Never Use Pbw Again!!

[The Pol]

Hah. I love it...Pol you're out of control...now you're so smitten w/ your new found love for Oxi...you're doing a solo bulk purchase...I have the same issues...

IT IS JUST SO AWESOME! I mean $.80 a pound for this is like getting my hops for $.95 an ounce shipped!! I AM IN LOVE!

 

[MattHollingsworth]

You can also use PBW on soft metals (copper, aluminum) where Oxiclean is not nice to them.

There are also messes that I have made that Oxiclean is not as effective on. Really bad burnt on sugar will come clean with PBW, Oxiclean is not very effective. I use this for brewing stuff and for cleaning up those casserole dishes that have burnt on crud.

What's the effect of Oxyclean type cleaners on copper? I currently have a counterflow chilller with copper that needs a strong cleaning after sitting for 7 years and will have to look locally for something to clean it with. Thoughts?

 

[The Pol]

What's the effect of Oxyclean type cleaners on copper? I currently have a counterflow chilller with copper that needs a strong cleaning after sitting for 7 years and will have to look locally for something to clean it with. Thoughts?

Yeah what DOES it do to copper?

I ask because I let some copper tubing I have sit in it and didnt see anything happening... ? It was in it for about 45 minutes at about 150+ degrees, then rinsed. It appears exactly the same as it always has... I want to see some photos of what oxyclean supposedly does to copper.

 

[BobOscarBob]

IT IS JUST SO AWESOME! I mean $.80 a pound for this is like getting my hops for $.95 an ounce shipped!! I AM IN LOVE!

New avatar?

 

[The Pol]

New avatar?

Dude, I love that... I want that avatar.

 

[The Pol]

FWIW I have found PBW for $2.60 a pound from MOREFLAVOR.com... which means that it probably isnt in stock. BUT, you have to buy it in a 50 pound bucket AND pay for shipping. IT is only $43 to ship...

So I can get 50 pounds for $3.46/pound which is the BEST price I have found anywhere online.

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

Just to add to the thread, I had SWMBO pick up some from the dollar store. In short, I was not impressed at all. I'm sticking with the OC Free. or trusted off brand

 

[The Pol]

Just to add to the thread, I had SWMBO pick up some from the dollar store. In short, I was not impressed at all. I'm sticking with the OC Free. or trusted off brand

What brand Larry? I bought SUN

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I've been using SUN for the last few months. I can see no difference between that and OC except the price.

 

[The Pol]

I've been using SUN for the last few months. I can see no difference between that and OC except the price.

I read some reviews online before I bought mine, and everyone said that SUN was no different in cleaning power than OC FREE... so, that is where I am at.

 

[Tonedef131]

I have used oxyclean since day one, and I use it all over the brewery. After listening to the Brewstrong about cleaners I thought I would give PBW a shot. It actually worked WORSE than oxyclean with my softened water. I think the only advantage to PBW is that it has water softeners in it...but if you have soft water you are wasting your money.

 

[The Pol]

I have used oxyclean since day one, and I use it all over the brewery. After listening to the Brewstrong about cleaners I thought I would give PBW a shot. It actually worked WORSE than oxyclean with my softened water. I think the only advantage to PBW is that it has water softeners in it...but if you have soft water you are wasting your money.

See, we have REALLY hard water, so we obviously have a water softener to save our washer, dish washer, fixtures etc. from damage. So no we have really SOFT water.

I experienced the same thing, the Oxy cleaned much better in SOFT water than the PBW did. I also used .33 oz/gallon of Oxy as opposed to 1 oz/gallon of the PBW.

I have a thread and experiment running right now on Oxyclean and Copper damage, because I am thinking that it is a myth. My want to check it out.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Even in hard water areas for people without a built in water softener, water softening salt is cheap. Surely it would be easy enough to add water softener to the mix?

 

[The Pol]

Even in hard water areas for people without a built in water softener, water softening salt is cheap. Surely it would be easy enough to add water softener to the mix?

Id think so, but they would probably say that $4/pound is worth convenience

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Id think so, but they would probably say that $4/pound is worth convenience

Since when was homebrewing ever convenient! Almost every aspect of it is a pain in the ass!

 

[Tonedef131]

Adding salt to your water does not softener it. The way a water softener works is that it exchanges the hardness in your water with sodium...not sodium chloride. Adding salt to your water will simply result in brackish water that is just as hard as it was to begin with.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I read about OxyClean here but I wanted to make sure I was getting the exact right stuff. When I went to my grocery store they did not have OxyClean...all they had was OxiClean which is obv a different product. I mean, there's just no way there could be multiple threads on this same product with every post in every one of them spelling it with a 'y'; when it's actually spelled with an 'i'. Just no way.

Actually, Pol's avatar DID get it right.

