Milton tablets for sterlising

[thaibeer]

My steriliser has almost run out. My wife has a box of those Milton sterilising tablets that she doesnt use anymore. Would these be ok for sterilising my general brewing equipment

[Kev888]

I think Milton stuff is basically just bleach and salt - so yes indeed, it can be used - though as always with bleach rinse well afterwards.

Its fine if they're free, but if this happens in the future its an expensive way to buy bleach, really. If you can get some standard bog bleach (preferably unscented) and rinse well afterwards, that would be cheaper. You can use the basics-type thin bleach (30p/2L) diluted at a rate of say 3mL per L for about 20mins or so for sanitising stuff thats mostly clean, or up to 50ml/L for stuff that needs a bit of a physical clean as well as just microbiological.

If you need a good cleaner (rather than sanitiser) that you can get locally in many places here, Ecover do a pack of 'laundry bleach' available from B&Q and so on for about £2, its essentially pure sodium percarbonate - use at about 25g per gallon. Oxi cleaners are also populer, and also tend to contain percarbonate though in more variable amounts. There are also good old soda crystals - a green plastic bag for about £1 or so in many supermarkets; I've used it at about one heaped tablespoon per L, Its probably a bit better at cleaning heavy deposits off than bleach, though it wasn't as effective as percarbonate.

Cheers
Kev

[thaibeer]

Thanks Kev888. I havnt had to buy the milton tablets as there left over from before my wife had an electric sterilzer so they have just been sitting there doing nothing. I thought i may as well put them to use if i can and save me a little bit of money.

[fego]

i only ever use Milton, both liquid and tablets. I know it's not the cheapest way, but I haven't had an infection yet so I'm sticking to it.

[far9410]

I think its only bleach in another form