properly cleaning corny kegs

[attyindaburgh]

So I got some used corny kegs that I am about to use for the first time. I cannot smell anything in them and I want to make sure that they are nice and clean. My thoughts are to clean with PBW solution and take them apart, clean the parts with pbw and clean out the tubes with the long thin brushes. I already cleaned the outsides with barkeepers friend. I am also replacing all of the orings. Should I be doing anything else, other than starsan? My arms or too thick and short to reach the bottoms. Thanks rich

 

[EuBrew]

Sound like a pretty solid plan. I used a toilet brush ( new of course) to get the bottom and sides that I couldn't hit with my fat arms.

 

[attyindaburgh]

I was thinking about one of the attachments for the drill that people use to clean fermenter. The kind with the blue wings. But the toilet brush sounds good as well.

 

[brewbama]

That's all I do. Never had an issue.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Minor, but perhaps taking apart then cleaning would give you full access, like where the liquid tube attaches.

 

[attyindaburgh]

I am taking out the tunes to clean them, and the corny looks clean just didn't know if I needed to do more or not.

 

[attyindaburgh]

And also taking out the tubes.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I built a cleaner with a cheap harbor freight submersible pump and a few ball lock disconnects. This way I can shoot pbw up through the out and gas tubes at the same time. I run PBW for 5 mins and then star san for about 30 seconds. Comes in very handy when cleaning more than a few kegs. I'm lazy.

 

[The_Bishop]

I *always* completely disassemble kegs when cleaning. It takes a few minutes extra, tops, and ensure that *every* nook and cranny is cleaned.

You would not believe the junk that comes out of the dip tubes when you run a brush through 'em.

 

[jrowland74]

Sound like a pretty solid plan. I used a toilet brush ( new of course) to get the bottom and sides that I couldn't hit with my fat arms.

Great idea, but my luck I would end up buying a brush that has been returned...

 

[Hoppity]

I usually:

1. rinse dirty keg
2. clean dirty keg

keep one keg with stored sanitizer and push it through the dip tubes with CO2. Makes it ready for beer when empty.

 

[PapaO]

Since this is your first time taking a keg apart I would do one post at a time less chance putting parts in the wrong place and use keg lube on the new o rings. Then fill the kegs with water hook up co2 set to 30 psi when the co2 stops going into the keg (CLOSE THE VALVE ON THE CO2 TANK). Hook up the liquid line and pour a pint then check for leaks. If after a few hours the psi is still at 30 and you have no air gaps in the liquid line your good to go. If you have air gaps it is a bad o ring or dip tube.
Happy kegging Papa O

 

[Spartangreen]

This sounds bad, but i've never disassembled my any of my keg components. All used corneys, going on three years now.
When the keg blows I rinse really good with warm water.
Refill with hot water and oxyclean.
Let it sit for a week.
Rinse with clean water until all traces of oxyclean is gone.

 

[Browningbuck]

i like to shorten the time it takes in cleaning things, so ive researched a few methods people have done it to be the most efficient.

i start by pulling the keg apart the little woman uses a bush to clean i use a tooth brush on poppets and prvs. then replace the o rings and lube.

fill the first keg full with cleaning solution seal it up, then clean the second keg similarly, seal it up. finally open the prv on the second keg and use a tank of co2 set to 10 psi to move the solution from the full keg to the empty keg using a simple line connected to a gas in to a beer out ball lock hose. after you do this the first keg is empty, cleaned and is purged and holding pressure for storage. do this process X times until youre done. I like it as i transfer from boil to co2 purged conical then after ferm into co2 purged kegs... i have no clue what oxidized beer tastes like now? i mark all clean with a zip tie, when a keg kicks i cut off the zip tie.

clean all of them in 3 hours and ~4# of co2

 

[dk21]

I use Mark's Keg Washer with good results. I clean with PBW, running it through both dip tubes for a while, then on kegging day I repeat with Saniclean.

 

[wilserbrewer]

i like to shorten the time it takes in cleaning things, so ive researched a few methods people have done it to be the most efficient.

i start by pulling the keg apart the little woman uses a bush to clean i use a tooth brush on poppets and prvs. then replace the o rings and lube.

fill the first keg full with cleaning solution seal it up, then clean the second keg similarly, seal it up. finally open the prv on the second keg and use a tank of co2 set to 10 psi to move the solution from the full keg to the empty keg using a simple line connected to a gas in to a beer out ball lock hose. after you do this the first keg is empty, cleaned and is purged and holding pressure for storage. do this process X times until youre done. I like it as i transfer from boil to co2 purged conical then after ferm into co2 purged kegs... i have no clue what oxidized beer tastes like now? i mark all clean with a zip tie, when a keg kicks i cut off the zip tie.

clean all of them in 3 hours and ~4# of co2

Is any rinse of the cleaning solution performed after pressure transferring from keg to keg?

 

[Browningbuck]

no, i forgot to leave the next day comment that i do. the cleaning solution i use is starsan on the in line transfer. the next day i take a rag and a flat head screwdriver and depress the poppet on the out any residue on the walls will have fallen back to the bottom and the depress lets me know the keg held pressure over night and sometimes a few drops will come up into the rag most the time is bone dry. during transfer the warm water becomes pretty damn hot from the force, friction, and turbulence. i started at about 80* F and i took a temp on keg 23 and it was 120~*F (i dont know if thats important to anyone just thought it was cool)