Post
by Kev888 » Tue Mar 12, 2019 4:08 pm
PBW is more of a physical cleaner, it does help with sanitising (partly by removing bugs) but should really be followed up by a true disinfectant (sanitiser) or steriliser before using the equipment. PBW is a better, more complete version of the cheaper oxy/laundry cleaners which are popular and available from pound shops and similar. Their advantage over mechanical cleaning is that they will dissolve crud without much rubbing, which might scratch some types fermenters (though not all) and can get to places where it is hard to reach. But if that doesn't apply, manual cleaning is fine instead; no need for chemicals where just hot water and a soft cloth will do the job.
Baby sterilising tablets are fine health-wise if you rinse well afterwards, though at least some of them are a more expensive way of buying bleach so there are cheaper ways if you wished; thin unscented supermarket bleach is quite popular for instance. You should (almost) always rinse bleach, not just for health reasons but also because it can react with the mash to give TCP-like flavours. One exception is 'very' weak bleach, which can be acidified to help the weaker potion still work, but that is a little more involved (and potentially dangerous if not mixed correctly).
Other sanitises include iodophores (such as five star's iostar), which are pretty reliable and effective, thought tend to stain some plastics and rubbers. It can be mixed strong and effective and then rinsed, or instead mixed weak as no-rinse. The latter is a bit wussy by comparison, but useful in helping disinfect the rinse water, or just a top up to already disinfected equipment.
Five star also make starsan, which is a 'no rinse' acid sanitiser. Unfortunately it may need mixing with RO/DI/bottled water in order to ensure that it is properly acid, as many people's tap water isn't suitable. It isn't the most comprehensive disinfectant around, though it is often enough if everything is already spotless. However it is quick and easy and lasts for a long time even when mixed/diluted so has its uses; I keep some in a squirty bottle for instance.
About the only vaguely normal no-rinse sterilisier I would happily trust to alone (i.e. without previous disinfecting and rinsing) is peracetic acid. Unfortunately this is quite dangerous in its undiluted state, and doesn't keep for long - in fact the diluted solution barely keeps at all. So whilst it is used in commercial breweries it isn't popular amongst most homebrewers.
Another possibility is heat. Boiling water, steam or the oven, will kill most bugs sufficiently for homebrew purposes if done hot enough fr long enough.
Kev
