Oxi clean vs "off brand"

[tmurph6]

I picked up a tub of "off brand" Oxi clean to clean my pot, bucket and carboy. Any reason not to use this? Is there something in the original Oxi clean that makes it so great, or will the knock off version work the same? Also, how much cleaner should I use per 5 gallons of water?

 

[TheBeerNerd]

I've been using the Dollar Tree Version "LA's Awesome Oxygen Cleaner" for the last couple years with great results. I generally use one scoopful per 5 gallons... seems to do the trick.

 

[ChrisS68]

I dunno. I've been using the name brand and don't have the residue problems others speak of, and I have really hard water. virtually every thread I've ever read that complains of "Oxiclean" leaving a residue is actually referring to an off-brand. (I've actually gone back and tried to find a thread that specifies the name-brand, but couldn't. I'd say every but cannot be certain, so I preface it with "virtually") Also, ther may be an issue of over-use, and it is best mixed in hot water.
I'm not saying the off-brands aren't any good, I'm just sayin'...

 

[ElDuderino]

I got the cheap oxy product at Fred Meyer, our local grocery and it works amazing! I won't be shelling out for PBW anymore. Our water in Portland Or is soft, so may be that makes it a special case.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

I dunno. I've been using the name brand and don't have the residue problems others speak of, and I have really hard water. virtually every thread I've ever read that complains of "Oxiclean" leaving a residue is actually referring to an off-brand. (I've actually gone back and tried to find a thread that specifies the name-brand, but couldn't. I'd say every but cannot be certain, so I preface it with "virtually") Also, ther may be an issue of over-use, and it is best mixed in hot water.
I'm not saying the off-brands aren't any good, I'm just sayin'...

There is a small amount of residue left behind with the Dollar Tree stuff, but it rinses away easily with warm water.
I always try to get oxy water as hot as possible.

 

[Gwitz]

We used name brand oxi clean at work for cleaning coffee pots and other coffee related objects. It always left a residue we had to sometimes use acid to clean off. I use walmarts bargain brand oxiclean at home on my brewing equiptment and it works great and iv never noticed a residue.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The Sun-burst/shine/whatever stuff from Wally World that's $1.50 a tub is just as good as Oxyclean Free: no smell, works wonders and leaves no residue.

 

[Catt22]

I use the dollar store versions (Awesome and Sun) without problems. Seems that they clean just as well as the name brand stuff and I have not had any problems with residue etc. I think the off brands may actually contain more of the active ingredient than the original Oxyclean, but I can't document it.

 

[SickTransitMundus]

Store versions work great, as long as you get the unperfumed variety. You can avoid residue by using really hot water and relatively short contact times - less than two hours. I use two scoops per 5 gallons.

Sometimes, though, I'll get a nasty carboy with dried, caked-on crap that has to soak overnight. That'll leave residue. Then, I drain the carboy, rinse liberally with white vinegar, and rinse with hot water. Residue gone.

I suspect prolonged exposure to oxyclean will etch glass.

 

[Catt22]

You can avoid residue by using really hot water and relatively short contact times - less than two hours. I use two scoops per 5 gallons. I suspect prolonged exposure to oxyclean will etch glass.

I soak bottles in Oxyclean solution for extended periods, often weeks at a time and I have zero problems with it leaving any residue. I don't believe that Oxyclean (and it's generic coutnerparts) will etch glass with prolonged exposure. I do suspect that residue problems are probably a result of hard water more than anything else. I do recommend keeping the bottles and equipment fully submerged when soaking for extended periods.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Oxyclean and the hoopty versions will not etch away at glass... anybody who told you that is crazy. But, from what I hear, it does have the potential to "pit" stainless steel, I believe due to to the nickel content. But I've left cornies full of the solution for a couple days with zero issues.

However, I don't use 2 scoops per 5 gallons... that's slightly ridiculous. I usually use half a scoop (or 3/4 if something reeaaally needs to get cleaned.) Also, it works best in hot water solutions, so leaving it for days and days to get cold isn't really helping.

And while an acid rinse is nice, it's really not necessary. I typically end up rinsing thoroughly twice with really hot water and then twice with really cold (tap is ~40* all year long.)

It really works.... like a boss.

 

[Catt22]

Also, it works best in hot water solutions, so leaving it for days and days to get cold isn't really helping.

And while an acid rinse is nice, it's really not necessary. I typically end up rinsing thoroughly twice with really hot water and then twice with really cold (tap is ~40* all year long.)It really works.... like a boss.

The only reason that I soak stuff for extended periods is because I get lazy and procrastinate a lot. I've learned that there is no need to rush the cleaning, so there is not a great deal of pressure to get 'er done. Yes, the Oxyclean etc work best with very hot water. Rinse with cold water for best results. I typically use one scoop per 5 gallons and sometimes more for really gunky fermenters etc. It's cheap to use, so I use it liberally the American way.

 

[samc]

I've been using this "LA's Awesome Oxygen Cleaner" as well and it works, but does not dissolve as well as the name brands. You just have to work at it a bit more.

 

[SickTransitMundus]

Oxyclean and the hoopty versions will not etch away at glass... anybody who told you that is crazy.

I'm not crazy. In fact, my professional background is in surface chemistry and photolithography. I etch glass all the time. Oxyclean is sodium percarbonate. Percarbonates dissolve into a mildly acidic solution of carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. Acidic peroxide solutions are used industrially to etch and surface-modify glass and silicon. Granted, oxyclean isn't as strong as piranha solution or HF, but given enough time it will chew up the glass.

You can confirm this easily by comparing the contact angle of a drop of water on glass before and after a soak in oxyclean.

And, yes, it degrades stainless steel by a similar mechanism.

 

[Forddog]

I use the la awsum stuff from the dollar tree and the sun off brand and the both state that the have sodium percobonate and sodium carbonate as the ingredients i was just wondering if u could find out the percentage of which. I would assume the cheapest ingredient would be sodium percobonate since it is listed first and be the biggest percentage. Just curious to know if their is any msds sheet floating around

 

[tmurph6]

With all this talk of pitting stainless, would y'all advise against using it to clean an ss pot, or just avoid prolonged exposure? I could avoid using it on the pot altogether and just boil water in it before I start brewing.

 

[SickTransitMundus]

Avoid prolonged exposure. I regularly soak my stainless kettle in oxyclean overnight, haven't noticed any pitting yet.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I actually just left one of my cornies full of the Wally World stuff overnight and there are no problems whatsoever. But just out of curiosity, why oxyclean the boil kettle? Seems a bit silly to me

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Just curious to know if their is any msds sheet floating around

Google search, second result:

http://www.ahprofessional.com/MSDS/MSDS-1605-OxiClean%20VSR.pdf

 

[Flomaster]

I am using "SUN Oxygen Free" from the dollar tree or likes of. I mixed it with some TSP cleaner I got at Ace Hardware to make my own "PBW"

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/home-made-pbw-safe-glass-safe-general-182939/#post2625686

-=Jason=-