How do YOU use star san?
How do YOU use star san?
My bottle of Star San arrived today (although it'd leaked on the way here) and I've mixed up a 5ltr batch with Tesco bottled water. I've got a spray bottle that I intend filling and I thought it might be interesting to find out how everyone uses this stuff?
Do you just spray everything? Do you submerge everything in star san? Do mix it up and keep reusing it or do you chuck it out? What about big stuff like FVs, how do you clean them?
Do you just spray everything? Do you submerge everything in star san? Do mix it up and keep reusing it or do you chuck it out? What about big stuff like FVs, how do you clean them?
Re: How do YOU use star san?
I make up 5 gallon in a spare fv. To sanitise bottles I dunk them, swirl a bit round inside and pour back in to the fv and turn them upside down on a rack. Tubes, clips, spoons, siphon tubes, wine thieves, bottles, caps, hands and everything else gets a quick dunk on bottling day and anything that gets put down on a worktop gets redunked. For big stuff like fvs i pour a jug full from the fv in to the new fv, swirl so that all of the surface is wetted and pour back in. Put the lid on the 5 gallon batch when done and this lasts about 6-8 weeks before it gets a bit grotty looking. Never have any infection like this. The other thing is there's a lot of hooha about it going cloudy! My water is very soft and it goes cloudy straight away when I add starsan! Never been a problem.
I just bought this dish drainer from ikea for £5. It works great. I got about 20 bottles on it in one go.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10208523/
I just bought this dish drainer from ikea for £5. It works great. I got about 20 bottles on it in one go.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10208523/
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- mabrungard
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Re: How do YOU use star san?
StarSan complexes with calcium and produces cloudiness. Apparently, Cestrian's water isn't as soft as indicated. Cloudiness is definitely a problem in StarSan solution since it creates a 'slimey' coating on everything the solution touches. Use RO or distilled water with StarSan for best results. If you have access to ion-exchange softened water, that will also work well. Its just that it will take a bit more StarSan in the ion-exchange softened water...no big deal.
When the proper water is used, StarSan will last almost forever. If you use a hard water, it won't last at all and you will have the sliming problem. I suggest mixing up a large batch and storing it in a sealed jug or bucket. As long as there isn't too much 'crud' in the solution from your cleaning activities and the solution pH is below 3, the solution is effective.
When the proper water is used, StarSan will last almost forever. If you use a hard water, it won't last at all and you will have the sliming problem. I suggest mixing up a large batch and storing it in a sealed jug or bucket. As long as there isn't too much 'crud' in the solution from your cleaning activities and the solution pH is below 3, the solution is effective.
Martin B
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Re: How do YOU use star san?
York water is harder than a diamond encrusted Chuck Norris (hence using bottled water from tesco).mabrungard wrote: If you use a hard water, it won't last at all and you will have the sliming problem.
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Re: How do YOU use star san?
I can vouch for this as it describes exactly what happens to my mixed up starsan. I keep it in a large document box.mabrungard wrote:StarSan complexes with calcium and produces cloudiness. Apparently, Cestrian's water isn't as soft as indicated. Cloudiness is definitely a problem in StarSan solution since it creates a 'slimey' coating on everything the solution touches. Use RO or distilled water with StarSan for best results. If you have access to ion-exchange softened water, that will also work well. Its just that it will take a bit more StarSan in the ion-exchange softened water...no big deal.
When the proper water is used, StarSan will last almost forever. If you use a hard water, it won't last at all and you will have the sliming problem. I suggest mixing up a large batch and storing it in a sealed jug or bucket. As long as there isn't too much 'crud' in the solution from your cleaning activities and the solution pH is below 3, the solution is effective.
Equipment kept in the left hand box, starsan in the right.

I keep a wine thief in it almost permanently and it does get the film that Martin speaks of and it can be really hard to shift. I also have a plant sprayer that I use to coat surfaces that have been cleaned and then are to be stored, FV's are a good example. The canard that cloudy starsan is ineffective isn't necessarily the case, check the pH if it is <3 then it is doing its job.

I am "The Little Red Brooster"
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Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Re: How do YOU use star san?
I mix up 19 liters in a spare FV using RO water.
That keeps for at least 3 months.
I submerge my plate chiller in it, and otherwise take out a couple of liters when sanitizing FV, kegs and so on.
That keeps for at least 3 months.
I submerge my plate chiller in it, and otherwise take out a couple of liters when sanitizing FV, kegs and so on.
- mabrungard
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Re: How do YOU use star san?
Be careful when using StarSan on equipment with soft metals, namely copper. My Blichmann Therminator has copper brazing that holds all the stainless plates together. I only perform a brief sanitizing run through that chiller with StarSan. I should probably do less with StarSan and use Iodophor more often.Morten wrote:.
I submerge my plate chiller in it, and otherwise take out a couple of liters when sanitizing FV, kegs and so on.
Martin B
Indianapolis, Indiana
BJCP National Judge
Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)
Brewing Water Information at: https://www.brunwater.com/
Like Bru'n Water on Facebook for occasional discussions on brewing water and Bru'n Water
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Indianapolis, Indiana
BJCP National Judge
Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)
Brewing Water Information at: https://www.brunwater.com/
Like Bru'n Water on Facebook for occasional discussions on brewing water and Bru'n Water
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Re: How do YOU use star san?
My plate chiller is stainless with silicone gaskets, no weldmabrungard wrote:Be careful when using StarSan on equipment with soft metals, namely copper. My Blichmann Therminator has copper brazing that holds all the stainless plates together. I only perform a brief sanitizing run through that chiller with StarSan. I should probably do less with StarSan and use Iodophor more often.Morten wrote:.
I submerge my plate chiller in it, and otherwise take out a couple of liters when sanitizing FV, kegs and so on.

