What shall I be careful with when shopping for pre-clenaning detergent?

[Elysium]

I'd like to do a little bit of pre-cleaning. It might be overkill.....but one can never overdo with cleaning/sanitization.

I have Sodium percarbonate to use as my cleaner and an iodine solution as my sanitizer, but I wanna scrub my equipment a bit (mainly my bucket and steel kettle) before cleaning.

Can anyone tell me what to be careful with when shopping for washing-up detergent that can be used for this purpose?

I know it shouldnt be scented....but what else? What should be the components....etc

 

[BradleyBrew]

I use the standard oxi-clean with no perfumes, dyes, etc. It works well for cleaning equipment and laundry lol. Plus its only 8 bucks for a big tube at your local grocery store.

 

[jro238]

Be careful if scrubbing plastic not to leave scratches. Don't use anything abrasive.

 

[shawnbou]

Most household detergents have surfactants in them which many people are worried about leaving behind residues that will hurt head retention. I don't personally worry about that too much, and I just use Seventh Generation unscented detergent on pitchers, measuring cups, etc.

For all my big vessels and equipment, though, I make my own "PBW". A 2:1 mix of OxiClean Free and TSP-90 - I find it cleans better and rinses easier than straight OxiClean Free. An overnight soak in that gets all my plastic vessels clean enough that scrubbing isn't necessary. I use the same thing in my brew kettle, soak overnight and scrub it with a Scotch-Brite sponge. The kettle comes out shining every time.

I would be careful about scrubbing plastic. Scratches can harbor bacteria so you could actually be working against yourself, not just overkilling.

 

[GASoline71]

PBW...

Get it, use it, love it.

No scrubbing required. Just soak stuff overnight and wipe off with a damp washcloth, and then rinse with cold water. Sanitize to your liking.

DO NOT scrub plastic fermenters! Once they are scratched inside, all they are good for is a car wash bucket.

Gary

 

[Elysium]

Most household detergents have surfactants in them which many people are worried about leaving behind residues that will hurt head retention. I don't personally worry about that too much, and I just use Seventh Generation unscented detergent on pitchers, measuring cups, etc.

For all my big vessels and equipment, though, I make my own "PBW". A 2:1 mix of OxiClean Free and TSP-90 - I find it cleans better and rinses easier than straight OxiClean Free. An overnight soak in that gets all my plastic vessels clean enough that scrubbing isn't necessary. I use the same thing in my brew kettle, soak overnight and scrub it with a Scotch-Brite sponge. The kettle comes out shining every time.

I would be careful about scrubbing plastic. Scratches can harbor bacteria so you could actually be working against yourself, not just overkilling.

I still need tom find out if TSP-90 is available here. Do you know the chemical formula of it? Is it Na3PO4?
And that oxiclean can be made home too, right? 30% sodium precarbonate and 70 sodium carbonate........according to what one brewer sent to me:http://www.ahprofessional.com/_downloads/msds/MSDS-1605-OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover.pdf

Really good info on the composition.

Thanks for the info.

 

[shawnbou]

I still need tom find out if TSP-90 is available here. Do you know the chemical formula of it? Is it Na3PO4?
And that oxiclean can be made home too, right? 30% sodium precarbonate and 70 sodium carbonate........according to what one brewer sent to me:http://www.ahprofessional.com/_downloads/msds/MSDS-1605-OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover.pdf

Really good info on the composition.

Thanks for the info.

Sure thing! Interesting info on OxiClean.

TSP-90 is available at Ace Hardware stores in the USA. There isn't one where I live in Austin, so when I go to New Orleans for Christmas each year I buy enough for the year. Not sure what the equivalent small/franchise hardware store is in Madrid but you might check there.

A Google search says it is 100% sodium metasilicate, pentahydrate. Does this help?

And does Amazon UK ship to Spain?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Devil-0261-Heavy-Cleaner/dp/B004UHCLYM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384467039&sr=8-2&keywords=tsp+90

 

[BigEd]

I'd like to do a little bit of pre-cleaning. It might be overkill.....but one can never overdo with cleaning/sanitization.

I have Sodium percarbonate to use as my cleaner and an iodine solution as my sanitizer, but I wanna scrub my equipment a bit (mainly my bucket and steel kettle) before cleaning.

Can anyone tell me what to be careful with when shopping for washing-up detergent that can be used for this purpose?

I know it shouldnt be scented....but what else? What should be the components....etc

Cleaning is cleaning. The products you have right now are correctly suited to the job. Do not use household/kitchen detergents or cleaners you already have everything you need.