hawkeyes
Well-Known Member
I purchased some old used glass carboys. I have them soaking in oxiclean but can't seem to remove some smudges from inside the glass. No matter I much I scrub with the brush. Do you think these are OK to use?
Old Glass Carboys
- Thread starter hawkeyes
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revco
Well-Known Member
Hard to say without knowing what the gunk is. Let 'em sit for 24+ hours in a hot oxy-clean soak. If that doesn't clear 'em out, it's not likely anything will. I would personally be concerned just *what* could withstand a 24 hour oxy soak!
Also might try a brush on a drill, if the spots are accessible with a straight brush. You could try a more abrasive brush, but that could be counterproductive by creating scratches, or worse, weaken/break the carboy.
Also might try a brush on a drill, if the spots are accessible with a straight brush. You could try a more abrasive brush, but that could be counterproductive by creating scratches, or worse, weaken/break the carboy.
runningfarmer
Junior Member
Try some CLR on it. Just use it straight out of the bottle and leave alone overnight. Then try brushing. Sometimes, it will need a second application. I've never had anything I couldn't get clean with CLR. Also, I made my own bottle cleaner out of Shamwow to clean the carboy. The procedures are in https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/buh-bye-carboy-brush-286700/
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hawkeyes
Well-Known Member
Oxiclean didn't do it but vinegar seems to be doing the trick. I will keep the CLR in mind if the vinegar doesn't get it all. Thanks!
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hawkeyes
Well-Known Member
When the carboy dried, I can still see it. When it was applied with vinegar (not dry) it goes away. The vinegar did help but didn't remove it all. I am going to try bleach next since I have some. If the bleach doesn't work, I will get some CLR.
chuckularone
Member
Does it look hazy, like chemical etching? You said they were old carboys, do you know what was in them before? If they were used in a lab, handling chemicals potent enough to etch the glass, you might not want to use them for brewing.
KBentley57
Well-Known Member
If you've done all of that to them at this point, do you really think whatever the stain is will leech into your beer? I would rinse it well, fill it to that point with water, wait a few days and taste it. If it tastes like water, it's probably fine, if you die, I'll admit I was wrong.
A lye mixture might clean it off, but lye can also etch glass at a certain strength, so hopefully you can get it to a proper dilution to eat away the gunk and then rinse before it has time to etch that carboy.
CBelli
Beer Lover
Vinegar and hot water....
Most likely scale from the OxiClean
Vinegar will clean it completely
Most likely scale from the OxiClean
Vinegar will clean it completely
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hawkeyes
Well-Known Member
These were used for winemaking. I tried vinegar and then a strong star san solution and it's barely noticeable now. I am going to try hot water and vinegar soak next.
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hawkeyes
Well-Known Member
I just used luke warm water. Next time I will use hot water.
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hawkeyes
Well-Known Member
That's what I am doing now. Vinegar and hot water, how long should this soak?
45_70sharps
Well-Known Member
Now there's a buddy!
CBelli
Beer Lover
hawkeyes said:
My scale comes off in 24 hours
