Cleaning / Sanitising Stainless Steel Kegs

[da_damage_done]

I've been going through the forums and google and am yet to find anything definative on what is best to use to sanitize stainless steel.

I've read that bleach is bad - but it can be used effectively in low concentrations and for short periods (less than an hour)

I was going to use 4 capfuls of household bleach in 50L's of water

What I really wanna know is is this gonna cause corrosion and if there is something better I could/should be using.

So how does everyone else sanitise their stainless steel setups?

[pharmaboy]

hi, bleach is fine - you just need to rinse it with water a few times (till you cant smell it)

If you are emptying, then refilling straight away and putting back into fridge, then just a hot water rinse should do, as no further fermentation will take place in the fridge. If you are natural conditioning, then a bit more care is required. bacteria doesnt like the cold, nor CO2, they like warmth and oxygen - so dont forget to burp your kegs!

[Hashie]

Da-Damage, my kegs are cleaned and sanitised with hot water.

It is my understanding that any amount of bleach will pitt/corrode stainless steel.

Let's be realistic, it is, after all, stainless steel. Unless they are already coroded, or the insides have been scratched or scored, I don't believe any nasties will be able to gain a foothold in there.

I rinse with the hose when first emptied, pull apart and wash all parts with hot water, re-assemble. A quick go with hot water from the kettle prior to filling, (this also has the advanage of pressurising the keg to check for leaks) and my beer is fine.

[pharmaboy]

Da-Damage, my kegs are cleaned and sanitised with hot water.

It is my understanding that any amount of bleach will pitt/corrode stainless steel.

Let's be realistic, it is, after all, stainless steel. Unless they are already coroded, or the insides have been scratched or scored, I don't believe any nasties will be able to gain a foothold in there.

I rinse with the hose when first emptied, pull apart and wash all parts with hot water, re-assemble. A quick go with hot water from the kettle prior to filling, (this also has the advanage of pressurising the keg to check for leaks) and my beer is fine.

Hashie, I sort of assume that cornies are marine grade ss? Its only crappy ss that corodes from bleach - supposed to be similar to seawater in corrosiveness. But nevertheless, if you are wanton to make a too strong solution and then leave it in there for a week/month - well problems are maybe coming your way.

Given that cornies have had pepsi concentrate in them for a decade or so by the time we get them, i sort of assume that they use good quality ss!

Must admit though, I never leave em open to the world, and clean them with water - since i got them, i suspect no keg has been empty for more than 10 minutes LOL!

[Shaun]

It is not just bleach that can cause a problem in SS kegs any chlorine based cleaner/sanitizer will cause the SS to corrode if left for extended periods of time. If rinsed off quickly after clean it is not a problem. If you are concerned about it most HBS sell keg and line cleaner that is SS safe.

I use chlorine based cleaner on my kegs then rinse them with no problems.

[da_damage_done]

Cheers

I've got a mate who uses bicarbonate soda (you know the little blue and white boxes). How does this go with stainless?

[drtom]

bicarb should be fine on the SS, but it's not a very strong cleaning agent.

Tom

[Chris]

Idophor works well, and it doesn't attack the ss.