How to keep faucets clean?

[oldschool]

I'm a little new to kegging (three kegs under my belt) and I'm wondering how everyone keeps the spouts of their faucets clean and free of germs and dried beer. Even though the pubs probably don't care, it makes me cringe.

thanks for the advise.

 

[Mischief_Brewing]

I've read about some people using sanitized caps/plugs, but that seems a little extreme to me.

I use a clean towel and a spray bottle with some starsan mix. I clean them lightly every other day and thoroughly after each keg is kicked (including the lines)

 

[nostalgia]

Like drat, I keep a spray bottle of Star-San hanging off the kegerator. Once I'm done drinking for the evening I spray inside the nose of each faucet.

Each time I kick a keg I run hot BLC through the system.

-Joe

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

Spray bottle of cheap vodka. The alcohol kills the germs, and the water in the vodka washes it clean. A couple of squirts does the trick.

:rockin:

 

[ClaudiusB]

Once I'm done drinking for the evening I spray inside the nose of each faucet.

Here is what I do.

Injecting the sanitizer into the vent hole flushes out the spout and prevents the faucet from sticking.


Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[oldschool]

ahh, interesting. I will have to try that. I know that using perlick faucets is the first defense at keeping them clean.

 

[oldschool]

claudius, is that a hyperdermic type injector? where do you get that?

 

[dstar26t]

I spray with starsan and put a sanitized vacuum cap over the opening after each use.

 

[timmystank]

Just give them a good clean after each keg is kicked. By this I mean run hot oxiclean through them and then starsan. Oh, and go for the perlick like you said. Not rocket science here.

 

[bsdx]

Not exactly a faucet, but right now I'm using a party tap and I keep an open jar of star san in the fridge door tray so I can swish the tap around in it before I put it back in the fridge. If I was using my faucet I'd probably spray some star san into it.

 

[ClaudiusB]

claudius, is that a hyperdermic type injector? where do you get that?

oldschool hobby shop

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[JoMarky]

claudius, is that a hyperdermic type injector? where do you get that?

Dental offices usually have those kinds of syringes, we call them perio irrigation syringes. They usually sit around collecting dust, ask your dentist if you have an appointment any time soon.

 

[zymurgy101]

I picked up a FaucetFresh kit, but will probably use the sponges with StarSan when the FaucetFresh liquid runs out. My reasoning for getting these was that I didn't want any bugs trespassing in my faucets!

 

[bradneal]

I spray mine with a little blast of StarSan after each use and then cap with those little black rubber faucet plugs: http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/faucet-spout-plug.html

I have not had any problems with sticky taps since I began this routine (and I don't have the coveted Perlicks).

 

[brewingkitty]

im with brad. the caps and starsan. keeps fruit flies out of the perlicks too!!

 

[azscoob]

I give my perlicks a quick spray with star san at the end of the evening, I have several 100 count boxes of 3M #1110 corded ear plugs, so I pull out a package, squish em and stick em in the taps. cheap and effective at sealing, also just a tug on the cord and both pop out with no issues.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

I give my perlicks a quick spray with star san at the end of the evening, I have several 100 count boxes of 3M #1110 corded ear plugs, so I pull out a package, squish em and stick em in the taps. cheap and effective at sealing, also just a tug on the cord and both pop out with no issues.

I like the ear plug idea.

 

[bradneal]

I tried that approach once but it made my beer taste like earwax.

I give my perlicks a quick spray with star san at the end of the evening, I have several 100 count boxes of 3M #1110 corded ear plugs, so I pull out a package, squish em and stick em in the taps. cheap and effective at sealing, also just a tug on the cord and both pop out with no issues.