Oxy clean

[sweetcell]

All new brewers should remember this tho.

Sanitation
Aeration
Pitch Rate
Fermentation Temp Control
Patience

The more you pay attention to these 5 basic things the better your beer will be.

very well said. that should be made into a poster and handed out to every new brewer!

 

[BrewKnurd]

Whatever.

I've been doing this a while. I have my process. It works for me. My first post stated I take more steps than others.

The big message I see here by this pile on is "lets tell the new brewers that sanitation is a passing thought, a half hearted measure that shouldn't really take any time or effort or worry".

I don't see how you get that. No one said you shouldn't do what you want.

If you believe that "not wearing gloves" = "making sanitation a passing thought", then please, actually defend the wearing of gloves when asked. If you believe it is important, and are going to present it as such to new brewers, then you should be able to defend the process against questions. I asked you how, if starsan can't get under your nails, is that stuff under your nails going to get out so easily as to get in your beer. You have provided no answer, merely started asking questions about others brew days, and then making a comparison to making a sandwich directly after handling money. Instead of pointing out why you think that comparison is valid, if you truly think it is, you basically said "i don't understand why everyone is picking on me", which is NOT what is happening.

No one here really cares about your process. I will vigorously defend your right to brew however you want, and if someone wanted to come take your gloves away, I would call them a d-bag. If you wanted to brew in a clean room with hepa filters and positive pressure, AWESOME. Rock on. What I don't like, and I believe others have issues with, is your claims that your steps are necessary, and that those who don't do what you do are skimping, especially when you won't address specific scrutiny of your claims. If you can't defend it, don't be surprised when it gets questioned repeatedly. If you do it only because its what feels right to you, that's fine, but say so and be done with it. Don't tell others they're doing it wrong if they don't do it like you.

This is the beginners brewing forum. Beginners who read this area are here to learn. At least some of us believe that this means that information we don't agree with should be challenged, otherwise it presents the appearance that that information is gospel and everyone agrees. Silence implies consent and all that.

Telling a newbie that steps like wearing gloves are required without actually being willing to back it up borders on scare tactics.

I'm sorry that you feel piled on, I truly am, but this is a discussion forum, not your personal blog. So when you say something, people respond. And if you say something that a lot of people disagree with, a lot of people respond.

 

[TopherM]

I brew outside, and don't even sanatize the deck or the nearby trees or anything. Beer is NOT like a petri dish, unless you boil your petri dish then inject alcohol in it, killing 99.999999% of all germs and human pathogens. Also, your brew environment DOES NOT have to be "like a lab" to avoid infections. Basic cleanliness and sanitation is all it takes.

I would venture to say 9 times out of 10, brewers who get infections in their beer come from improperly cleaned ball valves, bottling spigots, keg posts, plate chillers, pumps, etc. that are overlooked during basic cleaning and sanitation. It's just not enough to run some cleaner through those guys, you have to open them up and give em a scrub. It's those nooks and crannys that'll get ya.

Anyway, just my rant. Infections are HARD to get, and usually a result of pretty blatent brewer error, even if they can't remember where they screwed up.

It's a pet peave of mine all the brewers on this site that give the impression that every brew is an infection waiting to happen. You scare off the newbies!

 

[smurfwar]

So how much oxyclean per gallon of water? De labeling bottles this weekend.

 

[atom]

So how much oxyclean per gallon of water? De labeling bottles this weekend.

View attachment 60559

i scoop per 3-4 gallons works to de-label bottles...

 

[bad67z]

I brew outside, and don't even sanatize the deck or the nearby trees or anything. Beer is NOT like a petri dish, unless you boil your petri dish then inject alcohol in it, killing 99.999999% of all germs and human pathogens. Also, your brew environment DOES NOT have to be "like a lab" to avoid infections. Basic cleanliness and sanitation is all it takes.

I would venture to say 9 times out of 10, brewers who get infections in their beer come from improperly cleaned ball valves, bottling spigots, keg posts, plate chillers, pumps, etc. that are overlooked during basic cleaning and sanitation. It's just not enough to run some cleaner through those guys, you have to open them up and give em a scrub. It's those nooks and crannys that'll get ya.

Anyway, just my rant. Infections are HARD to get, and usually a result of pretty blatant brewer error, even if they can't remember where they screwed up.

It's a pet peave of mine all the brewers on this site that give the impression that every brew is an infection waiting to happen. You scare off the newbies!

