Star San warning

[JVD_X]

Hi folks,

This is completely my own fault - no one to blame but me...

What ever you do, if you have Formica counters, don't ever allow a Star San solution to come in contact with the counter! I left some items to dry on the counter only to find that the Star San did a great job of bleaching!

Regardless SWMBO is pissed (and I have to admit - I am also - as this countertop is less than a year old).

- alex

 

[Jaybird]

holy crap man that blows BUT thanks for the warning Im about to start using starsan and I JUST got done remodeling the kitchen. I too would BE PISSED.
JJ

 

[olllllo]

This is also true of carpet and rugs.

And no. It hasn't happened to me on carpet but I'll post a pic with a laminate stain.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

Thanks for the info... We haven't had any issues with star san bleaching anything we use, including hand towels, grout, etc. Any other possibilities of why this would have happened?

here is the msds on Star San. I didn't realize it can create chlorine gas if it comes in contact with chlorine based substances...http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/msds/starsan.pdf

 

[Revvy]

A lot of people use starsan to get the paint/silkscreen off of bottles like Rogue and stone...so if it can eat paint, it can eat a lot of things....

 

[JVD_X]

It's totally possible that some kind of combination of chemicals caused the problem, but we only use 'green' cleaners in our home (expect for brewing of course) and we don't use bleach anywhere expect the laundry.

I really do think it was just the acid nature of the mix that caused it.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

In my experience it's not wise to even let water set on formica. Even that will stain if left long enough.

Shoulda' ponied up for the Corian. At least then you might be able to polish the stain out.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Yea got me too. Fortunately for me the counter is in a basement bar area. The most dangerous situation I believe is the concentrated form. Never ever place a bottle of concentrate on a formica surface. Sometimes there is residual product that dripped down the botttle and will leave the imprint of the bottle stained on the counter.

W/ my damage it appears it actually altered the surface gloss more than the color.

I've been trying to come up w/ some sort of repair...If i find any remedies, I'll post.

 

[Atl300zx]

A lot of people use starsan to get the paint/silkscreen off of bottles like Rogue and stone...so if it can eat paint, it can eat a lot of things....

What concentration is required for this? I have some rogue bottles i would like to clean up.

 

[beergears]

How about replicating problem in another, semi-hidden area and do some experimenting there, instead of main, full-view , damage..?

 

[JVD_X]

We went back and forth about the Formica vs. Corian vs. granite that the builder was offering. There was no up-charge for the Formica, but they wanted 8,000 for the Corian and a bunch more for the granite.

In the end, we looked at prices for after-market Corian and granite and decided we could do better. However, the more we lived with the Formica, we decided it was just fine. Until this, we didn't have any problems with it, as it's not like the 'old' Formica.

Actually, this is an opportunity for me to nudge swmbo into allowing me to put in a stainless steel sink like this one:

http://www.centralrestaurant.com/Pot-and-Dish-Sink1-16Wx20D-Sink-Bowl-1-18-Drainboard-c116p15488.html

 

[JVD_X]

How about replicating problem in another, semi-hidden area and do some experimenting there, instead of main, full-view , damage..?

In the end, I am 100% sure that this is what caused the problem and besdies, we really don't have any hidden areas to test... maybe on the side of the counter next to the fridge...

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

that would be an awesome brew space sink... We have been considering some sort of shop sink for our brewing area to save trips to the bathroom/kitchen for cleaning.

 

[beergears]

Actually, this is an opportunity for me to nudge swmbo into allowing me to put in a stainless steel sink like this one:

http://www.centralrestaurant.com/Pot-and-Dish-Sink1-16Wx20D-Sink-Bowl-1-18-Drainboard-c116p15488.html

I think Elkay makes long sink-and-drain pan units that are just tops, but also self-supporting floor units, and they look attractive, not that institutional-looking (was considering one, years ago)

 

[olllllo]

I have a similar sink without the drainboard.
While the basin is deep, you need to have a sprayer fixture or a faucet with a high arching bend so that you can rinse and wash carboys and cornies.

