One Step vs. Star San vs. Iodophor. Which is best and why?

[AnOldUR]

Rohanski. What do you mean by “when it quits it'll kill ya.”? I’ve been using One-Step for some time with no problems. Will the germs in my house build up a resistance to it?

 

[rohanski]

It won't actually kill you but it will kill you mentally. What is a long time to you? A long time to my kids is one day. I went six to eight months before it first happened. I was reading somewhere in George Papazian's book that the longer you brew the better the chance for infection. I'm not sure why but it would seem the nasties just keep building until it becomes a problem.

 

[colinwollmann]

Starsan is the best. Make it with RO water and you can save it for ever for filling spray bottles, etc. It is septic safe (sorry iodophor) and needs only a 30 second contact time and is good for your wort. It's a food grade sanitizer.

Starsan Rocks!

I use star san for everything.Works really great for me.The foaming is a bit of a PITA,but I just consider it good hangtime for longer contact.

 

[doubleb]

I've completed 8 batches with no issues using solely C-brite. I've already begun batches 9, 10, 11, and 12. Hopefully they are OK. batch 9 will be tasted this weekend. I will now use star san cause I guess I've never really sanitized anything, just cleaned it. I'd rather not push the limits of c-brite. I'll go with something dependable.

 

[Beerrific]

I use star san for everything.Works really great for me.The foaming is a bit of a PITA,but I just consider it good hangtime for longer contact.

The foam is fun!

 

[kappclark]

I have been using nothing but One-Step, and have never had a plm ...

I am now interested in trying Starsan.

I didn't realize/calculate the cost difference...

 

[BeerCanuck]

I clean and sanitze after each use using Ivory detergent and sanitize with scalding hot water . Brewed well over 100 batches and so far no infections...knock on wood.

I want to try Star San but havent found a local supplier in my area.

I recently purchased some oxiclean for cleaning my new corni kegs ...just wondering if there is a difference between it and oxyclean in the commercial other than it doesnt have Billy Maze's seal of approval?

I was using 1 tablespoon of bleach in 1 gallon of water soak for 15 to 20 minutes for sanitizing when I first started. One day while I rinsed the bleach out of carboy I decided to combine the rinse/santize with scalding hot water.

Here is my washing rig;

I wouldnt recommend this..but its what I do for now ..my logic being kiss..until I get a bad batch

Cheers
BeerCanuck

 

[FerociouslyTed]

...the longer you brew the better the chance for infection. I'm not sure why but it would seem the nasties just keep building until it becomes a problem.

If that’s the logic then it strikes me as a numbers game. If we’re all due an infection at some point, for whatever reason, then the more one brews the narrower that margin gets. It’s not microevolution, it’s just running out of luck

 

[Buchsenr]

I agree w/ Star San. Only been brewing about a year, but haven't had any problems (yet). I rinse my bottles on hot wash/hot dry in the dish washer and dunk them in Star San before bottling. I always think the Star San might give an off taste, but I haven't noticed any. The bottles are probably OK after the dishwasher, but I don't want to take a chance.

Drinking: Blackberry Stout
Primary: American Bock

 

[Dinbin]

been using bleach at 2 oz per 5 gal. I start my brew/bottle sesion with filling the bucket of choice with water and bleach, drop my tools into the bucket. by the time Im ready to pitch, or bottle the bleach has done its job, give everthing a quick rinse and away we go. Yes there is a chance that I may rinse something into the bucket or onto the tools, but with a house full of people and pets, i don't think I'm risking anthing more then I would by letting things air dry like my books reccomend.

 

[talleymonster]

Starsan is awesome.

 

[TexLaw]

I've heard great things about Starsan (like in this thread), but I have always used iodophor. I don't mind the staining on my gear (which is aesthetic, only), and I've had one contaminated batch in fifteen years. If it ain't broke, I don't fix it with sanitation.

Other than "if it ain't broke," though, I would have no objection switching to Starsan.


TL

 

[hnefatafl]

After visiting my LHBS here in Vancouver, I found out they "can't get Star-San" any more. Something to do with importing. Unfortunately, the guy who runs the place wasn't in that day, so I didn't get all the info.

Any other Canucks having this problem?

 

[sar881]

I've only used Iodaphor since I started brewing. No complaints here. I've noticed, that alot of people are saying you need a 2 minute contact time. I've always gone a 30 sec minimum, as per the direction on the bottle.

Since we're on this topic.... Whats the best course of action to sanitize kegs?

 

[Fingers]

Any other Canucks having this problem?

All my HBS carries is Iodophor. I listened to an interview with the inventor of Iodophor and it was very interesting. Check out this site:

http://www.basicbrewing.com/index.php?page=radio

There are a couple of radio clips about Starsan, bleach, and Iodophor down low in the list. I'm not sure if that's the one I listened to and I can't access it from here at work to see, but it looks like it might be.

