Recommedation on Sanitizer from MoreBeer.com

[Atl300zx]

I am about to place an order at MoreBeer.com and want to get everything here as I will be getting Free Shipping.

In the past I have used C-Brite Sanitizer, but I dont see that for sale here.

I want some that I can use to sanitize all my equipment: Brew Pots, Brew Buckets, Air locks, Tubing, Bottler, Siphons, and misc tools I use in the brew process.

http://morebeer.com/search/102376//all

TIA for any advice.

 

[Yooper]

I've never used star-san, but just about everybody raves about it. I've used idophor and one step. When I finally run out of them, though, I'm switching to star-san. I understand that it's foamy, so you can be sure that the surface got covered and it's no-rinse for convenience. Idophor is cheap and easy, but may stain plastics. I made wines before beer, so I was a one-step user and still use that for most of my sanitizing. I love the no-rinse sanitizers.

Remember that the only things that need to be sanitized are the things that will touch your beer after it boils- so your brewpot just needs to be clean. Everything else can go into the primary bucket to be sanitized.

 

[Atl300zx]

Star-san looks like a good choice. What do you all use for Cleansers? I always just washed everything with dish soap, rinsed heavily, then sanitized everything.

 

[Thalon]

I always just rinse all my equipment immediately after use, and everything comes right off. Then a quick bath in StarSan (or spray down). So I store all my equipment already sanitized. That way I know all I should need to do is sanitize it right before use.

The carboys are the only things that usually need a little soaking (I like to do my primary ferment in them), so since StarSan can be kept and used again for a month or more, I just keep my 5 gallons of solution in them. That way they're good and soaked, and plenty sanitized when I get around to using them.

Did I mention I like StarSan? Get the biggest size they have, you'll be glad you did.

 

[Atl300zx]

One last question...

"An acid based, no-rinse sanitizer that is quick, odorless, tasteless, and safe for most materials except soft metals."

Does this mean I cant sanitize kegs with this? Or are they not considered soft metal?

Since I just learned I dont need to sanitize my brew pots, just cleanse them, I wont be using this on it. I assume pot metal is a soft metal.

 

[abracadabra]

Soft metals usually include but are not limited to copper, lead, gold.
Steel and Stainless steel would not be included in the soft metals catagory.

 

[FireBrewer]

Another vote for StarSan, it's great stuff. Yes you can use it on kegs. Easy to use, quick contact time (30 sec), you can reuse it, it's no-rinse, the foam doesn't hurt your beer, it actually has a small detergent effect (but it's not a cleaner, you still have to do that---nice peace of mind though) it's inactivated above pH 3.0, it doesn't harm septic systems, it won't get your daughter pregnant, it won't wreck your car and call you at 2am, it won't cheat on you and file a divorce and take everything you own, etc.

Really, it's great stuff.

 

[Buford]

I store Star-San solution in a keg. Star-San is mostly phosphoric acid, which is also an ingredient in soda. Soda kegs were used for... well, soda. It won't hurt stainless.

 

[Funkenjaeger]

+1 for starsan. I recently switched and I love it. I keep a couple of gallon jugs of it in the closet and re-use it for quite a while, and keep a spray bottle full around which is REALLY handy. I also keep a bunch in a keg whenever there's one empty. I bought the 32oz bottle and I think it's going to last me practically forever. 1oz makes 5 gallons, and if you re-use each batch for a while it's REALLY economical. Even if you don't re-use it, it's still pretty cheap when you consider that a $10-15 bottle (32oz) makes 160 gallons of solution. Just have to get over the initial investment, and you'll be glad you bought it.

As for a cleaner, I generally use oxy-clean free (doesn't have fragrances and other junk). It really does an amazing job, yesterday I had a blowoff tube completely caked with nasty dried up krausen inside and I let it soak in oxyclean for 10-15 mins and everything rinsed right out. Just make sure to rinse it well, because unlike starsan it's not something you want to get in your beer. I believe the brewing-specific alternative is PBW, but it's quite a bit more expensive.

 

[malkore]

Star-san vote here too.

And, you don't need to sanitize your brew pots. The boiling of the wort cooks off any 'bugs'. Same for your brew pot spoon.
Only stuff that doesn't get boiled at least 10 minutes that touches the finished wort needs to be sanitized.

The best part about star-san is that you can re-use the solution for a while, AND you can put some into a spray bottle. I just spray my thief and auto-siphon, and let em sit a few minutes...rather than make up several gallons of solution so I can dip/soak everything long enough.

 

[JustDave]

I used to use bleach and water, then switched to Iodophor because I wanted a no-rinse sanitizer. Then, when I found out that it's not good for septic systems, I ordered some Starsan. Still waiting for it to come, but I've heard nothing but good things about it.

 

[Atl300zx]

I'm sold. StarSan it is. Sounds like this stuff is primo.

 

[cpbergie]

Wow. Guess im switching to StarSan when my Idophor runs out.

 

[Buford]

Star San is awesome stuff. The bubbles might put you off at first, but it's a great visual indicator at to something's sanitization status. Foaming up in a carboy is good as well since you can see it's getting EVERYWHERE.

If you have a way of storing it, do so. Even if it's made with plain tap water the solution should last through several batches. When it gets cloudy looking toss it and make a fresh batch.

 

[EdWort]

Starsan Rocks! I gave away a quart of Iodophor cause I can't use it with a septic system. StarSan is septic friendly and also removes paint from bottles.

 

[JustDave]

also removes paint from bottles.

Ahh yes, I forgot to mention that's another reason I bought it (after seeing your post). Finally I can use all those painted 22oz bottles!