tescos & sanitiser double whammy question!

Baz_

Hello folks,

I have not one, but two questions today. They're short and unrelated.

1. Which tescos stock home brew stuff?

And

2. When one makes up the cheap no rinse sanitising solution (vinegar & bleach in water), could one then fill a spray bottle with this solution and use it u til it runs out? Or to put it another way, will it stay effective when bottled over a prolonged period.

Thank you.

Baz_

Well I was just up in drogheda so I checked the tesco extra while up there and can confirm that they don't stock anything. Tesco extra in balbriggan is also a negative.

So the only one I know of for definite is Tesco in naas, which was confirmed both by the fine members on here and my less fine wife (kidding).

Anyone any experience with others?

lang

1. I can confirm that the Tesco Extra in Clarehall DO NOT stock HB stuff. In fact, when I was in there about 3 weeks ago, the staff looked at me as if I had ten heads or something.

2. I've had to actually rinse my "no rinse" sanitiser. The smell of Bleach is quite strong so have rinsed the sanitised equipment in water after using the sanitiser. I use 30mls of each in 20 litres of water which I think is the right quantities...??...?? If you try the sanitser as a spray left me know how you get on cos I'd be interested in using it as it is far cheaper than buying other Sanitisers.

daithi55

was in tesco tullamore last weekend asked one of the manager guys did they stock homebrew equipment.... he said no but said naas and maynooth do

Baz_

I had no idea kildare had such a drinking problem

Well that answers that question really doesn't it...

Yawns

lang wrote: »

I use 30mls of each in 20 litres of water which I think is the right quantities...??...??

You are using 30 mls of vinegar as well as 30ml of thin bleach to 20L of water? Don't mix them neat either.

Yawns

Baz I know Naas Extra stock homebrewstuff. I was not aware Maynooth stocks them.

lang

Yawns wrote: »

You are using 30 mls of vinegar as well as 30ml of thin bleach to 20L of water? Don't mix them neat either.

That's the quantities I'm using. I have not mixed them neat. Have added one to the water, mixed well, and added the other. Again, mixed well. The problem ain't so much with quantities/mixing, it's more to do with the fact that it's a 'no rinse' sanitiser but yet I'm finding that I have to rinse equipment as the whiff of bleach is somewhat strong once I take equipment out of solution.

daithi55

lang wrote: »

That's the quantities I'm using. I have not mixed them neat. Have added one to the water, mixed well, and added the other. Again, mixed well. The problem ain't so much with quantities/mixing, it's more to do with the fact that it's a 'no rinse' sanitiser but yet I'm finding that I have to rinse equipment as the whiff of bleach is somewhat strong once I take equipment out of solution.

are you using thin bleach thats not scented and not the thick stuff

lang

daithi55 wrote: »

are you using thin bleach thats not scented and not the thick stuff

Yup, am using the thin, non-scented, bleach. It's the 'EveryDay' Tesco brand. There is no 'scent' as such off it apart from the Chlorine smell which I find is slightly overpowering. Each addition is mixed very well into the water prior to adding the next. Each is measured to 30mls and added to 20L of water. Have to say I am surprised that such a small amount of bleach in such a large quantity of water could still smell Chlorine-like. Would have thought the Chlorine-like smell would be 'masked' cos of the quantities.

Yawns

that smell that you are getting is normal and will do no harm to your brew. I know the smell you are talking about. Once you are doing it in the right quantities then you're fine and it's a no rinse sanitizer.

lang

Yawns wrote: »

that smell that you are getting is normal and will do harm to your brew. I know the smell you are talking about. Once you are doing it in the right quantities then you're fine and it's a no rinse sanitizer.

I take it you mean it will do NO harm?? From the stuff on the t'interweb I've read regarding the 'no rinse' sanitiser there should be no smell at all from the brew??

Yawns

lang wrote: »

I take it you mean it will do NO harm?? From the stuff on the t'interweb I've read regarding the 'no rinse' sanitiser there should be no smell at all from the brew??

Sorry that should read no harm indeed. I will even edit that post to fix my stupid error. I've always gotten a smell afterwards using the no rinse sanitizer and had no trouble with the brew afterwards.

lang

Yawns wrote: »

Sorry that should read no harm indeed. I will even edit that post to fix my stupid error. I've always gotten a smell afterwards using the no rinse sanitizer and had no trouble with the brew afterwards.

Hmmmmm, thanks for the clarification.....interesting that you have had no probs with it. Might have to give it a shot myself.

Yawns

Yeah give it a try. From what I've read you could introduce a chance of infection by rinsing with tap water depending on the quality of the water you have. I know I'm not alone with the bleach & vinegar saitizer, I believe BeerNut uses it as his preference with no problems.

syngindub

Used Milton with my last brew and will probably use it again

The Mulk

I've never seen any HB in Maynooth, only Naas. Maynooth would be handy!

Ratsathome

I use the bleach/vinegar solution as well without any problem.I know they are not long lasting(keeping it)maybe a day or two after then the PH change.:D

rubadub

syngindub wrote: »

Used Milton with my last brew and will probably use it again

Milton is a mixture of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and table salt (sodium chloride). It is weaker than normal bleach but many times the price.

Degsy

I bought a two litre bottle of tesco thin bleach for 49 cents..it does the trick very well.

And Tesco Clearwater doesnt sell homebrew either..no idea why,its certainly big enough:(

syngindub

what are you guys using to clean the fermenter once you have bottled?

Baz_

Well I'm still just a noob but I just washed it with soapy water to make sure it was clean and all heavy dirt was gone and then soaked it in sanitising solution after that. Boom!

Edit for clarity: I use the cheap vinegar/bleach sanitiser.

