Bottle washing hacks

[Harbey]

I reckon I'm pretty relaxed about bottle cleaning compared to the elaborate practices of some, but I don't believe I've ever had an issue with infected bottles. I think if you start off with some manky old bottles that have been left for ages, you're on a hiding to nothing. 90% of my bottles have come from beer I've bought in the shop. For me, the moat important thing is to rinse out bottles as soon as you've poured them. I do that, and leave a couples of inches in water in them overnight. Then wash them in the morning (with ordinary washing-up liquid), but of course making certain all suds are thoroughly removed, before dosing them with VWP, and again rinsing out thoroughly with water. I don't put foil over the tops, or anything like that, but they are put away, and get another sluice and soak and rinse with VWP before re-use.

Not a criticism, each to their own, but that sounds very comprehensive. As I've said, I just rinse then cover and then Starsan (or equivalent) before filling with beer. Minimal effort and no problems to date

 

[moto748]

It's a lot less comprehensive than many, if you read the many threads on this topic!

 

[Nicks90]

I'm probably the laziest bottle washer on this forum.
Quick rinse after drinking them, usually the morning after if I am being honest. Then they get stored in my manky cellar.
Bottling day:
Fill sink with hot water and a dash of washing up liquid and give them a dunk 4 at a time. Empty and put on draining board. If any are 'yeasty' give them a bottle brushing.
Fill sink with hot water and 3 Milton tabs and give them a dunk 4 at a time. Empty and put on draining board. This also acts as rinsing the soap off.
Make a brew whilst wet bottles sit on side with remains of Milton solution stinking them out. Fill sink with cold water and give them a dunk 4 at a time to rinse.
Add sugar
Add beer.

Job jobbed.

 

[thepatchworkdoll]

Hi Nicks90
Nice simple but effective procedure very commendable. Cant be bothered with bottling cause Im probably too lazy but prefer kegging. Thanks for your contribution though.
Regards
Patch

 

[moto748]

I'm probably the laziest bottle washer on this forum.

I'll call it a score draw!

But seriously: I'd say; the biggest thing is, don't start with manky bottles in the first place!

 

[Rogermort]

I keg something like 80 per cent of my brews and bottle anything that won't fit into the keg or if I want some bottles to give away at Christmas. This is my procedure:

As soon as a bottle has been poured, rinse out the yeast/crud in a sink full of warm, lightly soapy water (washing up liquid).
Rinse the bottle with fresh water, empty and stick it into the dishwasher upside down.

Once there are enough bottles in the dishwasher (could be several weeks after the first bottle has been put in there), run a hottest setting cycle with a dishwasher tablet.

Leave to dry overnight. The heat retained inside the dishwasher dries off the steam.

Cut (or tear) aluminium foil into squares of around 3in (80mm) square and spray the squares with a Starsan mix using a plant sprayer.
Spray each bottle inside with a blast from the plant sprayer.
Put a square of the foil over each bottle and fold down around the neck.

Store the bottles until the day I want to use them.

On bottling day, remove the foil from the bottle, pour any dregs of Starsan onto the garage floor and fill.

I have used bottles cleaned/sanitised in this way up to a year after they have been cleaned with no infections. Obviously it's usually less time than that but I have not yet had an infected bottle after around seven or eight years of brewing.

 

[user 45849]

So, it can’t just be me that thinks the bottle washing/sterilising part of brewing is tedious…Theres just so much faffing about and never enough space for bottles!
Currently wash the bottles in Chemsan Foaming No rinse sanatiser and then rinse out with water. A bit belt a braces I know but a bit anal about it .
A bottle tree will speed things up but just wondering how other members go about it.
cheers

 

[user 45849]

View attachment 69234

 

[user 45849]

I bought this bottle washer off eBay for a few pounds and it is very effective

 

[user 45849]

Attached are the bottle washers I use.
Got the tap pressure rinser which will remove the most stubborn of bottle residue.
The second is the one I use Milton sterilising solution in which sterilises the inside and the outer of the neck.
I then put the bottles on a bottle tree to drain.
I have tried to upload the video of the bottle rinse in action but doesn't want to upload.

 

[Baldylocks Brewery]

I think I got one from Brew2bottle, I use the 5L party kegs with a hand pump or CO2 tap, which work well for me I will only bottle pale ales, not much room, but I am woking on that.

Cheers

Hi Furnace , what hand pump are you using? I have 4x mini kegs but only naturally carbonate at the moment?
Is it a beer engine or something else and how does it attach?
Cheers

 

[starseeker]

My new regime involves making up a batch of solution of fifty percent Chemclean and fifty percent oxy in a large garden trub (only used for brewing )soak bottles overnight ,wash out and sterilise . Much easier than washing individualy ,and they are very, very clean .

 

[Beer Please]

Attached are the bottle washers I use.
Got the tap pressure rinser which will remove the most stubborn of bottle residue.
The second is the one I use Milton sterilising solution in which sterilises the inside and the outer of the neck.
I then put the bottles on a bottle tree to drain.
I have tried to upload the video of the bottle rinse in action but doesn't want to upload.

Like the look of the tap attachment but it’s not going to fit on my tap unfortunately.

 

[cheshirehomebrew]

I wash my bottles in the sink then sanitize in the 5 gallon fermenting bucket when I am ready to bottle up from the carboy

 

[user 45849]

Like the look of the tap attachment but it’s not going to fit on my tap unfortunately.

It comes with quite a few fittings, I have an outdoor tap in the out house which it fits straight on to.

 

[Cwrex]

I'm quite lazy too.
A quick wash the morning after drinking from them (Soapy Water) and then on bottling day a wash with Chempro 'no rinse' cleaner and then put up on the bottle tree.