Just wondering what everyone uses to clean their fermenters / kettles / kegs / BIAB Bags / Hop Bags etc?
I do have some pbw but It works out fairly expensive (compared to starsan for sanitation anyway) so was going to mainly use that in urn when its gets dirty.
I have been using homebrand napisan but am a bit paranoid about the 'other stuff' that isnt sodium percabonate in there.
I do rinse really well but am paranoid about leaving the napisan in plastic fermenters for a long time as plastic tends to absorb stuff.
I am also not sure about soaking the bags in napisan in case they pick up off flavours or chemicals they shouldnt (have mainly just been rinsing these in warm water after a good spray with the hose)
Any recommendations?
Post #2 made 14 years ago
I just rinse everything really well after using them. Then on Brewday I starsan anything that touches the wort after the boil.
Post #3 made 14 years ago
Hey deebo,
1. bags - i rinse with water, let dry and than shake off the grain bits. every once in a while i'll put them in the washer for a spin.
2. kettle - washing up liquid soap and scrubby.
3. kegs and fermenters - powdered dishwasher detergent. it'll eat away at your skin, but it does a fine job cleaning without any foaming.
1. bags - i rinse with water, let dry and than shake off the grain bits. every once in a while i'll put them in the washer for a spin.
2. kettle - washing up liquid soap and scrubby.
3. kegs and fermenters - powdered dishwasher detergent. it'll eat away at your skin, but it does a fine job cleaning without any foaming.
Cube:
fermenter: Sourdough Spelt Ale, Classic Lambic, Oud Brune, Barrel Aged Belgian Dubbel
Kegs: Bob's Black IPA, Blanc Blond, Soda...
to be brewed:
fermenter: Sourdough Spelt Ale, Classic Lambic, Oud Brune, Barrel Aged Belgian Dubbel
Kegs: Bob's Black IPA, Blanc Blond, Soda...
to be brewed:
Post #4 made 14 years ago
What do you clean your fermenters with the_mc?the_mc wrote:I just rinse everything really well after using them. Then on Brewday I starsan anything that touches the wort after the boil.
Last edited by deebo on 29 Jun 2011, 19:43, edited 5 times in total.
Post #5 made 14 years ago
I think I will stick to water for my grain/hop bags.. maybe napisan if they look really dirty.shibolet wrote:Hey deebo,
1. bags - i rinse with water, let dry and than shake off the grain bits. every once in a while i'll put them in the washer for a spin.
2. kettle - washing up liquid soap and scrubby.
3. kegs and fermenters - powdered dishwasher detergent. it'll eat away at your skin, but it does a fine job cleaning without any foaming.
Do you have any problems with tastes from the dishwashing detergent soaking into he fermenter?
Last edited by deebo on 29 Jun 2011, 19:45, edited 5 times in total.
Post #6 made 14 years ago
not as far as i can tell.deebo wrote:Do you have any problems with tastes from the dishwashing detergent soaking into he fermenter?
Last edited by shibolet on 29 Jun 2011, 19:50, edited 5 times in total.
Cube:
fermenter: Sourdough Spelt Ale, Classic Lambic, Oud Brune, Barrel Aged Belgian Dubbel
Kegs: Bob's Black IPA, Blanc Blond, Soda...
to be brewed:
fermenter: Sourdough Spelt Ale, Classic Lambic, Oud Brune, Barrel Aged Belgian Dubbel
Kegs: Bob's Black IPA, Blanc Blond, Soda...
to be brewed:
Post #7 made 14 years ago
Really hot water and maybe some dishsoap if needed but I have found that nothing really sticks to the inside after the hot water.deebo wrote:What do you clean your fermenters with the_mc?the_mc wrote:I just rinse everything really well after using them. Then on Brewday I starsan anything that touches the wort after the boil.
Last edited by the_mc on 29 Jun 2011, 19:59, edited 5 times in total.
Post #8 made 14 years ago
PBW is only a cleaner not a sanitizer. You should always use starsan or equivalent when sanitizing. PBW is great for cleaning when things get dirty, but that's the extent to which it should be used.deebo wrote:I do have some pbw but It works out fairly expensive (compared to starsan for sanitation anyway) so was going to mainly use that in urn when its gets dirty.
PBW can be re-used to some extent. You can have a listen to this podcast, the founder of FiveStar Chemical is interviewed and makes that comment. One thing you should be aware of if re-using PBW, reaction of the percarbonate component forms oxygen which is the cleaning agent of PBW. After a while this will be depleted and you will lose activity/cleaning power. In this case, I've read of people adding in some oxyclean (percarbonate-based) to replenish the oxygen-forming component and regain it's cleaning power.
