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Hey all, was wondering if the Coopers type PET bottles are re-usable or are thay really just a one use item? I would imagine they would be a pain to clean ? I have just bottled some Ginger Beer and was wondering if they were worth keeping once empty ?

I've re-used mine and they seem to be fine.

Just don't wash them in hot water because the nasties can come out of the plastic. I washed mine with a bottle brush and lukewarm water with sterilising powder from my local HBS.

I've even been using normal PET bottles (1.25 and 2L) with success. Handy if you're taking to a party etc. Just don't expect the beer to last more than a couple of months because it will lose carbonation.

Yep, definitely reusable. I got a set with my starter kit and every bottle is still in the rotation after 8 brews. I just clean with warm water, never had a problem. Besides, they're too dear to throw away after one use.

they recommend to change the caps after six brews but mine have done way more than that and are still fine, and no they are not that bad to clean just rinse well after you empty and steralise when you put your next brew into them

I am reusing them but I shout them new bottle tops each time.
Very happy with result - I clean them with water that is lukewarm also.
Dasher

Cheers, thanks all for the responses, will give the re-use thing a go for my Ginger beer

Just give them a good rinse when you are finished with them, and stick them on your bottle tree. Then use your bottle washer and one-shot. Whilst they are drying, soak the caps in the one-shot solution. It works a treat, and you don't have to scrub.

with regards to the caps - my first brew has over 6 months on it & is still as carbed up, if not more so than it was a 3 months, and that was with 2nd hand caps

timmy wrote:
Just don't wash them in hot water because the nasties can come out of the plastic. I washed mine with a bottle brush and lukewarm water with sterilising powder from my local HBS.

Actually, reusing plastic bottles in general brings out the nasties simply cos plastic isnt inert. I work at CSIRO and we have done tests on plastics (we can detect levels below parts per trillion or 1 billionth of a gram per L) and plastic 'nasties' are there. Washing with bottles brushes would be worse as you are literally scratching the surface (which also provides nice hideys holes for bacteria to live/breed) . And lets not even go into what we found with plastics in a microwave. Never again.

Longnecks all the way!

DrSmurto - nerdy scientist and a homebrewer!

That's why we call you the Dr.

If everyone was to worry about the nasties then there would be a whole lot more suicides. Who gives. A good rinse in hot water and every now and then let them sit in some Chlorine solution and your fine. I've been brewing for about 12 months and haven't had any dramas with the PET bottles. I know it's not long in comparison to a lot of vets on here but hey.

DrSmurto,

Before I freak out and go and get my liver replaced could you describe what nasties we are talking about, how much worse it is through re-use and what health effects we possible?
May have to just use the PET for my mates

Coopers Pet are especially designed for homebrew and they have a coating on the inside to protect against this so i cant see them risking thier business through lawsuits for some plastic bottles

drsmurto wrote: Actually, reusing plastic bottles in general brings out the nasties simply cos plastic isnt inert. I work at CSIRO and we have done tests on plastics (we can detect levels below parts per trillion or 1 billionth of a gram per L) and plastic 'nasties' are there. Washing with bottles brushes would be worse as you are literally scratching the surface (which also provides nice hideys holes for bacteria to live/breed) . And lets not even go into what we found with plastics in a microwave. Never again.

Longnecks all the way!

DrSmurto - nerdy scientist and a homebrewer!

DrSmurto, it would be interesting to see what a test would turn up on a plastic fermenter that's been in use for a couple of years. Or then again, maybe we just don't wat to know

Cheers, Ed

Ed wrote:

drsmurto wrote: Actually, reusing plastic bottles in general brings out the nasties simply cos plastic isnt inert. I work at CSIRO and we have done tests on plastics (we can detect levels below parts per trillion or 1 billionth of a gram per L) and plastic 'nasties' are there. Washing with bottles brushes would be worse as you are literally scratching the surface (which also provides nice hideys holes for bacteria to live/breed) . And lets not even go into what we found with plastics in a microwave. Never again.

Longnecks all the way!

DrSmurto - nerdy scientist and a homebrewer!

DrSmurto, it would be interesting to see what a test would turn up on a plastic fermenter that's been in use for a couple of years. Or then again, maybe we just don't wat to know

Cheers, Ed

I was just looking at all my fermenters thinking the same thing, that they are all plastics of some description, maybe the demis are the way to go

Your livers will give way long before the effects of plastics will kick in so brew and be merry

lethaldog wrote:Your livers will give way long before the effects of plastics will kick in so brew and be merry

BINGO! The amount of plastic that leaches off bottles each time they are re-used is insignificant compared to the amount of alcohol (a poison) that we are consuming so take lethaldogs advice, keep drinking and be merry!

I guess its the same as my mates who worked for KFC during uni who never ate the chicken cos they saw how it was being prepared. I have seen the amount of plastics coming off bottles and plastic containers so i dont use them, my personal choice. Would be interesting to do the same experiment using a 5% alc solution rather then plain water, i would think more plastic would come off.

Dont stress people, have a beer and chill.

Cheers
DrSmurto - who like all of you brews in plastic fermenters!

The worst that will happen is that you will die. And if THAT happens, you won't even know about it.

Now, back to killing my liver and brain cells.

Chris wrote:The worst that will happen is that you will die. And if THAT happens, you won't even know about it.

Now, back to killing my liver and brain cells.

Agreed

We agree on a lot of these things it seems, Lethal.