stubborn carboy krausen stains??? read this!

[je52rm]

noob here so im sure I am just repeating something that has been said many times before on this forum but will post this for other noobs in my position.

my LHBS sold me a Brew kit (Glass carboy 5 gallon)with a curved carboy brush and a cleaner included called B-Brite. i have followed the directions exactly as needed and have even left it to soak overnight in my glass carboys and it just doesnt work good for very tough krausen stains. then i tried soaking in a bleach and water solution overnight with the same results. The stuck on krausen mostly came off but still small specks here and there (yikes! invitation for an infection). Then..........Star sans!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh (angels singing)

I did an overnight soak in star sans and gave it a quick brush in the morning with my curved carboy brush and i'm telling u its crystal clear!!! I will never even bother doing it any other way now. I usually make my star sans in a big 20 gallon rubbermade storage bin and after cleaning and sanitizing my equipment I just rack into the carboy to sanitize my racking cane/tubing plus keeps star sans from foaming up vs. pouring it in or funneling into carboy.

Hope this helps other noobs that may have encountered the same situation

 

[ClarnoBrewer]

It's awesome that you had luck with Star-San! However, it's typically not recommended as a cleaner, just as a sanitizer. It's also kind of pricey. Another alternative that almost always works is soaking in oxy-clean (cheap), or pbw (not as cheap, but cheaper than star-san). An overnight soak with either of these tends to remove any clinging crud.

 

[JJL]

Oxyclean works wonders as well. It will be your friend. Also, if you mix your star san in a spray bottle and spray some of your equipment as opposed to mixing 5 or more gallons at a time everytime you brew, it will last longer.

 

[je52rm]

yeah i wanted to try PBW but when i asked my LHBS guy he kinda scoffed at me and said to just use the B-Brite that they dont carry PBW or oxyclean(Unfortunately he's not the nicest guy) hahahahaha. I will have to order some PBW online to give it a try. thanks Guys

also the particular batch i had problems cleaning was an Apricot IPA and i think the apricots gave off some sorta resin or something that made the krausen like epoxy. not sure if that may have something to do with it.

 

[je52rm]

also i was wondering isnt B-Brite the same as oxyclean but just a different name?

 

[ClarnoBrewer]

also i was wondering isnt B-Brite the same as oxyclean but just a different name?

Good question. I'm not familiar with B-Brite, so I can't say. I do know that there are certainly similarities between oxy-clean and PBW. I use whichever is closer. Oxy-clean is in the house, PBW in the brewery. They both seem to work well when mixed with hot water and allowed to soak overnight. I (and many others) rarely have to scrub anything off. the cleaner just tends to break it down.

 

[daksin]

grocery store or target/walmart will carry oxyclean. You want oxyclean FREE which is the unscented version.

 

[TyTanium]

And use HOT water with Oxyclean, and about a day max...anything longer and you'll be left with a slimy film. Rinse with hot water as well. Oxyclean flavored beer is worse than bud light.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

IIRC, B-Brite is Sodium Hyperchlorite aka Powdered Bleach. (Edit: a mistake, the MSDS I gleaned appears to be a Liquid B-Brite)

PBW = Sodium Metsilicate and surfactants
OxyClean - Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Percarbonate

 

[je52rm]

hmmmm thats weird! my canister of b-brite says its sodium percarbonate; sodium carbonate; silicic acid; sodium salt

pretty much what u listed as oxyclean

 

[MZRIS]

i find that star san leaves a film on anything left in it for more than 24 hours as well.. i also dont like how cloudy it gets.

 

[gurrback]

How much oxyclean would you use to soak a 6.5 gallon carboy?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

i find that star san leaves a film on anything left in it for more than 24 hours as well.. i also dont like how cloudy it gets.

the clouding is a reaction to calium in the water supply. If mixed with Dist or RO sourced water it will not cloud.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

hmmmm thats weird! my canister of b-brite says its sodium percarbonate; sodium carbonate; silicic acid; sodium salt

pretty much what u listed as oxyclean

Interesting indeed. Manufacturer?

Edit: It appear the B-Brite I gleaned was a liquid product and not the powdered product.

 

[MZRIS]

ah good to know, i will have to try some destilled water!

 

[je52rm]

its made by:
Crosby & Baker LTD
Westport, MA

if its the same as oxyclean i wonder why it didnt work for me on an overnight soak with warm water vs. the star sans in cold water overnight soak and it was crystal clear. isnt star sans almost 65% acid? (of course less PPM when diluted in water). It makes sense that it could "eat away" stains.

 

[helibrewer]

You can also find pure Sodium Percarbonate on eBay, although big box oxyclean is probably cheaper.

For the slippery, alkaline film, use a mild citric acid rinse in the carboy. Wine basket presses are cleaned with oxyclean, rinsed, allowed to dry, then briefly soaked in weak citric acid solution to re-acidify the wood....works great!

The weak citric acid solution will make your bar glassware shine too, removing any water spots easily.