Sterilisation

kevc2

Hi All,
Can you tell me what you primarily use for sterilisation? I have my first batch on, will be bottling in the next couple of days and I don't have anything to sterilise the equipment yet.

Thanks

Khannie

Did you start a batch without sanitising the bucket etc? You may be in for some trouble if you did.

I use the cheapo thin bleach + water + vinegar mix myself (do not mix the bleach + vinegar directly). A search in the forum should turn you up the formula.

kevc2

Khannie wrote: »

Did you start a batch without sanitising the bucket etc? You may be in for some trouble if you did.

I use the cheapo thin bleach + water + vinegar mix myself (do not mix the bleach + vinegar directly). A search in the forum should turn you up the formula.

It was one of the coopers kits so I just used boiling water on everything as it was already clean. Thanks

kevc2

Khannie wrote: »

Did you start a batch without sanitising the bucket etc? You may be in for some trouble if you did.

I use the cheapo thin bleach + water + vinegar mix myself (do not mix the bleach + vinegar directly). A search in the forum should turn you up the formula.

Can you tell me what's the make of bleach you use? I tried looking for unscented bleach in the shop the other day and could'nt find it, is it just any normal bleach?

syngindub

kev2, you really need to sterilise everything, at all stages, that can possibly come in contact with your brew.
Not sure what impact using boiling water to clean your fermenter for primary will be. I'm sure it will be fine though.

Dub13

They do say the coopers kits come pre sterilise,I would still sterilise just encase but in this case that ship has sailed.

Khannie

kevc2 wrote: »

Can you tell me what's the make of bleach you use? I tried looking for unscented bleach in the shop the other day and could'nt find it, is it just any normal bleach?

I get mine in supervalu. It's just called "thin bleach". Comes in a 2L white container and costs 69c ish. I'll try and get you a pic.

kevc2

Cheers for the help, I will definitely be sterilising everything properly next batch, it was all spotless so I thought boiling water would do the job to start off

deadman1972

Look Kev lets hope for the best but when you are talking about microscopic organisms like bacteria which is the issue with brewing looking clean means nothing really,basically ya gotta nuke everything in sanitizer like the bleach+water+vinegar, or get Starsan no rinse sanitizer before your next brew m8:D

Herb Powell

Now, I haven't even finished the process of my first brew yet (going into bottles tomorrow), but I CAN tell you that the vinegar and bleach sanitiser does work.

It's 19l water+30ml bleach and 30ml vinegar, the latter to be mixed into the water. It's doesn't need to be rinsed either, which is handy. Basically it makes chlorine (or something similar).

I am certain it works, because I used it to sterilise my entire arm before I put it into the wort (leaky tap, last resort, really not recommended at all), and my brew is miraculously NOT infected. So I'm sticking with the cheap homemade sanitiser from now on!

Macy0161

Not to hijack the thread, but another newbie question - is there any issue in using non food grade plastic for sanitizing? Just thinking that a plastic trug (the non rigid, wide plastic garden buckets/ baskets) might be easier than using a fermenter for bottling.

Wookie

Macy0161 wrote: »

Not to hijack the thread, but another newbie question - is there any issue in using non food grade plastic for sanitizing? Just thinking that a plastic trug (the non rigid, wide plastic garden buckets/ baskets) might be easier than using a fermenter for bottling.

I have noted plenty of people around here talking about using these. Remember start off with clean bottles and equipment and then sanitise for best results. Don't expect your solution to clean and sanitise in one step. Apply this approach to your trug and you will be fine.

BeerNut

Macy0161 wrote: »

Just thinking that a plastic trug (the non rigid, wide plastic garden buckets/ baskets) might be easier than using a fermenter for bottling.

That's exactly what I use. No beer touches the plastic and the bottles are only in there a few minutes so I can't see how there'd be a problem.

Macy0161

Thanks. Just on the no rinse sterilizer - just to confirm, distilled malt vinegar is fine to use, isn't it?

deadman1972

No it must be the clear stuff, malt vinegar is not distilled only the clear stuff is as far as i know

Macy0161

Yeah, it's clear ok. The only clear option in both Tesco and Dunnes was distilled malt vinegar.

BeerNut

Either the clear or the brown is fine, I believe.

Macy0161

BeerNut wrote: »

That's exactly what I use. No beer touches the plastic and the bottles are only in there a few minutes so I can't see how there'd be a problem.

Just a follow up - did my first kit last night. In the future, would I be ok using one of those trugs for sanitizing at the start of the process? Strikes me as it might be easier than using the fermenting bin - jugs, can opener, stirer etc could just be left in it until needed, and put back in if they fell or were put down or something. Would the same apply - no direct contact so no ill effects on the brew?

BeerNut

Should do, but I don't think it's necessary. If I'm making a kit I just use the fermenter for sanitising, and leave the sanitised bits and pieces sitting on the upturned sanitised fermenter lid until they're needed.

Macy0161

BeerNut wrote: »

Should do, but I don't think it's necessary. If I'm making a kit I just use the fermenter for sanitising, and leave the sanitised bits and pieces sitting on the upturned sanitised fermenter lid until they're needed.

Best solutions are always the simpliest and ones I don't think of!