The default one I have is just barley able to fit over a carboy but not a cornie. I will eventually replace it.

 

[Geekboy]

Yea got me too. Fortunately for me the counter is in a basement bar area. The most dangerous situation I believe is the concentrated form. Never ever place a bottle of concentrate on a formica surface. Sometimes there is residual product that dripped down the botttle and will leave the imprint of the bottle stained on the counter.

W/ my damage it appears it actually altered the surface gloss more than the color.

I've been trying to come up w/ some sort of repair...If i find any remedies, I'll post.

This happened to me also. I had a small bottle of Star San and hid the mark with a bottle of soap. So far SWMBO hasn't said anything.

If you come up with that fix, let me know.

 

[JVD_X]

My wife has agreed to allow me to convert an area of our basement that I currently use as my brew area into a bar, at which point I mentioned that it would be SOOOO much better if we integrated the brewing into the bar! Kind of a mini brew pup. Hence the stainless steel sink and whatnot.

So, in principle I plan on placing a commercial sink and drain counter behind the bar and trim it up with some granite to make it look nice and integrated for when we have to sell the place.

Basically (to maintain the resale value) we are creating a second kitchen in the basement. The home came with an optional bar downstairs - which we scoffed at - so it won't appear out of place. So far we have a home theater (nice speakercraft speakers and a 12 foot projection screen), and a full bath... we want to make sure it's all integrated in nicely so it doesn't actually look like a cheap-ass bar but at the same time make it utilitarian enough for us to use it for wine and beer making.

 

[PeteOz77]

ask a cabinet shop for an off cut.

Or do what I did. entire kitchen has Stainless Steel benchtops.

 

[jca]

My chemistry is a bit rusty but doesn't chlorine bleach mixed with any acid create chlorine gas?

I just went and move my bottle of Starsan off the counter...no imprint though.

 

[olllllo]

This is the laminate under my sink cabinet. Guess where the Startsan was stored.

 

[blackshirtproud]

Well I guess I know what the mystery stain is from now.
All along I thought the swmbo had placed something hot on the counter and burned it. Now I have an excuse to replace w/ Corian.

 

[nestler]

In my experience it's not wise to even let water set on formica. Even that will stain if left long enough.

Shoulda' ponied up for the Corian. At least then you might be able to polish the stain out.

Nope. Exactly the same thing happened to me with a Corian counter top.

 

[ScubaSteve]

One time I had a bottle of Star-San that leaked the concentrate out into the bottom of my "brew-bin"; a huge rubbermaid tub I store my crap in. That stuff ate through tubing, cardboard, and damn near everything else. This may sound crazy, but I think some got onto my concrete garage floor and actually etched it. It sat for a week or so, and to this day there's a rough spot in the floor where the stain was

 

[chillHayze]

Starsan also eats carpet!!

I have a 4" dia. circle on my carpet where the starsan leaked!!! Turned the carped to mush.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Huh-huh. Huh-huh. *Eats Carpet*. Sorry....couldn't resist

 

[Pabst Blue Robot]

Thanks for the tip! I had been considering switching to starsan for my next bottle, but Iodophor really hasn't done me any wrong aside from making plastic yellow. (which in itself is somewhat of a benefit, it helps me track when a racking hose should be replaced!)

 

[mebonez]

do i have to reregister every time i look in here ?

 

[z987k]

iodine will also take the color out of things, so your still not safe (get some on your black shirt). Depending on the original color, it may add color. (skin)

 

[ScubaSteve]

do i have to reregister every time i look in here ?

Yes. Otherwise the Star-San will eat you alive. Run while you still can!

 

[EdWort]

Starsan also eats carpet!!

I have a 4" dia. circle on my carpet where the starsan leaked!!! Turned the carped to mush.

Yep, it munches rugs too! The rug in front of our sink has spots in it from splashes.

It will also etch any Low -E film on windows near the sink too.