+1, I could not have said it any better my self TopherM.

EDIT: I use one scoop per 5 -7 gallons.

 

[WooHokie]

I use 1 scoop per 1 gallon which is what the recommended ratio is on the back of the tub. Wondering now if I've been using too much.

Also, I don't use oxy clean after every batch. I only use it if it was a really nasty batch. I have had no issues with rinsing the buckets with super hot water then using lots of Star San before my next brew session.

 

[duboman]

I use 1 scoop per 1 gallon which is what the recommended ratio is on the back of the tub. Wondering now if I've been using too much.

Also, I don't use oxy clean after every batch. I only use it if it was a really nasty batch. I have had no issues with rinsing the buckets with super hot water then using lots of Star San before my next brew session.

+1 to Topher, made me laugh!

I use 1 scoop per 5-6 gallons for everything from taking off labels to cleaning, works great!

 

[Brewnoob1]

I think people are mixing sanitizing and sterilizing here. From the research I've done, brewing needs only be sanitized. Hence, there may be a VERY small percentage of nasties still around, but the yeast will take over before anything else can. I think whatever process works for you......does just that...works for you. If you don't get an infection, what you're doing is probably working. No need to knock someone else's process if they are doing extra steps. If that's what they feel comfortable with...go for it. I'd probably do more in the way of sanitizing cleaning if I had more space and time available to me to do so. But, at the same time, I seem to be doing the minimum for no infections...so that works.

Brew on everyone....moving right along

 

[sweetcell]

So how much oxyclean per gallon of water? De labeling bottles this weekend.

for de-labeling, the more you add the faster it'll work and the longer you can re-use the same solution. i don't use a set amount... i use a generous half scoop per 3 gallons, more or less. if the stuff doesn't dilute and ends up powdery at the bottom of the water after mixing then i'd added too much and i'll dilute. i don't feel there is a need to be very scientific about it.

 

[Fennis]

+1

Don't use that knock-off from Sun....leaves a bad film behind.

I've used Sun many times to clean my equipment and I have never had any film left behind. Sun/Oxy appear to be identical ingredients on the package, and on top of that both are a cleaner, not a sanitizer, so no matter which one I use, it gets a very thorough rinsing with hot water to ensure no residue is left behind.

 

[bleme]

I use 1 scoop per 10 gallons. It does take a much longer soak but it still gets everything really slimy. When I used 1:5, it seemed like it took a lot more rinsing to get all the residue off. I would rather soak longer and rinse less.

 

[CliffMongoloid]

Do you guys use the reg oxygen clean or the free?

 

[HollisBT]

Oxy free. You don't want any perfumes or dies.

Unless you are making an oxy clean pale ale.

 

[hwilshusen]

Do you guys use the reg oxygen clean or the free?

I use the Oxyclean Free though twice used the regular. With the regular you have to rinse more.

 

[CliffMongoloid]

If you rinse it good oh should be alright correct?

 

[BigRob]

Both Oxy and Sun will leave a residue if you've got hard-ish water.

 

[JDFlow]

All sinks and counters are washed, rinsed twince, cleansed with oxyclean solution,rinsed twince, then sprayed with isopropyl. The sinks are then rinsed and are ready for star san solution. I wash my hands with the oxy solution too, then dry them, isopropyl them, glove up, isopropyl and dip in star san sink prior to approaching any wort/beer after boil.

I suddenly feel like I'm sittin in a pile of filth...

 

[GottaGetABrew]

If you rinse it good oh should be alright correct?

Hey CliffMongoloid, I use whatever and I have at the time so I have used both the normal and the free. I just rinse well with hot water and then take a good inhale to see if I smell the oxy....if not its all good.

 

[Accidic]

Barneygumble,

I have no issue with your process even though I personally think it may be a bit excessive.

HOWEVER, I would seriously look into the Isopro step in regard to your hands. I get that you feel it works for you but as a person who has seen my grandfather's defatted hands from regular contact with several sources of alcohol I can assure you it isn't a pleasant condition. Feel free to look it up (Defatting) if you'd like. Gas/Kerosene/etc is much more dangerous on this front granted but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the others will do it as well. Personally, I'm not even enamored with the public school system's infatuation with hand sanitizers now a days.

 

[barneygumble]

OK, I was buzzed when I opened up. I am soooo sorry I did. I am over excessive with sanitation. But the pile ons can, in the wonderful words of Bill Belichick, GFY.

