Left my grains in the cooler for 4 days after brew....

[mlatner]

Got busy after my brew then it spaced my mind for a few days. It smelt pretty bad, but wondering if anyone has any suggestions for cleaning? I filled it with some hot water and dawn dish soap, then let it sit for a few hours covered. Seems okay but should I take it further? Maybe just switch my coolers and make this one the HLT and the HLT my mash cooler.

 

[flars]

Dump the soap and rinse very well with warm water. Let it air dry for a few days. If it still smells like soap use it for something other than brewing.

Leaving equipment in cleaners or sanitizers for long periods can do some damage.

 

[DJTroz]

I've done this a few times. Ended up getting busy with something else afterwards. While I don't know if it's the smartest thing to do, I've done what I do to my 5 gallon plastic buckets. A sterilizing solution of 1/2 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water ratio. My cooler is 48 quarts so I'll add 6 cups of bleach and fill the cooler with the hottest water possible (from the bath faucet). I'll let this sit about an hour, then drain and fill/rinse a few times. After that, it stays outside with the lid open where it can air dry the rest.

I found the solution in a site somewhere saying this ratio will kill most leftovers. So far, it's worked well. The biggest challenge is to make sure the vessel has been very well rinsed so you don't end up with off flavors.

 

[mlatner]

I wasn't worried about the soap since it was only about 2 hours, but maybe I should be? I was more worried about the smell of the wet grains that had been in there for 4 days. I drained it and rinsed it, still has a slightly off smell. I'll let it sit for a few days, see what happens I guess.

 

[Dcpcooks]

I wasn't worried about the soap since it was only about 2 hours, but maybe I should be? I was more worried about the smell of the wet grains that had been in there for 4 days. I drained it and rinsed it, still has a slightly off smell. I'll let it sit for a few days, see what happens I guess.

Clean it with hot PBW and rinse with hot water. Pull the valve off and take it apart to clean it.

Rinse everything in Star SAN and reassemble it wet.

Let it air dry upside down without the top on.

It'll be fine.

You don't want to use dish soap. It will kill head retention of your beer.
Cheers

 

[-DELETED-MEMBER-]

We're talking about the mash tun here, so anything that comes out of it is gonna be boiled for an hour anyway. I've done the same thing a few times, with no ill effects. I have never washed my mash tun with anything more than hot water. The smell fades in a day or so.

 

[CGVT]

Don't sweat it.

You washed it. Rinse it out well and brew on, McDuff!

 

[JoeHoffman]

Stay away from dish soap in the future. I can detect it for days in my coffee thermos when my wife gets ahold of it. Like others have said, my mash ton only gets cleaned with hot to boiling water and lots of scrubbing. PBE would probably be good if you can still smell the rancid grain smell after hot water scrubbing and sun drying.

 

[MaryB]

My mash tun is stainless but it can still pick up grain funk if I get in a hurry and don't get it totally clean. I just rinse it before using, let it drain or wipe it out then brew. Nothing is going to sour during a 60 minute mash and any bugs die in the boil kettle(part of why we boil!)

 

[mlatner]

Appreciate it everyone!!