Star San - What's it all about

[Notlaw]

Ok, I may take the plunge and get some star san. It seems expensive though. At about £12 for the 250ish ml bottle, how long would that bottle last?

Everyone seems to rate it highly, so hit me with your best sales patter.

 

[Vinnyc]

It's the most simple to use disinfectant that you don't have to rinse. mix it at a ratio of 1.8ml to 1l so it should last a good bit I mix and out into a sprayer so I get it to last the longest

 

[MyQul]

Well I've had my bottle for over three years now and it's still half full. The big "pro" of it or me is it's no-rinse so you can just stick it in a spray bottle and spray stuff you need to sanitise-REALLY convenient

 

[Notlaw]

So if you mix some in a bucket to dunk stuff in, how long is that bucketful still good for? Cat you just stick the lid on the bucket and keep it for future use?

 

[MyQul]

So if you mix some in a bucket to dunk stuff in, how long is that bucketful still good for? Cat you just stick the lid on the bucket and keep it for future use?

Yup. I have a permenant jerry can of the stuff which I top up now and then. No idea how long it keeps.I just have mine for weeks at a time. As long as the PH is below (iirc) 3, I think it's good more or less forever

 

[Graz]

Also just started using it. Bought a 5L container of de-ionised water from Halfords (Battery top up water) for it's PH neutrality. Added the recommended dose of StarSan to it which isn't even a full squirt into the measuring bit of the bottle. Used a tiny bit of the 5L last night on my brew, good few squirts from a sprayer into the FV and lid, let that sit for a while then used the residue with a few kitchen towels to give everything else a wipe (stirring spoon, hydrometer and thermometer).

On that basis one bottle of StarSan should last me ages :)

 

[HisDudeness]

Saves time, money in the long run, no risk of adding off flavours and I haven't had any form of infection (touchwood!) since I started using it. Its a must have in my opinion, get some!

 

[dad_of_jon]

been using it for over a year more than 1/2 a bottle left and that's because I didn't re-use it at first

low ph water is needed volvic or ashbeck worked for me ph7 or below. Then when i've finished with it I pour back into the bottles. I put a few drops on half a strip of litmus paper (why use a whole one?) to check the ph is still ok.

 

[TartanSpecial]

The Malt Miller does his own version which works out a bit cheaper.

 

[CreweBrewer]

Star San - What's it all about

Emperor's new clothes...

 

[MyQul]

Emperor's new clothes...

Why do you say that CB? Yes they're cheaper and more easily available alternatives (e.g. 17p/2L thin bleach) but It's the convenience of no-rinse that sells it for me

 

[CreweBrewer]

Why do you say that CB? Yes they're cheaper and more easily available alternatives (e.g. 17p/2L thin bleach) but It's the convenience of no-rinse that sells it for me

I'm a Milton man; I've always used it so it's a bit 'if it ain't broke...' It's available pretty much everywhere and it's also no rinse. I still rinse anyway, just as I would with Star San.

Dave

 

[brumbrew]

My local homebrew shop has said they won't stock it because they can't put a realistic Mark-up on it and expect people to pay it.

So....

The owners of the store have had a chemist analyse a bottle of starsan in view of producing the same no rinse product for cheap.

Me, I just use baby bottle cleaning fluid, a quid from my local discount store, which happens to be behind my house. The bottle even states instructions for homebrew use. I just rinse it quickly after and have never had a problem.

I know starsan is a 'no rinse' product but I would still rinse it. Maybe just me being a little hippyish in that I want to know what I've put in my brews.

 

[MyQul]

I'm a Milton man; I've always used it so it's a bit 'if it ain't broke...' It's available pretty much everywhere and it's also no rinse. I still rinse anyway, just as I would with Star San.

Dave

Fair enuff :thumb:

I started out using milton when I first started brewing but always rinsed it off. I think potentially you could get chloropenols (tcp off taste) produced by the yeast but I think with water that doesn't have high chlorine levels you could possibly get away with not rinsing

 

[theskipper1]

I might try this at some point though i might also stick with the milton tabs i find them cheap enough one tab makes 5 litres and its no rinse though i do drain residues off just in case it could taint the brew ,
If its good enough for babies it's good enough for my brew i hope .....
I guess I'm also a Milton man .

 

[GHW]

Just get some ya big Jessie. You won't regret it.

 

[joe 90]

oxi for cleaning and thin bleach for sterilizing and its never failed me :thumb:

 

[Robin54]

I believe Starsan, doesn't work if mixed with 'Hard" tap water...my water is hard as nails...so would have to mix with bottled water I guess

 

[Notlaw]

Just get some ya big Jessie. You won't regret it.

Aye, go on then. I'll order some in and give it a wazz.

I believe Starsan, doesn't work if mixed with 'Hard" tap water...my water is hard as nails...so would have to mix with bottled water I guess

Mine's soft as shyte, so I should be fine.

 

[stevie123]

Aye, go on then. I'll order some in and give it a wazz.



Mine's soft as shyte, so I should be fine.

You wont look back as many have said its easy to use and lasts bloody ages :thumb: