's a trick I figured out to gain myself leverage. You just put the 1x2 wherever you get the best leverage. I tried holding that keg every place I could, and all it would do was turn....until I stabilized it w/ the 1x2.

 

[Dcpcooks]

I received 2 old Kegs of Coca Cola. I drained the kegs and attempted to clean them using the procedure detailed above. But the ONLY thing that cleaned them was this...

I went to my local craft brewery which doubles as my local homebrew store.
They used Caustic to soak and clean the sofa smell out of them. It was the only thing that ever worked.

Was it a new sofa or a collage frat sofa? I'd use caustic and acid on a frat sofa.

Just kidding! Caustic is a bit over kill for most things in homebrew land. PBW rinse and star San is usually enough.

 

[brandonlovesbeer]

Ha ha. Stupid autocorrect! I meant "Soda". [emoji28][emoji28][emoji28]

But on a more informational side, once cleaned, I usually pressurize them with CO2.
That does 2 things.
1) It lets you know if there any leaks.
2) it keeps it sanitized.

 

[kh54s10]

Take them apart. Clean everything well with PBW, Oxyclean, or TSP. Get a dip tube brush and make sure it is clean also.

Save the Starsan for the day you are filling. Especially if you are not going to dump it into the next keg. I use less than 1/2 gallon to sanitize my kegs and have never had an issue in about 5 years. If you are going to use Starsan now, but not have the kegs full of it, it is not working as you think. Once the surface dries it is no longer being sanitized.

 

[ILMSTMF]

I have two new kegs supposed to arrive tomorrow. What I'll do to clean them is wash them in PBW. I may soak them for a bit.

I'll take apart the posts and soak them in PBW as well, and the lids too. I'll unscrew the PRVs and soak them. The dip tubes will be soaked in PBW as well, probably inside the kegs.

After a half hour or so, I'll dump the PBW, rinse well, rinse all the parts, and dunk the parts in Star-San. I'll lube the o-rings with keg lube and reassemble.

Please pardon my absence.

Pretty much going to follow above plan, thanks mongoose33! However, may I please have opinions on the following...

• thinking about doing the initial Oxi soak overnight. Overkill?
• can I dump that Oxi into the next keg or should I make fresh solution?
• the only step I won't be able to follow (immediately) is applying the keg lube after all cleaning is complete. Is it imperative to apply the lube immediately or can this be done a few weeks later? The plan was to rack from primary into keg and leave it until I've got all the parts I need to build the keezer.

Thank you!

 

[mongoose33]

Please pardon my absence.

Pretty much going to follow above plan, thanks mongoose33! However, may I please have opinions on the following...

• thinking about doing the initial Oxi soak overnight. Overkill?
• can I dump that Oxi into the next keg or should I make fresh solution?
• the only step I won't be able to follow (immediately) is applying the keg lube after all cleaning is complete. Is it imperative to apply the lube immediately or can this be done a few weeks later? The plan was to rack from primary into keg and leave it until I've got all the parts I need to build the keezer.

Thank you!

I don't see why you couldn't use the Oxi again. I think it's probably overkill to do that. An hour or so should be plenty.

You can lube the o-rings whenever you need to. I think some people think keg lube works like caulk to stop leaks. I believe it's more to assist the rings to slide into place so they don't bind and create a leak.

 

[microbusbrewery]

I believe it's more to assist the rings to slide into place so they don't bind and create a leak.

+1, helps things seat properly without binding. I also put a little dab on the post threads. Never had problems myself, but I've heard of a few people having galling problems with some of the newer Italian corny kegs. A little dab ensures the threads are lubed and helps eliminate the risk of galling if you get a little overzealous tightening them down.

 

[ILMSTMF]

Fantastic. I feel a lot more confident now. Thank you all for the tips!