new dishwasher - use it for sanitizing biottles?

[LarryC]

We just replaced our old dishwasher with a shiny new Bosch. It has a sanitize setting and since it is all shiny & clean inside I thought I might use it instead of StarSan when I bottle today. What do you think?

 

[android]

absolutely. that's how i always do my bottles... of course, if they're dirty at all on the inside, the DW won't take care of that, but i assume yours have been rinsed and cleaned already. also, don't put any detergent in, but you probably already knew that. last thing, the sanitize cycle takes a while, so plan on waiting... and, they come out really hot, so i like to let them cool with the door open for a bit before filling.

 

[LarryC]

Yeah, these are all clean bottles, just need the bugs killed...

 

[Northcalais40]

Works fine, uses more water and energy than a sink filled with cold water plus iodaphor though. Sure is less messy though.

 

[Gear101]

I wash my bottles everytime in a washer. I have found ones that where not all the way clean before I put them into the machine. I was pretty happy with the way that it tried to get those clean too. My thoughts are that the other 99% that when in clean, got really clean, but i still even after washing them, still use Star and bottle tree. This way I know that the inside and out side are nice and clean, nothing worse than bragging up homemade beer and handing someone a dirty bottle.

 

[scottland]

Your dishwasher won't clean the bottles well. The opening is small, and you won't get much water and soap contact in the bottle, and that's exactly how they clean. So don't rely on the dishwasher to get the gunk out of your bottles. It won't work.

But...... The heated dry cycle of most dishwashers get up to 160-170*F which is rather effective to sanitize bottles especially considering the drying cycles can run for 30-60min.

So clean them by hand, but feel free to sanitize with the dishwasher. (I'd still hit the bottles with a spritz of stan san for piece of mind, but that's just me.)

 

[mikebowman]

Used the dishwasher for several batches, and it doesn't have a sanitize setting. Just put it on heated dry and pressed all the buttons that I thought might make it as hot as it gets.

Then I got lazy and stopped de-labeling the bottles, so I've since switched to a vinator and star san

 

[passedpawn]

Your dishwasher won't clean the bottles well. The opening is small, and you won't get much water and soap contact in the bottle, and that's exactly how they clean. So don't rely on the dishwasher to get the gunk out of your bottles. It won't work.

But...... The heated dry cycle of most dishwashers get up to 160-170*F which is rather effective to sanitize bottles especially considering the drying cycles can run for 30-60min.

So clean them by hand, but feel free to sanitize with the dishwasher. (I'd still hit the bottles with a spritz of stan san for piece of mind, but that's just me.)

My measurements, using a logging thermometer in my KitchenAid DW with the Sani-Rinse feature selected.

 

[LarryC]

My measurements, using a logging thermometer in my KitchenAid DW with the Sani-Rinse feature selected.

I'm sure there is info on the forum for this question, but what temp & how long is necessary for true sanitizing?

Edit:
Well, I found the answer to my question - according to How to Brew, it takes 175° + for 5 to 10 minutes. PassedPawn's machine didn't ever hit 175° much less hold it and I have no idea how hot our got. I decided to give all the bottles a shot of StarSan as well for good measure...

 

[dankev]

Works fine, uses more water and energy than a sink filled with cold water plus iodaphor though. Sure is less messy though.

I recently got a new Bosch, too. I can't quantify the energy use, but it only uses around 5 gallons of water on a load. Not too bad.

I've tried sanitizing bottles with the DW and with a bucket of star san. The DW is MUCH less work for me. It takes more time in planning ahead (make sure the DW is clean, then run a load for the bottles), but much less time in actual work done. I don't have a vinator, but I'm sure that would make the star san process faster.

 

[scottland]

Or just get an empty spray bottle. Fill it with star san, mist the inside of all the bottles a couple times, and come back and pour them out a minute later.

 

[passedpawn]

I'm sure there is info on the forum for this question, but what temp & how long is necessary for true sanitizing?

 

[gstrawn]

When I began brewing I only used a dishwasher for sanitizing. I never had issues. Contamination at bottling isn't as risky as prior to you pitching