Best Star SAN Alternative including all new Chemsan

[BradleyW]

I apologise in advance if this is a daft question but I'm new to brewing. For sterilising bottles wont just good old fashioned boiled water do the job?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I apologise in advance if this is a daft question but I'm new to brewing. For sterilising bottles wont just good old fashioned boiled water do the job?

This is something that is mentioned occasionally and a lot of members (me included) don't do it as they don't want to risk the bottles cracking or worse.

 

[BradleyW]

This is something that is mentioned occasionally and a lot of members (me included) don't do it as they don't want to risk the bottles cracking or worse.

Ok thanks :) I currently use OxiPron, which I just read is ok for cleaning but won't sterilise.

 

[kelper]

Cold, boiled water won't work either as, although it is sterile, it has no disinfectant properties. Milton's fluid or other baby bottle sterisers work well; I use Tesco's Fred n Flo tablets. You could sterilise in an oven if you put the bottles into a cold oven. But you need 160C for two hours or 170C for one hour.

Many sources give shorter times and lower temperatures but with no evidence.

 

[kelper]

Chlorine can damage stainless steel so I use it for glass and plastics. For steel, I use Percarbonate. It is a cleaner AND a steriliser. So is chlorine.

 

[BradleyW]

As others have said Bleach and vinegar makes a great no -rinse sanitiser. This is going to be my go to once my star san runs out. As others have said dont mix the bleach and vinegar directly as you'll create chlorine gas

https://beerliever.com/bleach-no-rinse-sanitiser-home-brewing-beer/

If you got to the commets down the bottom someone converts things into ml/L

I might have to do some sort of sticky for this as Star San seems to be running out everywhere

I'm a bit confused about using bleach as a sanitiser as I've read in several places using bleach is a huge no no because it ruins the taste of beer. If in fact this isn't the case then happy days!! We have loads of "food bleach" in the house because my pregnant wife washes our veg in it!

 

[MyQul]

I'm a bit confused about using bleach as a sanitiser as I've read in several places using bleach is a huge no no because it ruins the taste of beer. If in fact this isn't the case then happy days!! We have loads of "food bleach" in the house because my pregnant wife washes our veg in it!

I think it's a case of amounts. E.g. I dont bother using a campden tab in my water because it's not chlorinated enough to cause me any problems. I think the bleach/vinegar solution is similarly dilute

 

[dwhite60]

Since this is about Star-San alternatives.........

Early this year I bought five pounds of OneStep based on a number of positive reviews I read. This year I've been using it for all sanitizing and have not had an issue. Yes, it's not classified as a sanitizer but it sure seems to work as one. It's a heck of a cleaner too. All my bottles get a thirty minute soak day before bottling and are left to dry. Bottling day I put 20ml or so in the bottle, shake it, drain it, and fill.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[kelper]

Chlorine-based products are fine. Used at recommended concentrations they only need a quick rinse. If your beer were to taste of chlorine, it would suggest too much was used.

 

[parpot]

I was using the Bleach & Vinegar solution but even with the exact quantities I still had a brew with a slight Bleach taste so I don't use it anymore!

 

[BradleyW]

I was using the Bleach & Vinegar solution but even with the exact quantities I still had a brew with a slight Bleach taste so I don't use it anymore!

What do you use now?

 

[Winterbournebrewery]

Hi I have used this for two years & everything has been fine. Probably not the cheapest but works for me & is easy to use.

 

[BradleyW]

Hi I have used this for two years & everything has been fine. Probably not the cheapest but works for me & is easy to use.

I may be wrong but I think this may be the same stuff as OxiPron, or any "Oxi" cleaner.

 

[dwhite60]

Hi I have used this for two years & everything has been fine. Probably not the cheapest but works for me & is easy to use.

Per Wikipedia this sounds like OneStep. Sodium percarbonate.

It will create hydrogen peroxide when added to water which is more of a sterilizer than a sanitizer.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[dwhite60]

Hi I have used this for two years & everything has been fine. Probably not the cheapest but works for me & is easy to use.

Oops! Double post.


All the Best,
D. White

 

[dad_of_jon]

Cold, boiled water won't work either as, although it is sterile, it has no disinfectant properties. Milton's fluid or other baby bottle sterisers work well; I use Tesco's Fred n Flo tablets. You could sterilise in an oven if you put the bottles into a cold oven. But you need 160C for two hours or 170C for one hour.

Many sources give shorter times and lower temperatures but with no evidence.

Evening kelper, Is this a suitable source or BBC biased fake news...

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/videos/...ash your jars and the,180ºC for about 15 mins.

The Problem with quoting sources on the internet is you can never be sure of their authenticity.
- Abraham Lincoln.

 

[BradleyW]

Per Wikipedia this sounds like OneStep. Sodium percarbonate.

It will create hydrogen peroxide when added to water which is more of a sterilizer than a sanitizer.

All the Best,
D. White

What's the difference between the 2? I know what it means when something is sterile but sanitised?

 

[kelper]

Evening kelper, Is this a suitable source or BBC biased fake news...

It's a BBC article, it gives no source. The water will quickly evaporate and then it's dry sterilising. That takes more than 15 minutes. The hot jam probably does the job! To wet sterilise needs 77C for at least 30 seconds.

 

[dwhite60]

What's the difference between the 2? I know what it means when something is sterile but sanitised?

As it was explained to me.....

Sanitize means it kills most of the germs, bacteria, etc.

Sterilize means it kills ALL of the germs, bacteria, etc.

While nothing is truly complete sterilize is a higher level than sanitize.

https://homebrew.stackexchange.com/...erence-between-clean-sanitized-and-sterilized

All the Best,
D. White

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Members use both terms but obviously we only sanitise, I don't see the harm in using either as we all know this.