After your PBW runs out, you can just use the oxyclean by itself, works really well. It's much cheaper and contains the same, main cleaning component of PBW. The main difference, I believe, is that oxyclean lacks a chelating agent that binds metal ions in that water and prevents salt formation on your equipment. This isn't a problem, though, if you don't leave the oxyclean solution long enough for some of the water to evaporate. If you do, you'll get a ring of white residue on your equipment (salts) that is very tough to clean (ask me how I know
). When I'm cleaning my carboy and Erlenmeyer flask with oxyclean, I'll mix some oxyclean with hot water, let it soak for an hour or so, give it a little scrub, then rinse with hot water. The only time I got the residue was I let the carboy soak for a day.Hope that helps.
Last edited by BrickBrewHaus on 29 Jun 2011, 21:21, edited 5 times in total.
Post #9 made 14 years ago
I use VWP which is a chlorine/oxy type white powder. It does a really really good job of cleaning crud and is especially good in stuff you can't get into to physically clean.
I rinse that with water and then hit the lot with star san, which also gets rid of the need to rinse it very well and cleans up the chlorine.
I rinse that with water and then hit the lot with star san, which also gets rid of the need to rinse it very well and cleans up the chlorine.
http://beernvictuals.blogspot.com/ My blog, If you like what you read post a comment on the blog comments section thanks, BIAB post coming soon.
Post #10 made 14 years ago
I use pbw for virtually everything
I vary the strength depending on soil load
I usually fill up cubes/fermenters etc with pbw and keep it around for a while
I buy it in relatively large quantities (3.6KG) to get it cheaper
I also use starsan for almost all my sanitizing, sometimes using iodophor (for when I won't be rinsing with beer)
I vary the strength depending on soil load
I usually fill up cubes/fermenters etc with pbw and keep it around for a while
I buy it in relatively large quantities (3.6KG) to get it cheaper
I also use starsan for almost all my sanitizing, sometimes using iodophor (for when I won't be rinsing with beer)
Fermenting: -
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Post #12 made 14 years ago
+1 or is it +2bagman wrote:I use Oxy Clean alot....Good stuff!
for the oxy clean, I started using this a while ago and it does a great job, make sure you get the "basic" type as some of the fancy ones have colour enhancers added
Last edited by Yeasty on 30 Jun 2011, 05:47, edited 5 times in total.
Why is everyone talking about "Cheese"
-
- SVA Brewer With Over 50 Brews From Great Britain
-
Post #13 made 14 years ago
Oxyclean Free is the common name.Yeasty wrote:+1 or is it +2bagman wrote:I use Oxy Clean alot....Good stuff!
Last edited by BrickBrewHaus on 30 Jun 2011, 05:55, edited 5 times in total.
Post #14 made 14 years ago
BrickBrewHaus When I was comparing it to starsan I only meant on the cost. I use starsan for sanitation and find it great.
I haven't seen oxyclean around here (Western Australia) might have to look around for it or some cheaper bulk pbw.
I'm not too keen on storing used pbw and dont really have a spare container to keep it in.
I haven't seen oxyclean around here (Western Australia) might have to look around for it or some cheaper bulk pbw.
I'm not too keen on storing used pbw and dont really have a spare container to keep it in.
Last edited by deebo on 30 Jun 2011, 17:57, edited 5 times in total.
Post #15 made 14 years ago
I know its not that much cheaper butdeebo wrote:BrickBrewHaus When I was comparing it to starsan I only meant on the cost. I use starsan for sanitation and find it great.
I haven't seen oxyclean around here (Western Australia) might have to look around for it or some cheaper bulk pbw.
I'm not too keen on storing used pbw and dont really have a spare container to keep it in.
http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=3913" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
is 40$ cheaper than buying the equivalent number of 1 lb jars
Ross also sells 50lb (I think) buckets... i want to get in on a group buy on that
Last edited by stux on 30 Jun 2011, 19:13, edited 5 times in total.
Fermenting: -
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Post #16 made 14 years ago
I clean:
1. my urn with detergent
2. my bag with water
3. my fermenter, cube, hoses, taps, bottles etc with sodium percarbonate (in pure form from LHBS, not napisan) and sterilise with iodophor.
1. my urn with detergent
2. my bag with water
3. my fermenter, cube, hoses, taps, bottles etc with sodium percarbonate (in pure form from LHBS, not napisan) and sterilise with iodophor.