I said it was mostly psychological.

I was a soak in star san, dip my hands kinda guy too. Then one day, before I moved here, I was havin a shared brew day with a close friend, neighbor, and best brew buddy. The SWMBO was there too, hangin with us on a warm spring day in the driveway.

The guy reaches in, and goes to town. Right past the belt, and down and dirty. BIIIG scratch. THEN!! he grabs his autosiphon and hose, and siphons his batch into primary, without dipping his hands. :O

My SWMBO is an IV tech, and I asked her as soon as he left, how she gloves up. I've done it ever since.

I never drank another of his brews since, and I never brewed with him again,after that. He's still my friend, but I will not eat or drink anything of his any more.

I tried to infer why I glove up with humor. Now you all know. I dont care about infection, I aint gonna drink any beer by any guy who doesnt glove up. Pros are supposed to use gloves by statute in this state. It helps me sleep thinking that this is happening, even if I have my doubts.

There it is. I cant help it. If you saw that you prolly would too.

Deal.

 

[LoreleiHI]

Lol.

I know I sanitize more than most, but not much more than you should. Wash, cleanse, sanitize. No biggie. Rinses are to remove the cleaners. As far as gloving up, I'll say it again, and throw this out to every woman on this board. Look at those fingernails, and really think where they've been. I dont wanna drink beer from any guy who doesn't glove up.

Ladies, how far off am I here? lol.

For me, I would not be able to drink any beer you brew. You use latex. I'm allergic. And if you don't disclose that to people, you're risking a pretty bad reaction.

All my ink was done with non-latex sterile gloves. My doctors use them as well. Yes, they're more expensive, but latex allergies are cumulative--you could develop one.

The More You Know...

 

[BigRob]

I find the constant starsan dipping gives me really dry skin, cracking around the nails, etc.

 

[BrewKnurd]

OK, I was buzzed when I opened up. I am soooo sorry I did. I am over excessive with sanitation. But the pile ons can, in the wonderful words of Bill Belichick, GFY.

I said it was mostly psychological.

I recommend you get over the idea that anyone here is picking on your process. I am, and I believe others are, taking exception to the fact that you claimed, more than once, that people that weren't doing what you were were half-assing things. That's where the problem was.

 

[wattly]

All sinks and counters are washed, rinsed twince, cleansed with oxyclean solution,rinsed twince, then sprayed with isopropyl. The sinks are then rinsed and are ready for star san solution. I wash my hands with the oxy solution too, then dry them, isopropyl them, glove up, isopropyl and dip in star san sink prior to approaching any wort/beer after boil.

I really don't intend to dogpile, but just to clarify what some others have said, there's nothing wrong with your cleaning/sanitation, but it is more than necessary. Since you're wearing gloves, all of that hand washing isn't going to make a difference for your beer. However, it's going to mess your hands up really bad. I can't put my hands in oxyclean solution without them getting dried out terribly; to follow it up with isopropyl is just going to exasperate the problem. I use nitrile gloves (NOT LATEX) and soak them for 30 seconds in star san before touching anything that might come into contact with postboil wort. Gloves are great for me because I can wash and sanitize them frequently without worrying about nasties on my hands surviving the wash process, nor having to worry about screwing up my hands with all of those chemicals.

A set of reusable nitrile gloves will last you a very long time, I use them whenever I'm brewing, and even if I'm just delabeling bottles or cleaning up equipment after brewing.

 

[Accidic]

I don't personally find Nitrile gloves to be that much more expensive than Latex if at all where I live. And the cause of the Latex allergies IIRC was the powdered latex inside old gloves which I thought they weren't supposed to use anymore? I thought they had switched to talc or starch or something because of that issue. Either way, I just avoid Latex to be safe but I admittedly don't use mine for this particular purpose.

 

[Accidic]

Also barney, I'd point out that some of us weren't piling on but moreso concerned about your poor hands after that kind of process. I kind of agree with a latter poster who pointed out aside from basic washing why overly sanitize your hands with harmful chemicals when they're going to be inside the protection of a set of gloves anyway? Other than that do what makes you happy. That said, my grandfather did his in open crocks without even cheesecloth covering the top of them and had zero issues. Yes, there were probably a few fruitflies here or there but tbh, as they're frequent carriers of the yeasts I fail to see the problem. Crotch beer on the other hand... Well, that's just bad form in anyone's book. Reminds me of the fishgut wines over in Cali.