Can you use laundry bleach to clean pressure barrels?

[Ciaran12s]

I've got chemipro oxi which is pretty good. Since buying a year ago at 20 quid and almost running out I'm looking to replace it. I've seen from on here that most folk use oxi clean from poundshops, b&m, supermarkets etc. This is likely what I'll go for if it's such a saving.

However, we have some vanish oxi stain remover powder and its heavily scented. I've always assumed these would all be the same across the brands. This must be wrong or people wouldn't be using it for beer equipment?

(It's only since using oxi for brew gear that I've realised these oxidsisers need 40C plus to work their best. I complained for years that the vanish doesn't foam like in the ads, but I was always using lukewarm water)

 

[-Bezza-]

Never do this.
Never use anything but a microfiber cloth to remove any filth if you are cleaning a plastic barrel.
If you use metal in it you will get scratches in the surface. These scratches are excellent places for bacteria to nestle in. And because they are scratches you can't really "get" to them with a cloth anymore.

But anyway, its not really neccesary. After your done bottling, just shoot in some water. Swoosh around to remove 99% of all gunk and throw it. Fill it up with oxyclean and then use a cloth to clean the barrel. I've never had any gunk that wasn't removed easily with a cloth, I always clean the barrel within a few hours of bottling.

That was why I was suggesting bearings - because they're round and therefore 'should not' scratch. But I don't know this to be the case and, if it's not necessary, is moot anyway.

 

[lammylee]

I have two dirty pressure barrels and need to clean them, but the only bleach I have is laundry bleach. Will this clean out my PBs the same way other bleach will?

Thanks.

I use Bleach to clean most of my placcy brew kit and to avoid any off flavours, I'll rinse and then fill a PB or FV with clean tap water and then crush a campden tablet into it and stir and leave for an hour or so. The campden tablet will neutralize any bleach residue.

I also use Asda thin bleach at 28p per two litres and Aldi Bramwells distilled (clear) vinegar as a budget sanitizer. Mixing a teaspoon of each per gallon of water used. BE VERY CAREFUL if doing this as mixing vinegar and bleach together neat will create chlorine gas which isn't good for you! I get the water into a suitable bowl or indeed clean FV or PB and then add the correct ratio of bleach first, stir and then vinegar, stir. The reason for the vinegar is to get the PH of the water right for optimum sanitization.

The small amounts of bleach and vinegar tend not to present any off flavours in the beer although you could always use a campden tablet crushed in clean water afterwards just to neutralise if you're a belt and braces kind of person.

 

[Wouter]

thanks that has been really useful. I emptied one pressure barrel after soaking for a few hours and there is still algae there. I will leave the other one over night to see if a longer soak helps, but it probably won't and I will need to get something for intensive cleaning.

You probably left it wet before you put it away or something?
If you put the barrel in storage when it's completely dry and leave the top open then this will not happen.

But anyway, in such a case I would use the intensive cleaning agent (NaOH with active chloride). Never had any biological compound that was not removed easy with this.

That was why I was suggesting bearings - because they're round and therefore 'should not' scratch. But I don't know this to be the case and, if it's not necessary, is moot anyway.

Ah sorry! I did not consider this. I'd say, try and report here .

I also use Asda thin bleach at 28p per two litres and Aldi Bramwells distilled (clear) vinegar as a budget sanitizer. Mixing a teaspoon of each per gallon of water used. BE VERY CAREFUL if doing this as mixing vinegar and bleach together neat will create chlorine gas which isn't good for you! I get the water into a suitable bowl or indeed clean FV or PB and then add the correct ratio of bleach first, stir and then vinegar, stir. The reason for the vinegar is to get the PH of the water right for optimum sanitization.

As a chemist I can only give this advice to people: just don't do it. Like I said, the caustic stuff I said costs 10 pound per kilo. A kilo will lasts you years! Its enough for 1000 liters of the stuff.

Don't risk your health to save 10 quid.

 

[Drunkula]

thanks that has been really useful. I emptied one pressure barrel after soaking for a few hours and there is still algae there. I will leave the other one over night to see if a longer soak helps, but it probably won't and I will need to get something for intensive cleaning.

Is it a narrow one you can't get your hand in? I've seen people cleaning bottles and fermenters with rice and washing soda or bicarb. You put it in and add just enough water so that the rice acts like a scrubbing brush when you roll and shake it. Don't know how how much scratching would happen.

 

[jceg316]

That environmentally friendly laundry bleach worked quite well. It took off most the crap but the remains weren't difficult to get rid of. I forgot I had one of these for a glass demi, but the mouth was too small so it went to the back of the cupboard. It cleaned up the PB perfectly though.

 

[Dutto]

I often use watered down Tesco Thin Bleach for heavy-duty cleaning of PB's.

Back in November I brought back 2 x 10 litres of Merlot Wine in my small PBs. After consumption, the wine left behind some lees and a red/purple stain inside the PBs. They came back to normal after a quick rinse with cold water and a soak in a weak bleach solution.

As previously stated:

• Never use scented bleach.
• Never use "thick" toilet bleach.
• Always rinse a vessel or parts with clean water after using bleach as a cleaning agent. (If you can't smell the bleach then the vessel or parts have usually been rinsed well enough to use.)

Bleach is toxic so please ensure that it is kept out of the reach of small children.

Worldwide, it is CHILDREN who form the greatest majority of casualties caused by drinking or by coming into contact with bleach; so NEVER store bleach in a bottle other than one clearly marked "Bleach" and fitted with a childproof top!