Scratches on a plastic bucket

[BrewRI]

Now from what I've read scratches on a fermenting bucket can lead to infection. I'm a little curious as to how big of a scratch we're talking about and how likely that spot could harbor bacteria to cause an infection.

Right now all I use is plastic buckets, before reading about the scratches I used a sponge with the rough side and scrub the inside of the bucket before sanitizing. To sanitize I filled it up with a iodophor+water solution and it sat in it for probably ~20-30 minutes, then lidded and sealed.

I'm tryin to not worry about it but after a recently disappointing batch I want this one to be much better.

 

[wildwest450]

Ask your self if a $25-50 batch of beer is worth a $8 bucket. That being said I don't see how a sponge could scratch a plastic bucket.

 

[Tristero]

I wouldn't worry about it. If you can't see or feel the scratch it shouldn't be a problem. Why was your last batch disappointing? Do you fear it had an infection?

 

[Clonefarmer]

Any size scratch can potentially be a problem. If you have had the same bucket for a while, it may time to replace it.

When sanitizing you only need a small amount of sanitizer. No need to fill an entire bucket. Use a small amount of sanitizer in the bucket and shake it with the lid on for a minute or so. Iodophor only needs a short contact time. I would suggest switching to Starsan. It can be mixed ahead of time and kept in a container. You can also use Starsan in a spray bottle to sanitize.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Use a Reynolds Turkey bag as a liner.

 

[BrewRI]

Ask your self if a $25-50 batch of beer is worth a $8 bucket. That being said I don't see how a sponge could scratch a plastic bucket.

Not the soft side, but the rough one to get out grease etc...

The last one I think could have been infected at the bottling stage. I tasted it before bottling and the flavors were great if you got around the warm dry part of the beer. Then I got real sick for 2 weeks and had my roommate bottle them while i was at home with the flu. He didn't know anything about brewing at the time so I'm not sure he realized how important keeping things clean is. Also, even now (6 weeks after bottling) none of the bottles appear remotely carbonated. I'm not sure if he dissolved the sugar in the water or just dumped it in. Now the beers are flat and taste like plastic. I did some reading and I'm pretty sure its because of Phenols (Sp?) which can come from infections. I'm not gonna worry about, this is the second batch I've brewed in this bucket.

As to starsan. You're saying I could clean the bottles and just leave starsan in them until I'm ready? That would be incredibly useful since every now and then I got a few unexpected hours downtime I could prep for the next stage.

Also are there any cleaners that I can mix with water and let everything soak in them to get the bacteria off before sanitzing?

 

[Clonefarmer]

As to starsan. You're saying I could clean the bottles and just leave starsan in them until I'm ready? That would be incredibly useful since every now and then I got a few unexpected hours downtime I could prep for the next stage.

Also are there any cleaners that I can mix with water and let everything soak in them to get the bacteria off before sanitzing?

You could fill up bottles with Starsan and leave them sit. I usually dunk them in a small bucket of Starsan right before filling.

Oxyclean, generic Oxyclean or PBW are all good cleaners. Soaking in any of these will remove organic matter.

 

[flagman]

I learned my lesson with plastic buckets, if I even think they have a scratch I toss them or use them as a wash bucket. When I first started brewing I was using Ale Pales, I have a large stainless spoon and I would stir the heck out of the wort to get oxygen into it. I didnt relize I was scratching the bucket. I think it was my third brew that got funky, it tasted great when I moved it to a carboy to secondary and clear but when it came time to bottle or keg it was horrible.

Local brew store told me it was becouse of the scratched up bucket and I could not clean it well enough to get all of the areas clean. They also told me it soured in secondary becouse the yeast was over powering the infection during fermenting. Once the fermentation was over the infection took over?

I thought B.S. and went home, not to be beat, thinking there is no way it was bucket I tried it again with a stout. This time I purchased a hose brush, I boiled, bleached, starsan you name it I did it and every thing got it. When I transfered it out of the bucket Becouse of the dark beer the scratches stood out like they they were neon, needless to say It soured also.

Go find a local bakery that makes cakes and ask them if you can have there 5 gallon icing buckets. I used them all the time till I switched to glass, I would do a few batches and just toss them, next time at the store get some more.

After I got rid of that bucket I quit stirring, scrubbing or anything that would scratch the buckets. I just soak everything in PBW and starsan and I have not had any problems since although I dont ferment in plastic anymore. That was about 30 beers ago.

 

[George7845]

Could sliding a bucket in one another scratch it? My wife stacked a bunch of my new brew buckets in one another and i was stressing it. No scratches i can see maybe a scuff or two... should i be worried?

 

[odie]

if your finger nail gets caught on the scratch It's probably worth close inspection and replace.

very light scuffing that you can't feel with your fingers is probably fine.

never scrub your bucket. soaking with some oxiclean or PBW or similar will loosen any crusty deposits and the sponge will wipe it away. Don't store anything in the bucket except maybe the disassembled spigot and air lock.