Any PBW users?

[Befuddler]

I'm thinking of switching over to this for my cleaning duties, but it seems to be scandalously expensive over here. Can anyone tell me how long one of those ten quid tubs actually lasts them, or even better, where I can get it either cheaper or in bulk?

Cheers.

[Kev888]

I have used and like PBW quite a bit; its about the best hot-soak cleaner for physical crud that I've ever used. I used it at around 100g in a 4 (uk) gallon corny, so a £10/454g tub wouldn't last me long, though I heard an interview with the manufacturer who was saying you can use less and wait longer.

But it gets cheaper in bulk but still not cheap - the best I found was the home brew shop - I only got smaller packs but they do up to 22.7Kg ones at about £160, that would have lasted me a couple of years!

I've started making my own version now, by mixing 2x sodium percarbonate to 1x sodium metasilicate. It seems to be similarly effective, but its not as good/sophisticated if you leave it too long (you get scale-type stuff starting to fom on things) so thanks to Graham's ideas/advice I've started experimenting with adding calgon powder as a chelator/sequestering agent (if I want to leave it more than overnight) but I haven't worked out the correct dose yet.

Cheers
Kev

[greenxpaddy]

If you have soft water, oxyclean or similar is just as good.

[Kev888]

I agree that its good, but unfortunately I don't agree that its 'as' good, at least it didn't seem so when I compared them. It does have the percarbonate/oxygenating component, though in lower rates, and it doesn't (AFAIK) have the metasilicate.

Not that I'm putting it down - it certainly works and tbh I buy my chemicals in bulk that makes them cheaper; in smaller volumes oxy cleaners could be a better bet.

Cheers
Kev

[greenxpaddy]

If it is any better with my very soft water I doubt, but the PBW has just sat on the shelf since I tried oxyclean. It's too expensive to use! I'll save it for a once in a while boiler clean if I get stubborn residues, which I don't seem to be getting.

[barry44]

I used 150 grams per 5 gallon FV wash.

The 1lb tub for a tenner is good for 3no washes.

I generally leave it overnight so i will need to have a look at the use less/wait longer as noted by Kev888.

I have just carried out a comparison on the various sizes and my findings are as follows, based on 150g per wash.

1lb - 3no washes for £9.96 = £3.32 per wash
4lb - 12no washes for £24.60 = £2.05 per wash
16lb - 48no washes for £72 = £1.50 per wash
50lb - 151no washes @ £160 = £1.05 per wash

All of the above are less postage.

As with everything, it is more economical with the larger quantity but i am unsure of the physical dimensions and storage requirements of the larger tubs. There is a note re the PBW solidifying in the tub over time. I would hate to shell out £160 for the big one only for it to go off.

I think i will go for the 4lb tub next as i am now about to finish my first 1lb tub.

I am very impressed with it and also star san and reckon that this will be the cleaning regime i will use from now on in.

[50quidsoundboy]

If you have soft water, oxyclean or similar is just as good.

do you mean this stuff? http://www.oxiclean.com/around-the-house/landing.aspx

[jonnyt]

Oxy clean is fantastic and very cheep.....

[greenxpaddy]

If you have soft water, oxyclean or similar is just as good.

do you mean this stuff? http://www.oxiclean.com/around-the-house/landing.aspx

Actually no. I got something even cheaper from Wilkinsons which is called Oxyplus. £2.35 per kilo

[50quidsoundboy]

and you can use this for cleaning FVs? how much should i dilute it by?

[greenxpaddy]

Instructions are on the side and depend on how dirty the item is.

I tend to use a couple of scoops and add a couple of litres of warm water and scrub. That's cheaper than filling the FV and soaking.

Make sure you rinse with warm water afterwards.

[50quidsoundboy]

great, thanks! i'll give it a go.

[jonnyt]

1 scoop in a FV half full with hot water is enough to clean this exceptionally within 1 hour.
Just tip the FV upside down with the lid on for half the time.

No scrubbing whatsoever required so you wont risk scratching the FV surfaces.

[Kev888]

One of the reasons I use good stuff is also to avoid rubbing - partly for areas I can't reach and partly to avoid scratching/wearing the surface of things like my conical FV (which is just soft plastic yet bl@@dy expensive). Because I buy in bulk it costs less than the oxy cleaner too, but I would agree that in small quantities the oxy cleaner is cheaper and more than good enough for most purposes - I'd go with that for smaller batches.

Cheers
Kev

[DeadFall]

Oxi is cheaper in £ shops, most of them stock it.