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Just wondering what is the best tried and tested way of sanitising bottles and fermenters. I've been using the meta-bisulphate, diluted out to what's recommended. I fill my fermenters and bottles with the stuff and let em sit for about a half hour then rinse 3-4 times with water.

1. Is this too much time? (i'd hate to waste half an hour getting drunk on a previous brew ).
2. Is this effective? (i'm paranoid about infections but i don't want to frig around for nothing).
3. Can i just swill a little miltons (bleach) around in the gear and then rinse thoroughly? (the homebrew shop bloke said not to).

I'd love to know if i can use miltons and what techniques you guys employ as i can get the stuff cheap and i go through a shiteload of bisulphite powder each batch. It's also not good for asthmatics.

Cheers,
Jay.

i use to use bleach.. nothing wrong with that.. but since then.. joined the local hb club and everybody uses caustic soda... they don't even leave it for 20 minutes.. they clean and sanitise with it... been doing four brews wiht it and never had a problem...
seems liek the hb club has been doing it for years.. just half a cup of caustic soda and some hot water... then swirl around... use sponge if needed... then rinse.......... if very dirty do it again.. but usually once will do...

but bleach is fine.. cheap too....

I use STEREX from the HBS. Just swirl around, drain and sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. It was about 8 bucks a container but only need to use a scoop at a time, so should be good for a dozen or more batches.

I am right impressed with the caustic.

Let me know if it your equipment gets eaten over time. I would be willing to switch

Dogger

I use neopink, smells like its chlorine based, i was told by the HB guy that Metabisulfate smelt of rotten egg and is really only needed in wine making plus the extra time and rinsing required sucks the fun out of homebrew

i used to use a milton equivilent but recently switched, because of the soaking time, to idophor.. i've aslo tried neo pink, sodium met, & morgans sanitizer.. i find idophor great. cost me $8 & makes up 250litres.. you can see, by the colour, when to change it.. & you don't have to rinse. & it doesn't smell as tho its doin damage to your nostrils

db

leamos,

I think the Homebrew guy is talking about potassium metabisulphite, not sodium metabisulphite. Sodium is used for sanitation, potassium to stop your fermentation (kill your yeast)

Dogger

What is the stuff you can use that you don't have to rinse? I hate sanitising and I am always looking for a way to do it quicker.

Slammer

The stuff your refering to is called Brew Sheild.
Cheers

I have used the caustic for over i think 10 brews.. and i never had a problem since..but i think the hb club here have been using it for a long long time.. all their gear looks intact to me...

Morgans Sanitize is also rinse free. It is hydrogen peroxide I think. While I'm on it, and I'm expecting Dogger to know the answer, does H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) become water and oxygen after a while ? As in that extra oxygen bit drops off ?

Evo,

I am not sure. I know it is the reason that potato chips taste like crap if you leave them out. It is the peroxide breaking down. but what its component is I am not sure. Will look it up though

Dogger

Nice Dogger.

I guess I saw the word "scientist" in your job title "food scientist" and expected you to know EVERYTHING about science. The same way that people know I do IT and expect me to know why their son's computer crashes when he launches Photopaint.

I swear it's worse than being a hairdresser sometimes. "While you're here can you just have a look at my PC..." Just cause I work with them doesn't mean I like them.

Gee I feel better with that off my chest. Better than therapy this board. Now, what were we talking about ? Sanitation. Yeah, sanitation is good.

Evo,

Sorry about taking so long but its been a day full. Honestly I swear we at work are depriving about 40 villages of their idiots. Somewhere out there is a village of smart people. I am going to make it my mission to find it

By the way, Evo you are right. Between this site and my 5 gallons things are going to look better.

OK, hydrogen peroxide, yes breaks down to water and oxygen. I actually knew that before, the question in my mind was "what sort of Oxygen?" See folks, there is satanic oxygen which is just an single oxygen atom, and it is not happy being that way because it is at an elevated state and pissed it is cause no one wants it (This is the Einstein and God playing Craps story, really) So it wants to be happy, so it goes around angry and beats the crap out of all the little bacteria trying to get happy by finding another unhappy oxygen. Once it finds another unhappy oxygen, it binds to it making O2 or an oxygen molecule, which is happy oxygen. In the big scheme of things this is called oxidation and the Hygrogen Peroxide is the oxidizer (actually, that evil Oxygen atom is)

So yes, Hydrogen Peroxide will clean and sanitize your kit. Here is the other issue, and I must have had some pretty low octane coffee this morning that Evo threw me such a curve. You don't use hydrogen peroxide as a sanitizer cause of that angry oxygen molecule, see not only the bacteria get it but so does 316 stainless. And anyone in the Biz will tell you 316 stainless is top end goods. Most of us mortals can't afford it. Additionally, your plastic will start to crystalize and fracture.

All that being said, I know someone here has a mate who knows this guy who lives in the mountains and he religiously cleans and sanitizes using hydrogen peroxide and his kit was given to him by his great grandaddy who was doing this when Jesus was Bosun.

So, there is the simple oxidation story, I have included Einstein which is good because it is his anniversary or something and I took a very complex science theory and made it simple I hope and surely started an Urban myth. All before my second beer.

Dogger

I use Napi-San because there is always some in the Laundry. Seems like 30 something % sodium percarbonate.
Found this interesting link.... http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/oxybleach.html

Evo,

I know that feeling, I'm a teacher and can't believe the number of people who want to know how their kid's homework should be done etc. Honestly if I'm out at a party I really don't give a sh!t if Johnny can't spell, he isn't in my class so it's not my problem!!! Mean but well that's life!!

As for the PC thing, I've just spent all morning sorting my old man's PC out, he put Bill's latest brainwave XP SP2 on it and stuffed half his other programs, somedays I really hate PC's!!

Grabman

Dogger, I like your method of explanation. Entertaining AND easy to understand. Maybe you too should be a teacher.

...and Grab, yeah, I feel for you. Could you not say, especially when at a party, that the reason Johnny can't spell is because he is a moron. Maybe not.

As for the parents and PC thang, that is about the only time I don't mind helping out. Chrissie before last I bought my folks their first PC, a years internet subscription and unlimited help desk support (me), and they've been less hassle than half the "professionals" I babysit at work.

Evo,

Sometimes I just look at the person asking the question and ask if they've looked in the mirror lately! tends to confuse the dimmer candidates!

I don't mind helping the old man, it just gets annoying when he asks if he should do something, you say no, so he does it anyway. Then you gottta fix the mess! Mind you sometimes System Restore can be a wonderful thing!

the reason Johnny can't spell is because he is a moron.

And then suggest that with his gene pool he's actually doing quite well.

gregb wrote:

the reason Johnny can't spell is because he is a moron.

And then suggest that with his gene pool he's actually doing quite well.

have Johnny's parents been diving in the shallow end again!