Reuse Cleaner solution?

[htims05]

When you clean your kegs (I use pbw) can you reuse the solution a couple times?

Say you have 3 kegs to clean...would this work??

1) hot tap water rinse them all
2) 1/4 cup to 5gal hot water in keg #1 let sit for 1 hr. Shake a bit
3) connect beer side of keg #1 to gas side keg #2
4) pressurize keg #1, vent keg #2 so pbw flows to #2, disconnect keg #1, let keg #2 sit 1hr
5) repeat step 4 for subsequent kegs.

Is there any issue with reusing pbw like this? I mean if they are super chunky maybe not a good idea, but otherwise is it ok? Pbw still good?

 

[IslandLizard]

Absolutely, reuse it until it's too dirty! If you rinse them out first, there's not much dirt left, anyway.

• I first rinse the settled trub/yeast out, there's really not much clinging dirt left after that.
• Then add only a gallon of hot water with 2 Tbsp of PBW and run a (dedicated) toilet brush through the inside, mainly the bottom.
• Secure lid and shake as if it owes me money.
• Let it sit upside down for a while too, and shake again. Totally maybe 10 minutes, not an hour.
• Then upside down over a capture bucket I press in the gas poppet with a nail set and pull the PRV a few times. When you do that, you surely don't want the PBW at scalding temps unless you wear thick rubber gloves.
• One can certainly push it out into another keg, thus cleaning the long dip tubes of both kegs in the process. Or as I often do, remove and clean them manually using a long 3/16" draw brush to save some gas there.

Now the oxygen component in PBW will dissipate over time, especially when it's hot, and definitely within a day when just sitting there, but I think the oxygen's contribution is highly overrated, anyway. If it's not too grimey, it rarely is, I reclaim and store the PBW for other duties, like cleaning wort hoses, pump, and plate chiller by recirculating the PBW.

I 100% liquid pre-purge those kegs then in a similar way, pushing from one into the next. Then top off before pushing it into the next.

 

[kh54s10]

I wouldn't. That PBW solution is now dirty... YUCK!!!

 

[IslandLizard]

I wouldn't. That PBW solution is now dirty... YUCK!!!

How dirty can it be after a good pre-rinse (and pre-scrub)?
If the cleaner isn't depleted why not reuse it?

 

[dwhite60]

I use OneStep and reuse it.

I fill a dozen bottles with solution and let them sit thirty minutes, I might give them a shake too.

AFTER thirty minutes I pour from one bottle to a new empty and repeat. Depending on the bottles it can get a little dark but it still cleans and bubbles after five cycles.

Regardless of how environmentally friendly it is, it's still a lot of water to go through mixing new for every little thing. People used to say washing your clothes in cold water wouldn't get them adequately clean, now it's the norm.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[kh54s10]

Again, Yuck...

 

[mongoose33]

I use a keg washer (Mark's II) and can get about 3 kegs out of one batch of solution (but it's only about 1.5 gallons not 5 gallons).

PBW works so much better in hot water than lukewarm, so the limiting factor for is how much it cools down. Yeah, the water gets a little yucky despite my having rinsed out the kegs prior, but they're going to be rinsed out and then star-sanned afterwards.

I personally wouldn't keep it past a specific cleaning session, but that's me.

 

[htims05]

No I wasn’t going to save it, but a 3 gallon batch should be able to clean 2-3 kegs after a hot pre rinse...I’m thinking?

 

[IslandLizard]

No I wasn’t going to save it, but a 3 gallon batch should be able to clean 2-3 kegs after a hot pre rinse...I’m thinking?

At least 4-12, depending on how much dirt is left behind after the pre-rinse.

 

[Jag75]

It depends on your process . I rinse out my kegs with very hot water until I get all the visible stuff out . Then soak then move over to a different keg that's been rinsed the same way. When doing dishes do you fill sink with hot water and soap wash a plate then drain and refill to wash the next plate?

 

[kh54s10]

It depends on your process . I rinse out my kegs with very hot water until I get all the visible stuff out . Then soak then move over to a different keg that's been rinsed the same way. When doing dishes do you fill sink with hot water and soap wash a plate then drain and refill to wash the next plate?

I think there are 2 different ideas going on here. I would definitely use a cleaning solution to clean everything in one session. I would not save the solution and use it a week or even a day later. Besides with oxygen based cleaners that benefit is gone in a few hours.

 

[IslandLizard]

Besides with oxygen based cleaners that benefit is gone in a few hours.

True, the oxygen "action" can look spectacular on TV, but is highly overrated, at least in my opinion. Therefore I use "oxygen free" washing soda instead of Oxiclean.

 

[IslandLizard]

Once our grain buy on Saturday had wrapped up, a few of us were staring in awe at the small but darn handy looking (Sanke) keg cleaning rig at the brewery...
Forgot to take a picture of it.

 

[Jag75]

Once our grain buy on Saturday had wrapped up, a few of us were staring in awe at the small but darn handy looking (Sanke) keg cleaning rig at the brewery...
Forgot to take a picture of it.

No pic , then it didnt happen lol