 

[The Pol]

Adding salt to your water does not softener it. The way a water softener works is that it exchanges the hardness in your water with sodium...not sodium chloride. Adding salt to your water will simply result in brackish water that is just as hard as it was to begin with.

I think he meant water softening SALTS... not water softening SALT that you put in a water softener.

Many dishwasher powders have water softeners in them too, so that your dishes come out sparkling.

 

[The Pol]

I read about OxyClean here but I wanted to make sure I was getting the exact right stuff. When I went to my grocery store they did not have OxyClean...all they had was OxiClean which is obv a different product. I mean, there's just no way there could be multiple threads on this same product with every post in every one of them spelling it with a 'y'; when it's actually spelled with an 'i'. Just no way.

Actually, Pol's avatar DID get it right.

I use OXYclean because I dont waste money on OXIclean.

 

[Tonedef131]

I think he meant water softening SALTS... not water softening SALT that you put in a water softener.

Many dishwasher powders have water softeners in them too, so that your dishes come out sparkling.

Perhaps you are right, those would probably work on moderately hard water. I have never seen them for sale independently though, what titles are they sold under?

 

[The Pol]

Perhaps you are right, those would probably work on moderately hard water. I have never seen them for sale independently though, what titles are they sold under?

My dishwashing powder calls the water softeners:

Soduim Phosphate and Sodium Carbonate

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Maybe for the hard water users a mix of dishwasher powder and SUN could be the answer?

 

[The Pol]

Maybe for the hard water users a mix of dishwasher powder and SUN could be the answer?

I think I have heard of this being done

 

[Rooster_P]

Anyone know if oxyclean (after diluted in water) is safe to dump in the lawn. I brew outside away from any actual drain and usualy drain my water in the back lot. Then cleaning is done in the kitchen. I would be nice to be able to do it in place assuming it wouldn't kill the grass.

 

[BobOscarBob]

Anyone know if oxyclean (after diluted in water) is safe to dump in the lawn. I brew outside away from any actual drain and usualy drain my water in the back lot. Then cleaning is done in the kitchen. I would be nice to be able to do it in place assuming it wouldn't kill the grass.

From their FAQ:

Q: Is OxiClean safe for the environment?
A: OxiClean is readily degradable in the environment, when used as directed. OxiClean breaks down into oxygen and soda ash when mixed with ordinary water and uses the tremendous cleaning power of oxygen to remove stains. There are no toxic fumes. Like all cleaning products, it is not to be ingested.



Another point in the FAQ surprised me - don't mix Oxiclean and then store it in a container - use within 6 hours then discard. Seems Oxiclean continues to give off oxygen and they're worried the container might rupture under pressure. Guess they haven't met Mr Airlock yet...

 

[BobOscarBob]

Dude, I love that... I want that avatar.

You got one of the better pics I see - I was trying for one without OC on it - didn't want to have to go fark it up (was takingthe little ones to school...) Use it if you want - that's why I did it

I'm very glad you brought this discussion/debate up - I've been using Oxiclean Versatile and Star San - and thinking I needed to move to this PBW I've read a lot about. Now I've got a reason to go back to Wally World...ANY money I can save in the brewing process will not go to waste - $$ saved in cleaning = $$ towards more kegs/grain/hops/yeast/propane/CO2/BLC/Motrin (damned Apfelwein! Just one more pint...)

 

[The Pol]

There is an unverified concern that Oxi will though not REMOVE the safe oxide layer on copper, that it causes it to more readily dissolve in wort.

SO far this is what I see sodium metasilicate, (sodium silicate) does.

Corrosion Inhibition
Sodium silicate can be used as a corrosion inhibitor in potable and industrial water. Sodium silicate inhibits corrosion by forming a protective film on metal surfaces that isolates the metal from further corrosive attack. Because soluble silicates are alkaline, moreover, they bring the further benefit of increasing the pH of water. Sodium silicate can be used to inhibit corrosion of cast iron pipes, service lines, and fixtures—to protect the infrastructure and to help water utilities meet the requirements of the lead/copper rule. Selection of silicate for this application depends on the pH and alkalinity of the untreated water.

 

[The Pol]

Obvioulsly if I were running a big brewery this stuff would be nice to protect my millins of dollars of plumbing from corrosive attack from all of that wort I am creating...

BUT, IMHO just because it is a corrosion inhibitor does not mean that Oxi, since it doenst INHIBIT corrosion, makes it anyh less safe to use on copper.

 

[Denny]

Nice... well, I will never buy PBW again.

I switched to Oxiclean (hey, how can ya NOT love billy Mays? ) 10 years ago and never looked back.

 

[The Pol]

I switched to Oxiclean (hey, how can ya NOT love billy Mays? ) 10 years ago and never looked back.

You know you are going to die.... right?