What Sanitisers and Cleaners are used.

[FromtheShadow]

Lots of people have noted on here that they mix up a batch of Starsan and use it over and over for "a long time" or "several months." How can you tell when it will no longer be effective?
Someone mentioned testing the ph level, but I also am not sure what the best way to do that is.
Thank you!

 

[rico567]

Lots of people have noted on here that they mix up a batch of Starsan and use it over and over for "a long time" or "several months." How can you tell when it will no longer be effective?
Someone mentioned testing the ph level, but I also am not sure what the best way to do that is.
Thank you!

Some people just use it as long as it stays clear. While this is probably OK, I prefer to use a pH test for the recommended level (≤3). I just use the cheap pH test strips. A little tube containing a whole bunch can be had at finer homebrew supply outlets everywhere. I got mine from Midwest........

 

[bandt9299]

For .50 cents per use I mix up a new batch of starsan for every use, and keep a spray bottle full for the little areas. It might be wasteful but I know its fresh. And instantly cloudy with my water. But still ok because I check the PH with my digital meter.

 

[schmitt777]

I'm now converting to PBW & Starsan and was wondering how long you let things soak like the racking cane, tubing auto siphon etc
Do you let them soak in PBW. Or just Starsan ?

Thanks.

 

[rico567]

Anything I'm cleaning with PBW gets soaked in hot (faucet hot) PBW mixed according to package directions for 1/2 hour. Star San is a contact sanitizer. Any time works, as long as all surfaces to be sanitized are covered. Also, SS only works while wet. Most of my Star San is applied with a spray bottle. Very, very economical.

 

[jmlivingston10]

How long can 1 step be used for? I may bottle tomorrow and I am going to fill my bottles now with 1 step and let them sit. Also, if I sanitize my equipment / bottles how long can i let them sit before I have to re sanitize?

 

[mandrakemuffley]

anyone use ethanol? I have a still and when i have a bad batch of beer i distill it to around 88% pure ethanol and use it. or I just ferment a few kilos of sugar and distill it when I am having a lazy night in. the wife loves it too cause aint nuttin this stuff can't clean or kill! got mould? one spray and the toughest build up of mould just fades away before your eyes

 

[mandrakemuffley]

a quick spray of ethanol and a blast with the blowtorch and anything is good to go. also makes it pretty easy to keep hands sterilised, and any siphons etc

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

? about keeping star san and the foam

I had a cleaning tray full and open to air for a few days. pH is still <3, but there is a slime that settled onto everything sitting in it. it's very slippery and takes some rubbing under water to get it off. it sure isn't something I want on anything that goes into the beer

when rinsing bottles with star san pouring it out leaves a ton of foam in there. Can that affect beer head? the last batch of bottles had some foam that was clearly from the star san sitting in the air space after bottling/capping.

other than these worries easyiest, and probably near cheapest sanitizer when you reuse. Also don't need to throw out when it gets cloudy. It is sanitizing as long as the pH is low. (they say like <3 as a CYA statement, but people say it is good up to like 3.5)

 

[Handsaw]

How long does Star-San keep? How do you know that you need to replace it?
Same question for Sani-Clean?

 

[rmcdermo]

What is the big advantage to not having to rinse? I use star San but I always rinse anyway. It just seems strange to me to leave any residue in a bucket or carboy. Am I defeating the sanitization by rinsing? I've never had any problems with my procedures but maybe I need to get over my fear of leaving any residue.

 

[hercher]

The advantage of not rinsing is that you don't risk there being sufficient bacteria in the rinse water to leave you with an infected batch of beer. As you surmise, you risk defeating the santization by rinsing.

 

[rmcdermo]

Thanks. That makes sense. But since I use the same water to rinse as I do in my beer (the boil as well as to top off) I'm already exposed to the bacteria in the water anyway.

I can see this being relevant for someone who does full boils, but if you add unboiled water to your primary, does it really add any risk of bacteria?

 

[ColumbusAmongus]

What about clorox wipes for workspace surface sanitation? I use them often and they are good for quick cleanups and surface prep, though a little on the expensive side.
I also use lysol to sanitize the area around where I brew.
Important to note though is not to allow contact with the actual fermenter & brewing equipment, and the flammability of the lysol spray.

Are you talking about surgery or brewing?

