How to Clean Soda Kegs

[permo]

I am recieving used, but fully operational ball lock corny kegs that have been used to store and dispense soda, like pepsi and sierra mist. The kegs are very clean, not sticky on the surface or at the connectors and they are obviously well maintained as the seals and connects are all in great shape.

My question is what should I use to clean these kegs out. I was thinking about filling them with a hot oxyclean solution, removing the connects and such and just soaking everything in oxyclean for a week or so.

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

No need for a week. Some say using Oxi on stainless is bad, but I've not seen any ill effects. No need to go more than 24hrs though. On future cleans you can probably do 1 hour and be fine.

If you have something like root beer and need to get the smell out you can also soak in baking soda for a day or two. rinse and repeat as needed. You'll want to replace all plastic o-rings as well.

 

[Blender]

You should consider changing out the O rings as they still may harbor some soda smell. I would dissasemble the poppets and clean them well.You can also purchase a brush for cleaning the inside of the diptube. I don't think you need to soak them a week for soda cleaning. Overnight ought to be plenty.

 

[chefchris]

boiling water. That's how I clean and sanitize mine. I stopped putting chemicals in my kegs.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

+1 for oxiclean soak, I usually soak mine overnight, and I also soak all of the valves, poppets, gas tube, diptube, and lid. A thorough rinsing with super hot water, and I always clean the o-rings and apply fresh lube to them when reassembling. Then I mix a gallon or two of star-san in one keg shake it up real good, and then transfer the sanitizer between kegs from out to out posts making sure to shake each one to ensure the sanitizer gets everything.

Whenever my HBS starts carrying PBW I'm going to give it a try. But it sounds very similar to Oxiclean.

 

[babalu87]

Oxyclean for 15 minutes cleans most everything off.
Use a toilet brush or something to clean anything that sticks.
A diptube brush is a must for new to you kegs.

 

[ErieShores]

I received one last moth that has an inch of Mountain Dew residue in it. Any suggestions for that?

 

[babalu87]

I received one last moth that has an inch of Mountain Dew residue in it. Any suggestions for that?

A gallon or two of boiling water

 

[Brew-boy]

No need for a week. Some say using Oxi on stainless is bad, but I've not seen any ill effects. No need to go more than 24hrs though. On future cleans you can probably do 1 hour and be fine.

If you have something like root beer and need to get the smell out you can also soak in baking soda for a day or two. rinse and repeat as needed. You'll want to replace all plastic o-rings as well.

It happened to me and left what to be a pitting on the inside of my keg. I switched over to B-brite and never had a problem again. I fill mine with a solution of B-brite for a few days scrub all little parts, Stan San and good to go.

 

[Carter1932]

Let soak in PBW a couple of hours to loosen organic material, brush and rinse. Then sanitize for a few minutes with StarSan.

Also recommend removing posts and dip tubes for cleaning and sanitizing. Pay special attention to threaded areas. You really ought to buy a dip tube brush to make certain the entire length of dip tube is grime free.

 

[permo]

What about pressure washing the interior of the keg?

I think boiling water with oxiclean is going to be my go to method, I might try the pressure washing though.

 

[jmkratt]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/my-cheap-easy-keg-washer-109684/

I built something very similar to that.

OxiClean Free 20-30 min> Rinse 20 min > StarSan 5 min

Done. Simple.

I have taken a number of used kegs that reeked of soda using this method and it worst great. Plus you don't have to scrub anything. I replace the o-rings and soak all the hardware in the same solutions.

I think scrubbing is a pain and am quite lazy so this is right up my alley.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

...
If you have something like root beer and need to get the smell out you can also soak in baking soda for a day or two. rinse and repeat as needed. You'll want to replace all plastic o-rings as well.

I have a keg that has had Root Beer in it. I soaked it in oxy, replaced all the o-rings and it still smells. I bought a box of baking soda to try to eliminate the odor.
So... how do I do this?
Fill the keg, dump in the entire box of baking soda? (if not whole box, how much)
Cold/Warm/Hot water?
Remove poppets/posts & soak separate?

 

[babalu87]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/my-cheap-easy-keg-washer-109684/

I built something very similar to that.

OxiClean Free 20-30 min> Rinse 20 min > StarSan 5 min

Done. Simple.

I have taken a number of used kegs that reeked of soda using this method and it worst great. Plus you don't have to scrub anything. I replace the o-rings and soak all the hardware in the same solutions.

I think scrubbing is a pain and am quite lazy so this is right up my alley.

This
Is a keg washer

take the lid off the corney, stick it in a big pot containing the pump and some Oxyclean solution.

Start up the pump and run Oxyclean into the QD's on the IN/OUT of the keg

Once the keg is full I disconnect the gas post and let it run in the bottom of the keg via the BEER POST and out the top of the keg.

I only take kegs apart when they are new to me or when a poppit is acting up

 

[yournotpeter]

I think a very good tutorial on keg cleaning can be seen at

 

[jmkratt]

This
Is a keg washer

take the lid off the corney, stick it in a big pot containing the pump and some Oxyclean solution.

Start up the pump and run Oxyclean into the QD's on the IN/OUT of the keg

Once the keg is full I disconnect the gas post and let it run in the bottom of the keg via the BEER POST and out the top of the keg.

I only take kegs apart when they are new to me or when a poppit is acting up

I like it :rockin: