Alternative sterilising agent

[djvc]

Anybody using an alternative steriliser for their equipment instead of buying the "expensive" stuff such as wwp, wilkos etc as seem to be getting through pots of the stuff. If not anybody suggest best place to buy in bulk with free or little postage costs.

 

[rpt]

I use Starsan. Although it appears expensive, it lasts ages because you can reuse the solution many times. It's also no rinse so a lot easier to use than VWP.

 

[graysalchemy]

Videne for me.

Have a look here

 

[joe1002]

+1 for Videne

 

[morethanworts]

The safety of videne was questioned here viewtopic.php?f=36&t=22687


This other product looks interesting, which appeared in that thread, though I'm not yet sure if it's genuinely no rinse, even at the dilution we'd use.

http://www.2flow.co.uk/2flowstake/?p=104

I'm looking for a cheaper no rinse option too.

 

[graysalchemy]

The safety of videne was questioned here viewtopic.php?f=36&t=22687

If you read the thread the op later on states that the data sheet was referring to surgical scrub which is not the one we use. Also dilution rates used for home brew are a lot lower than prescribed in the data sheets.

 

[djvc]

Thanks guys am looking into starsan initially as sounds easy and effective

 

[wezil]

Hi, I feel that anything that will kill bacteria is never going to be that good for us, regardless of what it is! Iodine can build up in your thyroid, vwp(and others) contain a chemical that is used to strip paint, etc. Lets face it even tap water can have some nasty chemical compounds in it as well!! The jobs got to be done one way or another! A case of you pays your money and drinks your poison! (Even ethanol is poisonous, and can be toxic in large doses)!!

 

[andyrebo]

I've been using Milton Tablets for years. I figured if I trust it to sterilize bottles for my kids, I'd trust it with my homebrew.

Never had any problems, it's quite cheap and supermarkets often have offers on... :thumb:

 

[morethanworts]

The safety of videne was questioned here viewtopic.php?f=36&t=22687

If you read the thread the op later on states that the data sheet was referring to surgical scrub which is not the one we use. Also dilution rates used for home brew are a lot lower than prescribed in the data sheets.

Not quite: it was the second poster (Klaus) who posted the surgical scrub data sheet. The OP (Strangebrew) gives the link to the antiseptic solution in the third post of the thread. That data sheet says the antiseptic solution is:

Slightly bioaccumable
May be harmful if taken orally
Harmful to acquatic organisms

Here's the sheet directly http://media.supplychain.nhs.uk/media/d ... 36_001.pdf

It's enough to make me want to know more before using it, even heavily diluted.

 

[danb]

I have been using cheap bleach for a couple of months now just making sure it rinsed well.

 

[loady]

I was looking at the side of a bottle of starsan in the homebrew shop (forum sponsor), it said on there that you have to let it air dry, it may well be no rinse but i would prefer to use it straight away after the rinse...any comments to that ?

 

[Stu]

I use VWP, but only because I have one of the big tubs of it.
Otherwise I use Milton. Cracking stuff. Food safe too (it's designed for babies' bottles)

 

[graysalchemy]

I use VWP, but only because I have one of the big tubs of it.
Otherwise I use Milton. Cracking stuff. Food safe too (it's designed for babies' bottles)

But still needs to be rinsed.

 

[rpt]

I was looking at the side of a bottle of starsan in the homebrew shop (forum sponsor), it said on there that you have to let it air dry, it may well be no rinse but i would prefer to use it straight away after the rinse...any comments to that ?

I never let it dry. I think it's only at higher concentrations that it must air dry - I will have a look at my bottle tonight to see what it says.

 

[Dave1970]

I use Starsan, but I use it in a way that could be called 'low rinse'. I spray with a sprayer, after a minute I just give a very cursory rinse, no doubt this leaves some behind but as it's no rinse anyway any traces left behind don't worry me.

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

I use cheap supermarket own brand thin bleach and rinse very well

 

[rpt]

I was looking at the side of a bottle of starsan in the homebrew shop (forum sponsor), it said on there that you have to let it air dry, it may well be no rinse but i would prefer to use it straight away after the rinse...any comments to that ?

I never let it dry. I think it's only at higher concentrations that it must air dry - I will have a look at my bottle tonight to see what it says.

It does mention air dry on the bottle - I had never noticed that before. I'm not sure how you can let it air dry when it foams up so much though.

 

[IPA]

Go down to your local swimming pool shop and buy 5kg of Calcium Hypochlorite. Two teaspoons will clean and sterylise the dirtyest barrel/cornie you can find. I use it all the time. At that dilution rate it will last a very long time.