 

[kinison_fan]

The first time I sanitized my kegs with Iodaphor, they had a strong metallic (coppery) smell while air drying. The smell was so strong that I wanted to rinse them out, but resisted the temptation.

After the first one dried, and was ready to fill, it still had a slight metallic smell, but I filled it up anyway. Serving from the keg, I could not detect any off flavor or smell.

I recently bought some Starsan, but haven't used it yet (still using up the premixed gallon of Iodaphor). Looking forward to comparing the two.

Before Iodaphor, I sanitized everything with diluted bleach or One-Step.

 

[mr x]

After visiting my LHBS here in Vancouver, I found out they "can't get Star-San" any more. Something to do with importing. Unfortunately, the guy who runs the place wasn't in that day, so I didn't get all the info.

Any other Canucks having this problem?

I ordered some from Skinaney in Ottawa.

 

[Fingers]

(still using up the premixed gallon of Iodaphor)

Iodophor is only good for about 3 hours. How long have you been using your premix?

 

[kinison_fan]

"How long have you been using your premix?"

About a month. I thought it was storable.
Are you sure only three hours?

I mixed up a gallon in a plastic juice jug because I thought it would keep.
Guess I'll dump it on the ground since I have a septic system.

 

[kappclark]

Given the "resistance" factor, does it make sense to rotate sanitizers to be sure of getting all the beasties ?

I will occaisionally do ableach soak with vinegar to lower the PH (heard this tick on the brewing podcast)

is this overkill ?

 

[Fyoto]

I was listening to Basic brewing podcast and the man who invented star-san spoke a lot about Bleach. but I liked the fact that the foam you get when using Star-san will accually be used as food for your yeast. I tried it and I did get better fermentation action and a very clean tasting beer. I still say clean clean clean first and then Sanitize.

 

[BeerCanuck]

I just bought some StarSan from Skinaney.
I tried 6 different places before I saw your link.

Cheers
BeerCanuck

 

[rsmith179]

I actually just went to my LHBS and was going to pick up a bottle of the Starsan to try. I've been using OneStep for pretty much everything up until now. I brought the Starsan to the counter and the owner asked me what I was going to be using this for. I told him pretty much everything (carboys, buckets, etc.). He said that the Starsan was actually too much for that and should be used only in keg lines and recommended that I continue using OneStep. Do you guys think he's just trying to push more OneStep on his customers for whatever reason?

 

[Revvy]

I actually just went to my LHBS and was going to pick up a bottle of the Starsan to try. I've been using OneStep for pretty much everything up until now. I brought the Starsan to the counter and the owner asked me what I was going to be using this for. I told him pretty much everything (carboys, buckets, etc.). He said that the Starsan was actually too much for that and should be used only in keg lines and recommended that I continue using OneStep. Do you guys think he's just trying to push more OneStep on his customers for whatever reason?

Yes.....

Read this...https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/sanitizer-question-54932/?highlight=sanitizer+question

 

[rsmith179]

Right on, thanks Revvy! That's exactly what I was looking for. May the force be with you ;-)

 

[CBBaron]

One Step is included with many home brew kits but I didn't think it was a favorite amoung the more experienced users. I don't think it is even classified as a sanitizer though it can do a decent job of one.

Iodophor is a good sanitizer and it is very inexpensive. However it will stain. It will stain your hands, plastic and in concentrated form just about anything it touches. In addition it does not store well so you have to make up a new batch each time you brew or bottle.

StarSan is more expensive but the quick contact time and long storage time in diluted form are nice features. I keep some in a spray bottle and some in a gallon jug for sanitizing at bottling and brewing. I usually end up making up a new gallon for every third batch or so. Using the spray bottle to quickly sanitize a spoon or wine thief is a nice option when punching a fruit cap on wine or pulling a sample.

So my choice is StarSan though I would easily go back to Iodophor if necessary.

Craig

 

[rsmith179]

Just wanted to let you know that Revvy also found that he could buy Iodophor from farm supply stores for quite cheap. I think that's the route I'm going to take. Go to the local Tractor Supplies store and pick up a bulk package of the Iodophor for cheap! It will last forever...

 

[jds]

It's six of one and a half dozen of the other. Just remember, kids. Cleaners don't sanitize, and sanitizers don't clean. You need both.

 

[gabeweisz]

I've been using one step for years now but just started using starsan - the fact that I can keep it pre-mixed in a spray bottle has made things much easier for me.

I've just been getting the crud off with water and elbow grease (would use chemicals if necessary but it has not been yet) and then spring surfaces down, and it seems to work great. Although I have heard that something stronger like BLC is necessary to get all the crud out of beer lines, but I haven't tried to clean mine since the switch.

 

[Corkster]

I just picked up some Star San yesterday.... Have been using bleach prior.... but as I was trying to research about storage of Star San I found a thread where a lot of people had problems with it messing up their buckets..... Seems that it dissolves them.... anybody having that problem here? If not then what do you suppose the problem has been for these other people... too high of a concentration?