 

[ColumbusAmongus]

Haha just replied to a 5 yr old post. Have another one there drinky.

 

[overdbus]

Does anyone use a rinsing agent ? I started using Hydrogen Peroxide
after washing the better bottles with oxy before letting them dry it
seems to help the water sheet off the inside of the bottles.

 

[JTMavs]

OK soaked in Star Stan all night and then went out and got CLR. tried it in a bucket diluted. while soaking in the solution I kept whipping the top with straight CLR. Deposits still there. Arizona has some hard water.

Try vinegar and water. It will nuetralize the acid in the water spots.

 

[AImhoff88]

Hey guys, I have a few quick questions about cleaning/sanitizing.

1. What are the exact differences between cleaning/sanitizing?

2. The only thing I use to prepare my bottles for bottling is non-scented dish soap. Is this sufficient?

3. If not, what effects will it have on my beer?

 

[rico567]

Hey guys, I have a few quick questions about cleaning/sanitizing.

1. What are the exact differences between cleaning/sanitizing?

2. The only thing I use to prepare my bottles for bottling is non-scented dish soap. Is this sufficient?

3. If not, what effects will it have on my beer?

1.A. Cleaning is the removal of material from a surface.

1.B. Sanitizing is killing or rendering inactive microorganisms on a surface.

As you can see, these are quite different things. Cleaning is generally accomplished with soaps, detergents, surfactants, etc. Sanitizing is accomplished by chemicals that sanitize per the above definition.

2. No. You need to sanitize the interior of the bottle, which the dish soap (although it may do a perfectly good job of cleaning) does not do. I use Star San, squirted up into the bottle with a vinator (a sort of pump). Both of these products are available at finer homebrew supply outlets everywhere.

3. The bottle part? Maybe nothing, maybe you'll get random bad bottles of beer.

 

[AndrewD]

Since Oxiclean now has several different products and names have gotten more elaborate, and there are several other brands of products that contain Oxiclean, it can be confusing as to which product is used as an equipment cleaner. Just having "Oxyclean" listed in the original post is a little obsolete (and mispelled). So........

I think I've figured out which product is used:

Oxiclean Versatile Stain Remover Free (powder)

3 lb. Rectangular Tub

3.5 Round Tub

If this is the correct product, maybe a mod or the OP could edit the original post to say:

Oxiclean Versatile Stain Remover Free (powder)


On a side note, most of us remember this product first showing up on the sheister-y late night As Seen On TV commercials. Apparently this product's "Carny" beginnings have not been shed entirely. The smaller 3 lb tub is usually 7-8 bucks, while the larger 3.5 lb tub is sold for 15-16 bucks. It looks like there are larger 5 and 6 pound tubs available as well, which seem to be priced appropriately. But that 3.5 lb. round tub seems to be a rip off.

 

[BeerCat]

Starsan works wonders with no fuss...

 

[peterlonz]

Diversol which I see mentioned warmly, is I believe also widely known as "Pink".
I recognise this is widely used, & considered very effective as a cleaner.
BUT.....as I understand it's composition, it contains chloride ion components, which are definitely NOT recommended for stainless steel kegs.

 

[tg123]

New here and great list. I did a search in this thread and didn't see anything but sorry in advance if I'm asking a question that's already been answer.

Are any of those cleaners/sanitizers bad for aluminum? I have an aluminum brew pot. I assume sanitizer is not required since it will be boiling the wort.

 

[ovdrumr]

I use extremely hot water and rinse everything right after it's used. Oxyclean to remove labels. StarSan to sanitize. But I also rinse the StarSan off. A few batches have had some residual tastes from it.

 

[+HopSpunge+]

I wear this when I brew.

 

[starrfish]

I wear this when I brew.

View attachment 87899

I want to brew in this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21700815@N08/8261616645/in/photostream

 

[gtibrews2]

Water and bleach when used appropriately works the best for me. Just make sure you rinse liberally and let air dry.

 

[gtibrews2]

Oh yeah, and 90% iso. Alcohol from wally world is also great.

 

[maltbarleyhops]

oxy clean to clean. iodophor to sani.
vodka for airlocks or for a quick "oops i drop it" clean.

 

[orion7144]

I wear this when I brew.

View attachment 87899

LOL a class A suit. I just got done with my re cert for Hazmat training.