Cleaning FV etc

[Neil1454]

Hi,

I have some questions that I was hoping I could get some advice on...

If I clean and sanitised formenters, plastic spoon that will some into contact with the wort the day before brew day, Is this a good idea or should it only be done on brew day just before?

Can bottles be cleaned and sanitised prior to bottling or should these be done on the same day?

I clean fermentors with washing up liquid to get rid of anything stuck on. Then rinse well.
But I notice that even though the FV is sanitised before used that there is a small of alcohol. Can this be a problem going forward and is there anything to use that will remove the small and also clean?

I was thinking of using thin cheap bleech but unsure if this would be a good idea?

Thanks.

 

[Nicks90]

I give my fv a good scrub in hot water after its been emptied and then reclean on the day I need it again.
Whilst the mash is on, it gets a good splash of thin Tesco cheap bleach and top to the brim with water for 30mins.
Then it gets rinsed and refilled with clean cold water to the brim whilst my boil takes place.
Job done.

Bottles get a good rinse in hot water straight after I pour my beer and left in the cellar until bottling day.
Quick dunk in the sink full of thin bleach and water and then a rinse just before bottling.
Never had any issues or funny tastes or bottle bombs, so seems to work fine for me

 

[Clint]

I'd ditch the washing up liquid. My stuff gets a hot oxi percarbonate soak after use,a wipe down with sanitiser removes any residue then they get dried and put away.
On brew day depending on how long they've been in storage I'll repeat the oxi but they get a good slosh in sanitiser and just drained.

 

[Leon103]

I clean all my equipment the day before (on most occasions). This entails a soak and scrub in sodium procarbonate. The next day I rinse with water and star san

 

[LeeH]

I clean mine after I’ve used it. Then just a hot water rinse and sanatise.

 

[Mavroz]

All equipment is cleaned with percarbonate after use , then rinsed over with Starsan on brew day.

 

[Mike Smith]

I also use washing up liquid and a good sceub then soak in a weak bleach solution. Then I'll leave about a gallon of the bleach in there with the lid on. (Yes I know the bleach breaks down, especially in sunlight)

On the day I then use Milton tablets and drain. Never had a contamination

 

[Neil1454]

I clean all my equipment the day before (on most occasions). This entails a soak and scrub in sodium procarbonate. The next day I rinse with water and star san

All equipment is cleaned with percarbonate after use , then rinsed over with Starsan on brew day.

So do you leave the sodium procarbonate in the FV over night ? Also is if safe to leave for long periods and is there anything I can't soak in it?

Thanks

 

[Neil1454]

I give my fv a good scrub in hot water after its been emptied and then reclean on the day I need it again.
Whilst the mash is on, it gets a good splash of thin Tesco cheap bleach and top to the brim with water for 30mins.
Then it gets rinsed and refilled with clean cold water to the brim whilst my boil takes place.
Job done.

Bottles get a good rinse in hot water straight after I pour my beer and left in the cellar until bottling day.
Quick dunk in the sink full of thin bleach and water and then a rinse just before bottling.
Never had any issues or funny tastes or bottle bombs, so seems to work fine for me

With the thin bleach roughly how much would be effective in 23+ litres of cold water?

Thanks

 

[Leon103]

So do you leave the sodium procarbonate in the FV over night ? Also is if safe to leave for long periods and is there anything I can't soak in it?

Thanks

No I leave for 15/20 minutes and clean with a foam sponge and rinse. I think dry it all out and leave for the next day

 

[Neil1454]

Just been looking at prices of sodium procarbonate and the home brew shop are saying they don't recommend that to use. In capital letters.

Does anyone know a reason why this would be ? Are there any down sides to using it?

 

[Ghillie]

Clean whenever you want. As long as it's clean before you start brewing, you're good.

Sanitising is best left to last minute; always. There is no occasion where sanitising a day or two before hand is better than sanitising immediately prior to use. You can't be sure that something hasn't developed/grown/cultivated in the interim.

 

[Leon103]

Just been looking at prices of sodium procarbonate and the home brew shop are saying they don't recommend that to use. In capital letters.

Does anyone know a reason why this would be ? Are there any down sides to using it?

What do they recommend? I bet whatever it is will have SP in it.
It's just a pure unscented oxi cleaner. Perfectly fine to use.

 

[Ghillie]

Just been looking at prices of sodium procarbonate and the home brew shop are saying they don't recommend that to use. In capital letters.

Does anyone know a reason why this would be ?

Likely so you will buy their branded stuff which; as @Leon103 has stated; will more than likely contain sodium percarbonate.

It's pretty cheap on eBay:

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=221197985097

Will likely be cheaper in B&M, Home Bargains, Poundland, etc.

 

[Mavroz]

So do you leave the sodium procarbonate in the FV over night ? Also is if safe to leave for long periods and is there anything I can't soak in it?

Thanks

I dissolve an amount in the FV with hot or boiling water and wash everything through in there. Just empty and allow all to dry. I only use percarbonate for cleaning and Starsan for sanitising.

 

[Neil1454]

Does sodium procarbonate leave a powdery residue ?

On the homebrew shop site they are offering a 1kg youngs bag for £4.44 which seems a decent price.

 

[terrym]

Does sodium procarbonate leave a powdery residue ?

On the homebrew shop site they are offering a 1kg youngs bag for £4.44 which seems a decent price.

Sodium percarbonate is chemically bonded sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. When it is dissolved in water the peroxide is released leaving the carbonate. If you don't rinse off the residue after you have finished with it it will leave carbonate which will dry and leave a solid residue as you say. But if you rinse it well in clean mains water as you should be any cleaning product there will be minimal residue. And what there is you won't notice.

 

[Mavroz]

Does sodium procarbonate leave a powdery residue ?

On the homebrew shop site they are offering a 1kg youngs bag for £4.44 which seems a decent price.

Yes, percarbonate leaves a chalky residue on bottles that have been soaked in a mix. That is why I use citric acid in the solution also as it prevents the chalky white deposits building up.
Works well for me.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi @Neil1454
I've looked on the Homebrew Shop; they have Sodium Metabisulphate for £4.44, but I can't see any sodium percarbonate.
The best deals are on ebay.
Astonish Oxi Cleaner works well: I get mine from Home Bargains or B&M.
I've only noticed a chalky deposit on bottles with an oxi cleaner if I allowed the bottles to soak overnight.
If you sanitise in advance, you cannot assume that your equipment is sanitary on brewing day. Always sanitise immediately before you use equipment.
I would recommend that you use a no-rinse sanitiser - StarSan is popular; I use a solution of bleach and white vinegar in water.

 

[Clint]

I find a quick wipe or rinse with starsan shifts any oxi deposit. I only use the pure stuff so no perfume or "other ingredients" to worry about.