What Sanitisers and Cleaners are used.

[Dr Vorlauf]

I use wipes to pre clean my work area. I hit the work surface, door handles, cabinet handles ... faucets.

Come to think of it with all of this sanitation no one in the house has had a cold this year ! Have to mention this to SWMBO as a major benefit of brewing.

 

[Steiner]

Quick question about PBW. It says to use water 100-160 degrees F. I was told of temperature shock can lead to breaking glass carboys. Is this temperature range ok or should I do something else?

 

[5 Is Not Enough]

Quick question about PBW. It says to use water 100-160 degrees F. I was told of temperature shock can lead to breaking glass carboys. Is this temperature range ok or should I do something else?

Glass can be heated safely if it is heated slowly. I'd start the water luke-warm and let it get warmer as it fills. DO NOT DUMP BOILING WATER INTO COLD GLASS! (unless its pyrex, of course)

 

[Jolly McStanson]

How about using a denture cleaner to for hard to reach places. I was thinking of using Polident to clean my keg system. You can get a good size box of Polident at BJ's Whole Sale Club.

Polident cleans and sanitizes as well as being food grade.

 

[gyrfalcon]

How about using a denture cleaner to for hard to reach places. I was thinking of using Polident to clean my keg system. You can get a good size box of Polident at BJ's Whole Sale Club.

Polident cleans and sanitizes as well as being food grade.

I'm not sure if I should be repulsed or stupefied at this...being a semi-youngster and all. (Although I have an awful lot of dental work)

From what I've read, denture cleaners contain ingredients like perborate (Borax) bleach (Hypochlorite) or Persulfate (Sulfur) as active ingredients.

So just buying bulk bleach would probably be more effective.

 

[sonetlumiere85]

I've been rinsing with bleach, is this necessary? I usually do it because whatever I soak in bleach smells like it, and I can't imagine that that is ideal. Anyone know?

 

[FlyGuy]

Yes, rinsing thoroughly is a good idea with bleach. I have heard some advocate rinseless bleach sanitization, but you really have to know what you are doing. To be safe, always rinse at least two or three times if you use bleach. Its biggest downside is that if you leave residual bleach behind, it can easily lead to off flavours in your beer.

 

[Benny Blanco]

+1 for Starsan. I always mix with distilled water only as that makes it last a long time.

I check the pH of my solution every time I use it to make sure it's around 3. An easier (though not as effective) way to check is to see if the solution is cloudy. That usually means it's reached a level where it cannot sanitize properly.

I suggest when you buy in bulk if you decide to try. I can't see myself using anything else.

 

[Kimsta]

Has anyone used NuFoam to sanitize? These are tablets that are used in bars and they dissolve and turn blue.

 

[killian]

what are you checking your ph with for the star san? do wine ph strips measure that low?

 

[Revvy]

what are you checking your ph with for the star san? do wine ph strips measure that low?

I know people use the ones from drugstores....I would assume that if they read the same ph range, they'd work...

I think also people go by the color as well....

 

[killian]

what color?

 

[pd0303]

I'm just starting out and my kit came with LD Carlson no rinse sanitizer. Does the eqipment need t9o dry prior to use? Is air drying OK - any precautions I should take?

 

[justin8425]

I'm not sure if this applies to HB, but people who allergic to shellfish will have an allergic reaction to the iodine in most iodine based cleaners. Has anyone had a problem with this? I know in the medical field we always have to ask before we use iodine.

 

[SixFoFalcon]

I'm not sure if this applies to HB, but people who allergic to shellfish will have an allergic reaction to the iodine in most iodine based cleaners. Has anyone had a problem with this? I know in the medical field we always have to ask before we use iodine.

That's a good question. I don't know how closely the chemistry of iodophor compares to medical disinfectant solutions. As far as skin contact goes, I would think that with the way the stuff stains, a significant portion is getting into your skin on the microscopic level which could cause problems if you had an allergy. So I guess brewers with shellfish allergies should err on the side of caution and choose a different sanitizer.

As for the innocent drinkers who had nothing to do with the preparation of the beer, I wouldn't be as concerned. The amount of iodine you'd be consuming in a few beers, even if Iodophor was used various points in production, would be on the order of parts per trillion at the most. If the allergy was that bad, just hearing the word "iodine" would probably cause problems.

 

[solidghost]

How about antispetic mouthwash?
Anyone tried that for their fermenter?