Lars

syngindub wrote: »

what are you guys using to clean the fermenter once you have bottled?

Warm water and elbowgrease.

The DIY sanitiser doesnt last more than a couple of days according to the guys on HBT, you need to make it up fresh when you want it...

BeerNut

Baz_ wrote: »

I just washed it with soapy water

You'll probably be fine, but in general it's a bad idea to let anything soapy near a beer vessel: fermenter or bottle. Residual soap can kill head retention.

Warm water and elbow grease does me. Sometimes a washing up sponge, but only the spongey side: anything even slightly abrasive can scratch the plastic leaving a bacteria trap.

Baz_

BeerNut wrote: »

You'll probably be fine, but in general it's a bad idea to let anything soapy near a beer vessel: fermenter or bottle. Residual soap can kill head retention.

Warm water and elbow grease does me. Sometimes a washing up sponge, but only the spongey side: anything even slightly abrasive can scratch the plastic leaving a bacteria trap.

Well luckily I prefaced my comment with the fact I'm noob, but I did not know that. I do use a soft cloth though in order to avoid scratches.

So to clarify you'rejust meant to pour hot water in clean as best you can and then into sanitiser. No fairy?

BeerNut

Yes. It's not like cleaning a frying pan: the gunge is soft and rubs off easily.

Baz_

Hopefully I got away with it. Have a stout on now and the fermentation seemed way more vigorous (bigger fluffier krausen), don't know if that's any indication at all, but in my defense I was a bit cod when rinsing soap off.

I shall not use it again, however. And every day is still a school day. Cheers beernut.

rubadub

BeerNut wrote: »

the gunge is soft and rubs off easily.

and if the dirt did dry & go hard you should leave it steep, submerged with just water for a few days and then it should come off.

BeerNut

rubadub wrote: »

and if the dirt did dry & go hard you should leave it steep, submerged with just water for a few days and then it should come off.

And use the time to consider carefully if, as someone who doesn't clean things immediately after use, homebrewing is really the hobby for you :P

Tube

BeerNut wrote: »

And use the time to consider carefully if, as someone who doesn't clean things immediately after use, homebrewing is really the hobby for you :P

Depends on how much gear has accumulated over the years, and therefore the need to clean immediately after use.

richiculous

The Mulk wrote: »

I've never seen any HB in Maynooth, only Naas. Maynooth would be handy!

Tesco Maynooth introduced a hombrew section last week, there wasn't any homebrew section before that.

The Mulk

richiculous wrote: »

Tesco Maynooth introduced a hombrew section last week, there wasn't any homebrew section before that.

Excellent, will be up there the weekend

redser7

Looks like the big stores are all getting into it all of a sudden.

blueshed

richiculous wrote: »

Tesco Maynooth introduced a hombrew section last week, there wasn't any homebrew section before that.

brillant, will check it out asap and get my first home brew kit.

be expecting plenty of questions folks.

lang

richiculous wrote: »

Tesco Maynooth introduced a hombrew section last week, there wasn't any homebrew section before that.

Now this just made my day. Had been hoping a store on my route home from work would stock hb stuff. Means if I am outta something I don't have to wait to put a big order in online...could just nip off the motorway and pick up the needed and continue on the journey.

Seaneh

Anyone know if Tesco Galway has HB schtuff?

blueshed

http://www.tesco.com/direct/diy-car/home-brewing/cat5780015.cat

Sky King

The local home brew stores are going to feel this I'd say.

tteknulp

Clearwater tesco finglas stock homebrew ,youngs and john bull , coopers etc....

Yawns

Sky King wrote: »

The local home brew stores are going to feel this I'd say.

Don't get too worried. Tesco's only seem to stock mostly Youngs brand and cost more than the home brew stores currently. This is based off the one in Naas.

Tube

Was in Tesco Maynooth last night. Great to have HB gear just down the road, but the selection is limited, as one would expect.

syngindub

is Parozone Thin Bleach ok to use as replacement for tesco thin bleach?

Yawns

Absolutely fine. Once it's thin bleach and done in the right quantities. Remember not to mix the bleach and vinegar. I and assume others like me use the likes of Tesco or Super Value brand thin bleach as it's so cheap.

deadman1972

Anybody know if any of the tescos down south east stock homebrew supplies? Trying to find a HB supply near Waterford:D

deadman1972

Hey blueshed thats a UK site?

syngindub

probably been asked many times but want to add to my brew notes.

whats the recommended bleach / Vinegar amounts to use.
Will be sanitising 20 odd ltr bottles.

Will this mix require a rinse after sanitising?

Yawns

30 mls of thin bleach to 20L water and 30 mls of vinegar.

It's a no rinse sanitizer so once you sanitize with it, the item should be ready to go without needing a further rinse. Anything that has been sanitized should be fine for up to an hour, if left out and not used within the hour, I'd recommend sanitizing it again.

The amounts you can use can be scaled to size as well if needed. If you got a big garden tub you could fill it with 40L of water and 60ml of each bleach & vinegar. If using 10L of water, you can use 15mls of each and so forth. I usually use my trial jar for measuring out the amounts and rinse that with a bit of water in between the vinegar & bleach.

It also makes no difference what order you add the bleach and vinegar as long as it's not them 2 mixed together without water. So bleach first, add water, then vinegar or reverse that order or add water first, then bleach and then vinegar. If you mix bleach and vinegar together without water it can let off a chlorine gas which is harmful. The reason thin bleach is used instead of thick is because thick bleach is designed to resist water, so some will remain behind on your items. Thin bleach doesn't have this problem.

When you do sanitize you may get a smell off your equipment, don't worry. The smell is fine and not harmful. Just shake as much water off as you can and then use your equipment as normal. The smell won't interfere with your brew and it won't harm it.