Smelly Buckets

[mrgrimm101]

Hello.

So after quite a few brews I'm starting to become concerned about the state of my buckets. They always hold an odor from the previous batch. I always let them soak for about 24 hours in Oxyclean free after I bottle and then scrub them with a carboy brush. Still, there is always slight discoloration and a noticable odor.

Is there anything I can do to make this go away? Or should I not worry about it. Ive yet to have any negative effects from it, but I fear I could.

Thanks.

 

[TisTheSaison]

My buckets always smell like the previous batch and has had no ill effect. You might not want to scrub the buckets with a carboy brush though as any scratches left in the buckets can harbor bacteria. I just use oxiclean and a sponge to clean mine and that seems to do the job fine.

 

[GrogNerd]

i've never had a smell from a previous batch carry over in any way to the next batch

and thank you for naming my new band: Smelly Buckets. we play country and ska, coming soon to local dives in NoVA

 

[GHBWNY]

My buckets always smell like the previous batch and has had no ill effect. You might not want to scrub the buckets with a carboy brush though as any scratches left in the buckets can harbor bacteria. I just use oxiclean and a sponge to clean mine and that seems to do the job fine.

This.

I, too, can still smell the previous brew in a clean bucket. I suspect it is the oil in the hops having taken up residence in the porous plastic. Whether or not a slight residual odor carries over into the next batch is indeterminable, but it doesn't matter anyway since it's the smell of hops being added to the smell of hops. And since hop smell isn't necessarily an indicator of anything harmful, if your bucket has been cleaned, it's clean.

 

[mkyl428]

No worries the smell won't carry over...


Also don't scrub buckets with a carboy brush you will scratch the soft plastic, which CAN lead to an infection, it may or may not but can is enough for me

 

[mrgrimm101]

and thank you for naming my new band: Smelly Buckets. we play country and ska, coming soon to local dives in NoVA

Haha glad I could help.

 

[mrgrimm101]

I just worry because I brewed a pumpkin spice porter last and now my bucket smells like pumpkin spice haha. I should have realized a carboy brush could scratch the plastic..I actually use a Scotch-Brite nonscratch sponge MOST of the time, but I used the brush this time. Will not do it in the future..heres to hoping I didn't scratch it.

 

[QuercusMax]

Don't use a scotch-brite or a brush; just use a sponge if you need to.

If you're worried about the residual color and odor, you can give it a bleach soak - that will brighten it up nicely. Just rinse the bleach well afterward. I usually use about a quarter cup of bleach in 6 gallons of hot water, let it sit 20 minutes or so, and your buckets will be squeaky clean.

 

[mrgrimm101]

I might give the bleach a try.

These are the sponges I typically use.
http://www.vitacost.com/Images/Prod...Scratch-Scrub-Sponges-3-Pack-021200598463.jpg

 

[unionrdr]

I soak my fermenters a couple days in 3TBSP of PBW with water up to the top of the crud ring. Then drain it out through the spigot to rinse/clean it as it drains into my Home Depot bucket to dump. Rinse it well, running rise water through the spigot as well. Clean, rinse & sanitize spigot & parts. Re-assemble it & swish Starsan around the inside after pouring over the lid into the bucket. Then drain the sanitizer through the spigot back into it's storage jug. Sanitizing again right before filling seems to get rid of residual smells.

 

[marvin_yorke]

Yes, buckets do smell. Can't say, if it's the previous batch, but the smell is definitely there. It helps a little to took off and clean the valve if you have one on your buckets. But anyway, can't say that this smell affects the next batch - after I sanitize the bucket, I can't feel the smell anymore.

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah, as I said, cleaning the spigot separately & sanitizing the whole fermenter together seems to get rid of the malty, residual smell. So I agree with ya there.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I figure it's like a well seasoned barbecue grill. The more cooks, the better the next one is going to taste.

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah...something akin to that. All the cleaning, rinsing & sanitizing does seem to neutralize any possible contributions from the plastic molding process imo. So I guess it's sort of like "seasoning" in a sense.

 

[freisste]

I might give the bleach a try.

These are the sponges I typically use.
http://www.vitacost.com/Images/Prod...Scratch-Scrub-Sponges-3-Pack-021200598463.jpg

That sponge is "non-scratch" to pots and pans, which have a considerably harder surface than buckets. I would not trust them to be truly non-scratch.

 

[mrgrimm101]

Ok ill get some star san and do that. I use Iosan now and it always leaves my buckets slightely orangey

 

[johngaltsmotor]

I've never needed anything more than a wet paper towel to clean my buckets. Yeah, they're stained from years of yeast trub contact, but they get a good sanitize before use and again after kegging (just to make sure anything left doesn't grow before the next use).
It might not be as beneficial as seasoning a cast iron skillet, but as long as it's sanitized I don't care what stains it has.

 

[plumbrew]

Night before brewday, I fill my bucket with hot water with a cup of baking soda to it. I leave it in there until I'm ready to sanitize the bucket before adding the wort to it the next day. Barely any noticeable smell from prior brews. I do the same thing with my mash tun.

 

[unionrdr]

I hadn't thought of the baking soda water bit. I've done it with small game but it should work well here as well.