Re: How do YOU use star san?
I use the local aquarium shop for RO water - get 10 litres in a plastic Jerry can and add appropriate amount of starsan - all ready when I need it. Never goes cloudy.
Re: How do YOU use star san?
Up the road from Dave in Driffield water we're supplied form chalky bore holes and the Star-san goes cloudy straight away but even after a week the PH is still less than 1:

The nearest jar is tap water and the furthest is De-Ion.
The tap water deffinatly foams less but I cant find any slimey residue.
I keep half a cornie keg full. when i need the keg I pressurise it and turn it upside down for a few min and then use the pressure to push the solution through the dip tube and out through the line and then tip the whole lot into the next spare keg which I put away for later.

The nearest jar is tap water and the furthest is De-Ion.
The tap water deffinatly foams less but I cant find any slimey residue.
I keep half a cornie keg full. when i need the keg I pressurise it and turn it upside down for a few min and then use the pressure to push the solution through the dip tube and out through the line and then tip the whole lot into the next spare keg which I put away for later.
Re: How do YOU use star san?
I mix up a batch of 5l of DO water with correct amount of Star san - just over 7.9ml if memory serves me correctly - i measure out the star san with a syringe so is pretty easy. I keep it in a 5l spray container and just spray on a coating for whatever needs sterilized. Works a treat and lasts for AGES.
I'd clean whatever i want to sanitize first with some water but once surface is 'clean' just spray the star san mix on ...shake a bit and good to go.
I'd clean whatever i want to sanitize first with some water but once surface is 'clean' just spray the star san mix on ...shake a bit and good to go.
- orlando
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Re: How do YOU use star san?
Follow this link for a great spread sheet put together by jmc that will convert all the USA measurements to metric and Imperial.calumrobertson wrote:I mix up a batch of 5l of DO water with correct amount of Star san - just over 7.9ml if memory serves me correctly - i measure out the star san with a syringe so is pretty easy. I keep it in a 5l spray container and just spray on a coating for whatever needs sterilized. Works a treat and lasts for AGES.
I'd clean whatever i want to sanitize first with some water but once surface is 'clean' just spray the star san mix on ...shake a bit and good to go.
I am "The Little Red Brooster"
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
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Re: How do YOU use star san?
I either add 8cc to 5L bottle of Tesco Ashbeck still water (£1.10)

or 3.2 cc to a 2L bottle of Tesco Value (filtered) water (24p)

This is filtered water which also works (Calcium about 8, so it doesn't go cloudy) and is a bit cheaper. More info here
I keep some in a 300 x 300mm Tupperware-type box. I keep silicone hose and other other small plastic items used regularly.
I also keep some in a spray bottle and use that for sanitising clean jugs, FV taps after taking samples etc.
For larger items like FV & PB I spray and pour some in and swish around, which I then throw away.
I don't return any to 5l/2L bottles
I also use it as last step in sanitising Cornys and beer lines.

or 3.2 cc to a 2L bottle of Tesco Value (filtered) water (24p)

This is filtered water which also works (Calcium about 8, so it doesn't go cloudy) and is a bit cheaper. More info here
I keep some in a 300 x 300mm Tupperware-type box. I keep silicone hose and other other small plastic items used regularly.
I also keep some in a spray bottle and use that for sanitising clean jugs, FV taps after taking samples etc.
For larger items like FV & PB I spray and pour some in and swish around, which I then throw away.
I don't return any to 5l/2L bottles
I also use it as last step in sanitising Cornys and beer lines.
Re: How do YOU use star san?
According to Five Star there shouldn't be any problem using StarSan on a therminator (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfizPEqa ... ubs_digest). Might have to take that with a pinch of salt but they say they have done extensive testing specifically using a therminator.mabrungard wrote: Be careful when using StarSan on equipment with soft metals, namely copper. My Blichmann Therminator has copper brazing that holds all the stainless plates together. I only perform a brief sanitizing run through that chiller with StarSan. I should probably do less with StarSan and use Iodophor more often.
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Conditioning: -
Fermenting: Selection Pinot Grigio
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Re: How do YOU use star san?
I am just starting to use Star San as well, and with my tap water (pH 7 or a bit more) it clouds straight away, but seems to work. The local mineral water has a pH of 6.5, or I could just use distilled water. Which would be best to use?