Sanitation.

[kproudfoot]

So all the talk about how important sanitation is has me scared. I brewed my 1st batch with a friend help and racked to secondary today. I used the sanitizer that can with my kit (not star San which I'm going to get before my next batch) which is reusable and must be rinsed. I've been searching all over today just looking for tips on sanitizing and keep reading about putting sanitizer In a spray, what the purpose of that? What and when are you spraying?

 

[mdindy]

I dont use a spray that often, but I will sometimes for some of my brewing tools or maybe a muslin bag im using for dry hopping. It is nice to have but you don't NEED it so I wouldn't stress over it.

 

[MaxStout]

Ditch the kit's sanitizer and get some Starsan. A spray bottle filled with Starsan is useful for sanitizing the bulky items that aren't easy to dunk.

Here's a good thread on sanitizing. Lots of good tips in there.

 

[aprichman]

I keep my bottling bucket full of ~2.5 gallons StarSan when I'm not using it for bottling. I use RO water to make a batch and reuse it for 3-4 weeks. In my opinion you can never have enough StarSan

P.S. Don't fear the foam!

 

[kproudfoot]

So I got a large bucket used for salad dressing from a restaurant, it's not air tight so I would never leave beer to ferment in it but couldn't leave starsan in it between batches?

 

[MaxStout]

So I got a large bucket used for salad dressing from a restaurant, it's not air tight so I would never leave beer to ferment in it but couldn't leave starsan in it between batches?

Sure, no reason not to reuse Starsan.

 

[aprichman]

+1

It should be fine - if it was used for salad dressing it's got to be food safe. Furthermore salad dressing is usually pretty acidic just like starsan - so you know the container was designed for similar use.

Just make sure to dilute it properly. Each gallon of water will need 6mL of StarSan. I like making a 2.5 gallon batch because a tablespoon is 15mL which makes it really easy to measure and it's more than enough for a few weeks use. I'm also brewing once a week so if you brew less frequently you could probably keep it for a couple of months.

As long as your StarSan is clear (and not cloudy) it should be the proper pH for sanitizing.

 

[kproudfoot]

Great thanks. Yeah only planning on brewing eve 2-3 week. So basically when it gets Cloudy stop using? And as I brew I can just transfer from my storage bucket to fermentor and back and so on ?

 

[kh54s10]

Check the pH of the Starsan. If it is below 3.0 it is still good even if cloudy. I got pH test strips online.

Some water chemistries tend to cloud up Starsan more than others. Mine never gets cloudy.

Don't get too anal about sanitation. If you are clean and take steps to keep things sanitized after the boil you should have no problems. I have accidentally used equipment that I forgot to sanitize and have not had an infection yet.

Damn, Just jinxed myself.

 

[aprichman]

Pretty sure 5 Star Chemical recommends not to use as a sanitizer when it's cloudy but YMMV.

 

[brewbush]

Pretty sure 5 Star Chemical recommends not to use as a sanitizer when it's cloudy but YMMV.

It is just the make up of your home water that can cause the starsan mix to immediately cloud up. Has no effect on the pH (I check with strips) or the sanitizing effects.

I use it cloudy for weeks with no issues..........let me find some wood to knock on.

 

[aprichman]

It is just the make up of your home water that can cause the starsan mix to immediately cloud up. Has no effect on the pH (I check with strips) or the sanitizing effects.

I use it cloudy for weeks with no issues..........let me find some wood to knock on.

Looked into it a little more and you guys are totally right - as long as the pH is 3 or less it's fine.

 

[gotbags-10]

My starsan is cloudy every time I mix it. Never seen it clear

 

[pablosbrewing]

Mix it with RO or distilled water and it won't be cloudy until it's time to replace it.