What kind of cleaner do you use?

[Jordan71017]

I would like to hear from as many people as possible what kind of cleaners they use for their brewing equipment. I ask because I was in a hurry to brew my last batch so I didn't have time to wait 5 days for an internet order to come in. Also my local brew shop is only open from noon to 5 pm on Saturdays. I went to K-Mart to pick up some Oxyclean (I hear Oxyclean and PBW are very similar) but they were out of it. I grabbed the generic brand of Oxyclean instead. Is the more expensive stuff really worth the price? Has anybody ever had anything go wrong from using cheap cleaners? Does anyone use cheap cleaners on a regular basis and never had a problem?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[collinsDPT]

I use Oxiclean Free and sanitize with StarSan. Haven't tried anything else

 

[runningweird]

home made pbw - off brand oxygen cleaner mixed with tsp. and starsan to sanitize

 

[joelmole]

I use generic Oxyclean. Mainly I think it's just important to get the unscented stuff.

 

[Clanchief]

I use Bar Keeper's Friend for cleaning and Easy Clean for sanitizing.

 

[Jordan71017]

@runningweird

I don't understand your abreviation. What is "tsp." ?

 

[joelmole]

@runningweird

I don't understand your abreviation. What is "tsp." ?

Trisodium phosphate

 

[Jordan71017]

Where do I get some of that?

 

[OldStyler]

I mix baking soda with hot water then starsan. No problems...

 

[runningweird]

Where do I get some of that?

hardware stores have it. I have used the real Trisodium phosphate and the substitute - they are usually right next to eachother.

I did a 75% oxyclean to 25% tsp mixture - works great.

 

[Jordan71017]

Once again you guys have been a tremendous help. Much appreciated!

 

[runningweird]

as I have mentioned in other posts, I get my oxygen cleaner at a dollar store/dollar general near my house. It is called Sun Oxygen cleaner and is just Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Percarbonate. It is also about 1/2 the price of name brand oxyclean. You can buy it at walmart as well.

Or go to sams club and buy bulk baking soda and you can get the other stuff( sodium percarbonate) from online chem suppiers

 

[zachary80]

Oxiclean free with hot water for cleaning. StarSan in distilled water to sanitize

 

[JoeyChopps]

I'm a cheap ass I use hot water and elbow grease as a cleaner and star san as a sanatizer I still don't understand why so many us " cleaners" maybe I'm just dumb

 

[Golddiggie]

Depending on how bad I need to clean (or what I need to clean) it's either Bar Keepers Friend (especially for stainless) or a PBW soak. Once clean, I dry and put it all away until next brew day. Sanitize what needs to be sanitized with StarSan.

I like to use BKF in the kettle(s)/pots first, to remove the majority of gunk. Especially stainless steel. I wouldn't use it on aluminum pots/kettles. A good PBW soak will clean your silicone tubing really well, as well as your kettle fittings. I even give the plate chiller a good soak of it (filling the wort side with it and letting it do it's job). Rinse/flush well and you're set.

I've read how some people 'clean' by boiling items that can withstand the temperatures (stainless fittings)... But, after receiving some of those said fittings that were just boiled to 'clean' I'll say you're better off soaking in PBW (or the home made version)... I cleaned the items via PBW soak and a little scrubbing (small brush to get inside) and there was a significant amount of gunk in the PBW solution once they were cleaned.

 

[HomebrewMTB]

I'd like to see you get an elbow in to a carboy. But anyway, the main difference with the cheapo oxygen cleaner and the real stuff is the size of the particles. The Oxyclean branded stuff usually has larger particle size and less dust (although not always). The dust is a bit annoying but for $2.50 vs. $10 per tub, I can deal.

Oxyclean is a great cleaner but you still need to sanitize though.

 

[JoeyChopps]

I got a brush for my carboy no elbow inside