 

[Gnome]

I have a carboy I used to make mead in Arizona. Had it set up in a chiller bath for a few months, needless to say it ended up with hard water deposits on the out side. Dose anyone know how to get it clean again?

 

[Revvy]

Since you're in the states try this stuff... CLR you can find it just about any store.

Enhanced Formula CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover, Good Housekeeping Seal, Industrial Strength, Instantly Removes Calcium Deposits From Glassware, Decanters, Tea & Coffee Pots, Lime Scales From Coffee Makers, Humidifiers, Tubs, Toilets & Sink

I don't remember if you use it straight or dilllute...if it is diluteable I would just fill the same chillerbath you set the carboy in with enough to go just above the hard waterline on the carboy. If it's not dilutable, use a sponge and elbow grease, then rinse thoroughly after.

 

[Gnome]

I'm willing to try, Thanks

 

[Gnome]

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.

 

[gruversm]

Can CLR be used as the only sanitizer?

 

[Revvy]

Can CLR be used as the only sanitizer?

Do you mean the product Calcium Lime Rust? No that's not a sanitizer, it's a lime descaler....So technically it's probably not even a cleaner...

Remember, clean first with a cleanser (like PBR or Oxyclean) then rinse, then sanitize with a santizer (like Iodophor or Starsan) then don't rinse.

 

[gruversm]

Thanks!! So for GENERAL cleaning, regular OxyClean is OK to use? There's not another version floating around, is there?

 

[Revvy]

Thanks!! So for GENERAL cleaning, regular OxyClean is OK to use? There's not another version floating around, is there?

I clean everything with oxyclean and hot water...I rarely even scrub anything...For example I just rinse the gunk off my brewpot, then fill it with hot water and a couple scoops of oxyclean then dump everything eles into the pot, like spoons, strainers funnels, etc. Then I stick my autosiphon in it and put the hose in the bottom of the pot and start a siphon loop to clean that as well.... I let it sit for a few hours (usually overnight because I'm lazy) then rinse everything thoroughly.

I also clean and delable all my bottles the same way....I've never had any gunk stick after using oxyclean...even mold at the bottom of old bottles.

It's best to use unscented....and the generic store bought brands like the one by walmart are fine as well.

 

[wsoxfan24]

I've always cleaned with water only and then used the "heavenly" star san, no rinse. I've never had a bad batch unlike my brother, who creates a tomato beer probably due his poor sanitation habits.

I think the most important thing I do that doesn't seem important is that before I put my equipment away after use, I sanitize everything. That has seemed to benefit me. It might be overkill but I never want 5 gallons of tomato beer like my brother.

 

[biohazzardbrewing]

When you sanitize with bleach it's best to mix an equal amount of bleach and vinegar into the water you're sanitizing with. Bleach on its own won't kill certain bacteria unless the water has some acidity to it (hence the vinegar.)

It's important not to mix the vinegar and bleach directly, or you will end up with a nasty toxic cloud. Pour the bleach into the water, mix, then add the vinegar. There's an audio file here http://www.basicbrewing.com/index.php?page=radio (March 27th) that breaks it all down.

I've done all my sanitizing with bleach/vinegar and never had a sanitation-induced infection.

1st. There are only five bacteria on the planet that Bleach wont kill and there is no chance that any of them will be in your brew.

2nd. Do not mix bleach and vinegar!

 

[Revvy]

2nd. Do not mix bleach and vinegar!

If you listen to the Podcast, there is a safe and effective way to use bleach and vinegar, and it is supposedly more effectivce than straight bleach....It has to be done in a certain way....Hence the posting the link to the podcast....I figure if the inventor of Starsan tells you how to do it, he must be right.

 

[Surly]

I use, "Milkhouse Brand", Easy-San which is a, "C.I.P. Acid Sanitizer" for about $17.00 at Fleet Farm.

 

[Revvy]

I use, "Milkhouse Brand", Easy-San which is a, "C.I.P. Acid Sanitizer" for about $17.00 at Fleet Farm.

Darn...I never heard of that...I just bought a gallon of Iodine solution (like Iodophor) from the farm and fleet for 12 bucks....

tell me more about this Easy San?

 

[irishwater]

doesn't bleach have chlorine in it. doesn't bleach make an off taste? So with Star san you can bottle or keg with the foam still in you container?