Clean In Place (CIP) - Yes Please!

[MashBag]

Using hydrometer is probably less destructive.

Maybe, but not as much fun.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

OK I have video's the process but I made up a very strong solution of the caustic soda....according to the instructions there were two dilution levels - strong cleaning and 'nuke them from orbit' level. I opted for a mid point between the two as that was all the caustic Soda I had. Ran through 10 litres initially, then stopped and soaked for 20 mins then ran the remaining 10 litres through at a very slow rate as that was all my brewzilla pump could muster.

the good news for me is that the solution ran clear throughout the process, so my cleaning regime seems to be effective...however I've only used the plate chiller about 6 times over the past year, so not exactly had alot of use so maybe that is to be expected. I think I'll do this every 5 or so brews just to stay on top of it. Wasn't so much of a faff and managed to do it without melting my face off, so that's a positive!

On this occasion I have no idea what strength mine was but it was definitely strong. I tipped some caustic into that small plastic bowl making up around 1.5 litres at a time. I did this 3 times and then once more to circulate for a while.

I think most of the colour in my video came from the Schwarzbier I’d just brewed but the main point of interest for me was that caustic managed to release all this residue after flushing with water and a soak in oxy. I would previously have been happy the plate chiller was clean.

Based on this trial I will definitely use caustic regularly to clean my plate chiller but the effectiveness of caustic is making me think about incorporating a periodic caustic cleaning cycle for everything else.

 

[Birdsnestbrewery]

I've not heard of TFR. Google tells me it's Traffic Film Remover. Is this what's being suggested?

 

[MashBag]

Yes indeed. Make sure you get the caustic one.

Treat with respect. I have been using this for years with stunning results. Rinse well.

Quite frankly kicks all the other cleaners into touch imo. Tried them. Tested them. Failed them. I can clean crud quicker and easier with this than anything else including soaking it in sodiumcholobromoxypentathanealene
for 8 millenia @4000°c

But each to the own.

 

[hoppyscotty]

On this occasion I have no idea what strength mine was but it was definitely strong. I tipped some caustic into that small plastic bowl making up around 1.5 litres at a time. I did this 3 times and then once more to circulate for a while.

I think most of the colour in my video came from the Schwarzbier I’d just brewed but the main point of interest for me was that caustic managed to release all this residue after flushing with water and a soak in oxy. I would previously have been happy the plate chiller was clean.

Based on this trial I will definitely use caustic regularly to clean my plate chiller but the effectiveness of caustic is making me think about incorporating a periodic caustic cleaning cycle for everything else.

Thbini’ll ise it periodically for the plate chiller but hopefully I’ve sort of satisfied myself my post use flush and clean routine is effective but I appreciate there may be build up over time of the more stubborn stuff. The only other place it might be useful are those hard to reach places like pumps. I recently striped one down as it got clogged with hops and it wasn’t pretty in there. It was a second hand pump so no idea how sanitary the previous owner was.

I’m also thinking about building a manifold system as I’m sick and tired of the spaghetti junction of hoses and the game of connecting hoses up through the brewday, so using hard piping and ball valves. This would be a more permanent setup so wouldn’t be able to move things around for cleaning without dismantling it so maybe using caustic there to make sure all the internal surfaces are clean would be best.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Thbini’ll ise it periodically for the plate chiller but hopefully I’ve sort of satisfied myself my post use flush and clean routine is effective but I appreciate there may be build up over time of the more stubborn stuff. The only other place it might be useful are those hard to reach places like pumps. I recently striped one down as it got clogged with hops and it wasn’t pretty in there. It was a second hand pump so no idea how sanitary the previous owner was.

I’m also thinking about building a manifold system as I’m sick and tired of the spaghetti junction of hoses and the game of connecting hoses up through the brewday, so using hard piping and ball valves. This would be a more permanent setup so wouldn’t be able to move things around for cleaning without dismantling it so maybe using caustic there to make sure all the internal surfaces are clean would be best.

Agreed, plate chiller and pump are good candidates. Also ball valves (the cavity around the ball in particular) and in my case the wire bazooka and grain basket as these get discoloured after a few brews. I might be overdoing things here but shiny clean is pulling me down the rabbit-hole.

 

[MashBag]

Isn't shiney the goal all the time.

I strip my pump everytime, it's just too easy. A mate of mine "nearly" bought a used machine, until I said, hey a pic of the inside of the pump. "not sure how to get it apart". Was the reply and the kettle was grubby

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Isn't shiney the goal all the time.

I strip my pump everytime, it's just too easy. A mate of mine "nearly" bought a used machine, until I said, hey a pic of the inside of the pump. "not sure how to get it apart". Was the reply and the kettle was grubby

It is but there’s regular shiny, and extra gleaming shiny

 

[Druncan]

TFR is not food grade. It's for automotive cleaning,,,,,

I do caustic using a 30ml pumped measure fitted onto the top of the 25L JC.

I use a Diversy Deosan Activ dairy sanitiser. 5% PAA Loads cheaper than the Brewery version and same formulation. Pick it up from my friendly Agricultural wholesaler £50 cash

 

[MashBag]

TFR is not food grade. It's for automotive cleaning,,,,,

It's not there after rinsing.