Oxiclean vs PBW

[atoughram]

I starsan my bottles after an overnight soak in oxiclean free

That would definitely work...

 

[403Brewer]

If you mix oxiclean free and PBW would that give you some of the benefits of the Red Devil additive? That stuff is hard to find in Canada and PBW costs $16 for 2 lb at my LHBS so its a rip off...oxiclean free is super cheap

 

[Renoun]

If you mix oxiclean free and PBW would that give you some of the benefits of the Red Devil additive? That stuff is hard to find in Canada and PBW costs $16 for 2 lb at my LHBS so its a rip off...oxiclean free is super cheap

Go read this thread for more details about the chemistry and a possible PWB clone from household/grocery chemicals.

 

[mvanwie]

PBW already contains the Red Devil ingredient. The whole point here is to substitute out the PBW, not create an adjunct for PBW.

 

[Scubadude918]

All I've ever used is Oxy Clean.

I still have the packet of PBW from my original starter kit.


____________________________
Primary: Cider
Primary: Kölsch

 

[RmikeVT]

I use a mixture of 3 parts oxiclean and 1 part Red Devil TSP-90 it works great for cleaning everything, included my tile floors and grout.

 

[HBngNOK]

Dont let it sit in there overnight though!!!

It will precipitate something onto the glass and you wont like. I only let Oxyclean soak for 3-4 hours max.

.......

If you do get a film on the glass from a long Oxyclean soak, I've found that a white vinegar rinse will remove the precipitate.

 

[Scubadude918]

I've let it sit for like a week with no issue. Half to one scoop in 6.5 gal carboy.


____________________________
Primary: Cider
Primary: Kölsch

 

[CaliforniaJones]

I've let it sit for like a week with no issue. Half to one scoop in 6.5 gal carboy.

OxiFree directions says 1 scoop per gallon... Always thought it was a bit much.




____________________________
CornyKeg1: St. Arnold Weedwacker
CornyKeg2: OxiFree
CornyKeg3: [Empty]
1/2 Corny: [Empty]
Fermenter1 (Carboy): Belgian Lavendar Wit @1.015
Fermenter2 (Carboy): Empty

 

[OtisLamb]

Read your reply.

IMHO your using too much PBW. I use it at a rate of 2 tbls per 5 gal. This formula has worked perfectly well.

I'm trying to find my path here since switching from a plastic bucket to a Better Bottle. I've only tried PBW so far. It's 3/4oz per gallon, and at 5 gallons of water soaking in my fermenter, that is quite a bit of PBW (like 7-8 tablespoons). How do you go about not using so much?

 

[atoughram]

I've let it sit for like a week with no issue. Half to one scoop in 6.5 gal carboy.

Must be a difference in water where you are at - at 24 hours I get precipitate on glass with straight oxy. I havent tried since I started putting tsp-90 in it though.

 

[helibrewer]

I've got 2 questions for anyone still feel like responding to this thread:

Would you (or anybody else) know whether 'partial sodium silicate' is an alternative or maybe even the same as 'sodium metasilicate'?

I don't live in the US and can't run down to ACE hardware or anything like that for the TSP/90.

2.) Is Oxiclean OK to use on kegs? I just got some kegs and don't want to damage them by trying this. Just thought I'd ask.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer this question..and willing to!

"meta" in this instance means dehydrated, so Sodium metasilicate is dehydrated (anhydrous) Sodium Silicate.

 

[helibrewer]

If you do get a film on the glass from a long Oxyclean soak, I've found that a white vinegar rinse will remove the precipitate.

Oxi and PBW are both alkaline. Rinsing with StarSan or any other acid greatly aids in removing the residue.

 

[Renoun]

Must be a difference in water where you are at - at 24 hours I get precipitate on glass with straight oxy. I havent tried since I started putting tsp-90 in it though.

I don't know about where Puyallup sources it's water but the water at my friend's place in Sumner is dramatically harder than Seattle water. Her water leaves mineral deposits all over the place which is never an issue up here.

 

[atoughram]

I don't know about where Puyallup sources it's water but the water at my friend's place in Sumner is dramatically harder than Seattle water. Her water leaves mineral deposits all over the place which is never an issue up here.

Most of our water is (I'm on Firgrove Mutual) sourced from local wells and is a bit hard - its the same aquifer than Mountain Mist pumps water from. Ive talked to our water people and sometimes when the wells cant keep up, they tie in to Tacoma Water - which is straight from the Green River and Howard Hanson Dam and is softer.

 

[Brew_Queen]

will this TSP work?

 

[RmikeVT]

will this TSP work?

You don't want to use actual TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate), you want Red Devil TSP-90 which isn't actually TSP in the chemical sense, it's Sodium Metasilicate. Easy to find on Amazon or Ace Hardware.

 

[peterlonz]

Seems like the lower cost solution meets with general approval.
My method may be of interest: Imake up a solution of about 1.5 ozs PWB to 5 litres.
But my Corny kegs are 19 litres!
So the method I have adopted for kegs (often left sealed but not cleaned for months) is:
1) Use about 0.5 gal of hot tap water & swirl around to dislodge stubborn yeast deposits then discard the contents.
2) Check carefully & if necessary use a brush with extended handle to remove any persistent deposits, then, thoroughly rinse out the contents with hot or cold water.
3) Now use all 5 litres of PWB solution to partly fill the keg. Swish about vigorously & the stand for a minimum of 30mins before reversing & standing upside down for a further 30 mins. Shake as frequently as possible during this time.
4) Then force the PWB solution out via the outlet tube & catch the contents for further use. You can use CO2 to force out the PWB or a low cost alternative is a US$8 modified garden spray pack - you just connect with the usual ball locks & pump sufficient to expel the PWB. This is cheap, no CO2 cost & it’s light & convenient.
5) The PWB solution should look clean & fit for re-use. Now add about 3 to 5 litres of hot tap water to rinse out the remains of the PWB . Shake vigorously & force the water out via the outlet tub as the above method.
6) Stand the kegs for best drainage & allow to thoroughly dry before refitting the lid.
Kegs are now fit for immediate use on demand.
Note: this is all quite time consuming, especially if, as I sometimes find, that I have 4 or 5 kegs to clean. I don’t know of any shortcuts & occasionally I have to repeat the process when I discover too late that one keg is not as clean as I’d like.
My cleanliness test is “do they look & smell clean”?
I have found the PWB solution stores well out of light, mine has lasted over 12 months & unless I mess up it remains largely uncontaminated.
I believe my kegs are clean but probably not technically sterile.

 

[sillbeer]

I've been using chlorine free Oxy Clean for the last couple years with good success. Occasionally I will mix a little TSP in with it. Lowes has TSP and it's pretty cheap. I always rinse several times when I'm done plus I use Star San on everything prior to fermenting or kegging. Same thing for my lines and pumps.

 

[Justintoxicated]

I switched from straight oxyclean to the mixture in the make your own PBW thread.

Cleans easier, and rinses away better too. I won't be going back anytime soon and wished I had made some sooner!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=467655

It's also less risky for your stainless if you don't use straight oxiclean.