Sanitation - tips & tricks

[orlando]

Hi Guys,

Brew Club meeting tomorrow night and the subject for discussion is sanitation. What are your top tips for preparation, brew day and packaging that relate to this subject?

I will steal the best unashamedly and pass them off as my own

[Aleman]

Wash the bottle out as soon as you empty it!!

[LeeH]

Wash the bottle out as soon as you empty it!!

Then rinse it out with star san and put the top on.

[Nofolkandchance]

Keep your frequently used post fermentation tools always ubmerged in starsan solution so its good to go at any time.

ie: Wine thief, siphoning tubes, hydrometer and jar. Good rinse in hot water after use and back in the starsan.

[timbo41]

Mine is what I nicked shamelessly from you! make up a 10/ 15 litres starsan solution in a big box from factory shop...so easy to dunk fv in, swill around a bit...air dry...piece of piddle

[timbo41]

Mine is what I nicked shamelessly from you! make up a 10/ 15 litres starsan solution in a big box from factory shop...so easy to dunk fv in, swill around a bit...air dry...piece of piddle

[Belter]

Keep your frequently used post fermentation tools always ubmerged in starsan solution so its good to go at any time.

ie: Wine thief, siphoning tubes, hydrometer and jar. Good rinse in hot water after use and back in the starsan.

Does this not make your siphon tubing slimey and white?

[Nofolkandchance]

Keep your frequently used post fermentation tools always ubmerged in starsan solution so its good to go at any time.

ie: Wine thief, siphoning tubes, hydrometer and jar. Good rinse in hot water after use and back in the starsan.

Does this not make your siphon tubing slimey and white?

Not at all.

[Nofolkandchance]

l shoud also mention that I use distilled water to dilute. It does not go cloudy

[AnthonyUK]

Does this not make your siphon tubing slimey and white?

This happens if you use hard water to dilute your Starsan

[orlando]

OK so the list of tips os far is thinner than the bleach used by some members so I'm going to see if I can stimulate a few more.

The tip list so far:

PBW and Starsan as the best combination of cleaner & sanitiser

Keeping a document box or equivalent of Starsan made up with enough distilled or low carbonate based water

A plant sprayer filled with Starsan for quick and specific sanitising.

Rinse bottles after each beer poured till it is completely clean, sprayed with a few bursts of Starsan and capped with a plastic resealable cap.

Regular deep cleaning of brew area (if separate to the house) using powerful cleaners like bleach to keep background bacteria under control.

Clean all kit after a brew, spray with Starsan before putting away, Using lidded FV's and boilers as place to keep kit away from bacteria and dust.

[minesapint]

I am thinking of trying starsan instead of my usual routine of domestic bleach and water rinses for cleaning followed by sodium met to keep things sweet.

orlando s list mentions a spray of starsan in empties followed by a plastic re-sealable cap.

Does the starsan cause rust on metal caps ?

I ask because I always leave metal caps in sodium met for a while before bottling and I often find rust on the crimped skirt of the caps.

Cheers All.

[AdyG]

Just out of interest, how long will a bottle sprayed with Starsan and sealed with a plastic cap be good for?

I've left them in this state for about a month then gave them a quick swirl round and emptied, just before putting more beer in.

[orlando]

Just out of interest, how long will a bottle sprayed with Starsan and sealed with a plastic cap be good for?

I've left them in this state for about a month then gave them a quick swirl round and emptied, just before putting more beer in.

ell as you have found a month at least but I've used them after longer than that. The key to that is a good rinse the moment you have poured the beer and if you have one handy, a once over with a bottle brush to make sure all deposits are removed, another rinse and then spray. If you have a pale beer in a bottle, hold it up to the light and see what, if anything appears on the inside f the bottle. If you see anything it could be some yeast that has not fallen to the bottom but it could also be the start of undesirables. whichever it is this is the time to set that one aside for a proper clean. This method should mean you don't clean a bottle more than a couple of times a year depending on how long you store for.

On the rust question, yes but I suspect that is just because of the water element, in that regard it's no different to sod met.

[minesapint]

I have seen a few posts elswere that give the impression that you can dunk or spray equipment , bottles etc into Saniclean and Star San and use straight off. No rinsing in water or drying.
Having looked at the Tech Sheets on the Five Star Chemicals website, it appears as if this is not the case.
Tanks etc. should be rinsed with potable water after using these products.
Well worth a look at the Five Star Chemicals site before you use any of these products.
Could anyone who has bottles of these sanitisers post the esssentials of the basic instructions and precautions that are printed on the bottles.
It could just be badly worded posts that have given me this impression of these products.

Cheers All.