Star San retailers

[staplefordbill]

Where does everyone get hold of Star San? I've had a quick Google and can't find an obvious place. Might try my LHBS but they're not great for chemicals.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

You can get it here

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... icals.html

I must get some, once I work out which one to get.

[staplefordbill]

Thanks Steve.

[Aleman]

PBW is a cleaner . . . and a very good one . . . but no better than Washing soda/oxyclean types
Iostar is an iodophor - properly acidified so ok in low to medium hardness waters, but will need pH adjustment in Hard waters - it is no rinse in proper concentrations but will stain plastics.
Starsan - phosphoric acid and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid . . . in recommended doses is no rinse. Foams like crazy, used in a spray bottle it is incredibly good value for money. . . should be used with care on copper and other soft metals. . . .Lasts a long time as long as the pH of the solution is below 3.0 . . . must be made up with water with a low alkalinity
Saniclean - phosphoric acid and Sulfonate Oleic Acid more or less Starsan without the foaming agent . . . which makes it excellent for use in CIP

[GrowlingDogBeer]

Thanks AleMan, thats really helpful.

As I have hard water I assume I have to treat it then, do I just treat it with CRS the same as I would my brewing water, thanks.

[Aleman]

Actually rather than treat your water, it is easier to buy 5L of Tesco Ashbeck, Asda Smartprice, or Deionised water, and make up 5L of Starsan solution. When treating your own ideally you would use phosphoric acid . . . and adjust the water to just below pH3.0 . . . Rather than ~4.5 for alkalinity

[GrowlingDogBeer]

Cheers Aleman, ASDA smartprice water it is then.