Starsan - One thing it's not good for...

[the75]

Be warned newbies! This newbie learned the hard way that Starsan doesn't discriminate in removing the painted labels from beers like stone, corona, etc... It will also remove the painted labels from the sides of your measuring cups. Yes...the ounce/cup/quart readings all fell right off in just a few minute soak in starsan. DO NOT SOAK MEASURING CUPS IN STARSAN! You have been warned.

 

[ktblunden]

Good tip, I'm pretty sure it's the exact same silk screen process used on bottles and measuring cups. I either fill up a measuring cup with Starsan to soak other things in it or I'll spray it down if I'm just planning on using the measuring cup.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Really, did you dilute it? I tried to strip labels off Stone bottle with it and it didn't do anything... well, I'm sure it sanitized them, but the labels were still there.

 

[the75]

Really, did you dilute it? I tried to strip labels off Stone bottle with it and it didn't do anything... well, I'm sure it sanitized them, but the labels were still there.

Yes, it was dilluted as per instructions, but I let them soak for a couple days. After a couple days, they just wipe right off with a sponge. A couple had some stubborn spots, but I'd just toss them back in & let them sit again.

 

[CliffMongoloid]

Don't get it on ur clothes.... I have a pair or shorts that got starsaned... pink blotches on them.... they are now my brew shorts haha

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Yes, it was dilluted as per instructions, but I let them soak for a couple days. After a couple days, they just wipe right off with a sponge. A couple had some stubborn spots, but I'd just toss them back in & let them sit again.

Ah, that makes sense. I let 'em soak for a few hours and gave up. As far as the measuring cup, I spray mine before using it, never had issues that way.

 

[BBL_Brewer]

I don't understand. It takes a couple days to do bottles, but measuring cups are ruined in minutes?

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

I don't understand. It takes a couple days to do bottles, but measuring cups are ruined in minutes?

Yeah, I was kinda confused too. I've been brewing for a couple years, used star san since the little bottle of iodine that came with my start up kit ran out, and it's great stuff, but I've never seen it do these things. I've surely gotten it on clothes and other porous material.... nothing ruined. I've soaked my measuring cup in a bucket of the stuff (I usually just spray all the stuff like that now, but I used to soak everything.), nothing. I've gotten it on the carpet(s), no spots. Had a spill spot left on the counter, just left a li'l star san film when it dried, that wiped right up. Star san's great stuff, but I've not seen it do the things some are claiming.

 

[the75]

I don't understand. It takes a couple days to do bottles, but measuring cups are ruined in minutes?

That is correct. The etching on stone or corona bottles uses a high density polymer coating that utilizes a profragneous molecular bonding cycle....I'm kidding, I have no idea what that means. What I can tell you is YES! Stone/Corona bottles need to soak for MUCH longer than a measuring cup. My measuring cup was in a bucket of dilluted starsan for about 15 minutes TOPS before flecks of red paint were found floating around my bucket. Stone labels have to be wiped off after soaking for a day or two. Whatever the reason, I speak the truth.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

That is correct. The etching on stone or corona bottles uses a high density polymer coating that utilizes a profragneous molecular bonding cycle....I'm kidding, I have no idea what that means. What I can tell you is YES! Stone/Corona bottles need to soak for MUCH longer than a measuring cup. My measuring cup was in a bucket of dilluted starsan for about 15 minutes TOPS before flecks of red paint were found floating around my bucket. Stone labels have to be wiped off after soaking for a day or two. Whatever the reason, I speak the truth.

Is it a quality brand of measuring cup? Go Pyrex or GTFO!!!

 

[the75]

Is it a quality brand of measuring cup? Go Pyrex or GTFO!!!

I'm fairly sure it is Pyrex, I bought it brand new from a restaurant supply store...which reminds me...I'm gonna take that sumbith BACK!

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

I'm fairly sure it is Pyrex, I bought it brand new from a restaurant supply store...which reminds me...I'm gonna take that sumbith BACK!

I was just being silly. Of course, Pyrex is the way to go for any glass that's going to hold liquid and change temp drastically, but I'm sure the dollar store measuring cups are just fine too. Odd that you stripped screen print off it that quickly, regardless of brand or whatever.

 

[kwingert]

Why are you soaking bottles in starsan? Shouldn't you be soaking them in PBW?

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Why are you soaking bottles in starsan?

Really?

 

[the75]

Why are you soaking bottles in starsan? Shouldn't you be soaking them in PBW?

I'm not trying to clean them, I'm trying to remove the painted on labels. I remove regular paper labels with oxyclean.

 

[kwingert]

Really?

I think that's a fair question. You don't need to soak bottles in starsan for days to sanitize them. I didn't realize they would take off labels. I figured PBW would do that.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

I think that's a fair question. You don't need to soak bottles in starsan for days to sanitize them. I didn't realize they would take off labels. I figured PBW would do that.

Apparently some folks have gotten star san to remove more that just labels.
PBW will remove paper labels cuz it breaks down the glue, but I'm not sure it'd remove painted labels like Stone and Corona bottles. And I'm still baffled that star san removed the paint from a measuring cup in 15 mins.

 

[the75]

I also had a clear shot glass in there that had a red line painted along the "1 ounce" mark. It's now just a clear shot glass. This happened while I was preparing to bottle, so in order to be sure I didn't get any tiny pieces of red paint flecks in my beer while racking, I had to strain my starsan. Pain in the arse.

 

[EndlessPurple]

Got some bottles now going in starsan tonight for a couple of days. See if I can get that annoying paint off.

 

[RugenBrau]

Its not good for a formica counter top either

 

[richlong8020]

Yeah, I was kinda confused too. I've been brewing for a couple years, used star san since the little bottle of iodine that came with my start up kit ran out, and it's great stuff, but I've never seen it do these things. I've surely gotten it on clothes and other porous material.... nothing ruined. I've soaked my measuring cup in a bucket of the stuff (I usually just spray all the stuff like that now, but I used to soak everything.), nothing. I've gotten it on the carpet(s), no spots. Had a spill spot left on the counter, just left a li'l star san film when it dried, that wiped right up. Star san's great stuff, but I've not seen it do the things some are claiming.

I have to agree... I've had it on countertops, clothing, I also leave my Pyrex measuring cup in my Starsan mix. Nothing has happened to me... Yet lol.

I am sooooo looking forward to soaking the silk screened labels off of bottles.