Okay, I know it's sacrilege, but I've left my empty fermenter outside in the elements for a few months.
As a result of this, there's a thin layer of mould on the inside of the lid.
I need to know an appropriate disinfectant to use to ensure a complete kill. Is bleach enough, or do I need something stronger?
I sure hope there's nothing sporulent living on there.
Mouldy fermenter
Well, from my hiking knowlege, there are a few ways to purify water:
- filtering
- chlorine
- iodine
- boiling
We're not talking the same kind of thing, but this is bound to work:
1. Fill the lid with bleach (which is a form of chlorine btw) solution, the same strength you would normally use to sterilise your fermenter. Leave for several hours.
2. Rinse with cold water.
3. Boil water, and pour it over the inside of the lid. Try to maximise the temperature that the lid stays at for as long as possible.
The chlorine should kill anything that's active, and if you can keep the lid at a high enough temperature for long enough, that should inactivate any spores that are on there. It's probably a good idea to do the same for your fermenter, especially if the lid was on it, as it's probably rained plenty of spores down into it.
- filtering
- chlorine
- iodine
- boiling
We're not talking the same kind of thing, but this is bound to work:
1. Fill the lid with bleach (which is a form of chlorine btw) solution, the same strength you would normally use to sterilise your fermenter. Leave for several hours.
2. Rinse with cold water.
3. Boil water, and pour it over the inside of the lid. Try to maximise the temperature that the lid stays at for as long as possible.
The chlorine should kill anything that's active, and if you can keep the lid at a high enough temperature for long enough, that should inactivate any spores that are on there. It's probably a good idea to do the same for your fermenter, especially if the lid was on it, as it's probably rained plenty of spores down into it.
w00t!
Before belaching, take the o-ring out and give everything a good scrub with some water and bi-carb soda using a chux cloth or similar - it is abraisive without scratching. It can get the boil overs off the stove and the ring out of the bath that the kids leave behind, a bit of mould should be no problem. Then just give a quick rinse with bleach if you feel the need to but no need to go overboard. I don't use anything to clean mine with and will avoid it at all costs