Cleaning Bottles

[eblis]

A few sites recommend that you soak your bottles in odorless bleach and use a sterilise solution and rinse with boiling water.

I have tried to find odorless bleach in the popular supermarkets however I havent been able to find any as they all stink!!!!

So my question is how do you Clean/Sanitize/Sterilise your bottles and can you recommend a odorless bleach?

 

[dermy]

Hi mate.

I think when they say odourless bleach they mean the original "chlorine" smelling ones...some bleaches are lemon scented and I think these are the ones to avoid.
I've used ordinary bleach lots of times to clean my bottles and its fine as long as you rinse them really well with cold water.

 

[BigYin]

I originally used the VWP sanitiser that is commonly used to sanitise fermenters, to sanitize my bottles, but ut was a right PITA, filling them all, draining them all, rinsing them all.

Now I make sure they are clean and dry before I store them, and when I come to use them I spray in some diluted Videne solution, tip out any excess, no rinsing, just fill with beer - easy!!

 

[MikeB]

I rinse mine in hot water after emptying the contents, put them in the dishwasher and then once it's finished I put clingfilm over the top, and store away. Haven't had a single bottle go bad yet, and this method saves me hours when it comes to bottling time.

 

[eblis]

I've got about 70x500ml green glass bottles that the local pub gave me.

My plan was to put them in the bath with some house hold bleach for 24 hours then give them a good rinse with hot water and then sanitise them and rinse again.

After I have cleaned them do you think it would be ok to them store them in the houes till I am ready to bottle my beer?

 

[WelshPaul]

+1 recommendation for the cling film over the top of bottles. I have around 100 stored this way.

 

[Swift Pint]

I rinse mine in hot water after emptying the contents, put them in the dishwasher and then once it's finished I put clingfilm over the top, and store away. Haven't had a single bottle go bad yet, and this method saves me hours when it comes to bottling time.

Do you then give them a quick rinse on bottling day?

 

[eblis]

Someone told me once after rinsing them to put them in the oven when you are cooking. He told me he does it in small batches of around 15-20 bottles at a time and then caps them once they have cooled down.

 

[Swift Pint]

Interesting idea using the oven. Any idea what temperatures are good? I'd be worried about cracking/ weakening the glass.

 

[Swift Pint]

I've found the answer to my own question here:
http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter2-2-3.html

Looks like its the speed at which the bottles are heated which is the main issue. This is a good idea, especially with the foil over the lids.
Will definitely save some time :party:

 

[happyhoppytaff]

for me the simplest and cheepest method is..

i buy baby bottle sterilising fluid from wilkinsons. 80p/ltr. i make a solution in a washing up bowl, 2caps sterelising fluid per washing up bowl. i fill my 40 bottles with the solution, usually takes about three bowls for the lot. then i leave it over night.

next day i empty the bottles, shaking the water out, splashing it everywhere-not in my eyes.

then i fill with fresh water and leave them for a few hours.

then i empty the bottles. i give them all a sniff and if any smell a bit bleachy i give them a splash of water and a good shake, but they are usually fine.

i pick a few bottles at random and swill some water around inside and taste it. if it tastes fine the bottles are done. i take them out of the bath and leave them to drain.

i have saved water and money with this method (water meter here so water is money too) i havent had a bad bottle. but the kids and mrs hoppy cant have a bath for two days. timing is critical.