Cleaning bottles

[MarconiBrew]

Did you hear about that orange man in the Us who said you could cure covid-19 by injecting bleach?

No one heard anyone say that

 

[Shirley Bassett]

I thought the orange man was sponsored by Dettol, not Domestos.

 

[MarconiBrew]

I've been rinsing some bottles out, ready for sterilising when I do another brew, will be my first bottling, only going to bottle a few. Never thought of putting them in the dishwasher as wasn't sure the water jets would fire right into the bottle really.

 

[Bernie]

How does the dishwasher manage to spray inside the bottle?

 

[Begbie]

After pouring a beer, I rinse the bottle thoroughly. When doing the dishes, I wash the bottle out, rinse and leave to drip dry then put the lid back on (I use the Coopers screw top PET bottles). When it comes to bottling day, I use Chemsan in the eco bottle rinser to sanitise the bottles and leave to drip dry while I've got a brew on. I then go straight to bottling - no rinsing of the bottles. Waiting on a bottle tree being delivered which will make my bottling day easier!

 

[RichardM]

How does the dishwasher manage to spray inside the bottle?

I've always wondered that

 

[hoppyscotty]

I'm a belt and braces type of guy. First wash in the sink with fairy liquid and bottle brush to get any organic matter out. Run through the dishwasher. Cap with tin foil and store in a box in the garage with the rest of the bottles ready for bottle day. On bottle day usually doing a brew too, so will chuck the bottles in a bucket of Milton during the mash, rinse off the Milton and put in a bucket of Starsan/Chemsan, then pull straight out of the Starsan bucket and straight to bottling wand when filling. So they get two washes, a soak in Milton then sanitising in Starsan with no hanging around. Not had an issue with infections yet.

 

[Nidger]

I'm a belt and braces type of guy. First wash in the sink with fairy liquid and bottle brush to get any organic matter out. Run through the dishwasher. Cap with tin foil and store in a box in the garage with the rest of the bottles ready for bottle day. On bottle day usually doing a brew too, so will chuck the bottles in a bucket of Milton during the mash, rinse off the Milton and put in a bucket of Starsan/Chemsan, then pull straight out of the Starsan bucket and straight to bottling wand when filling. So they get two washes, a soak in Milton then sanitising in Starsan with no hanging around. Not had an issue with infections yet.

I keep the old caps and stick them back on the bottles

 

[chris-s]

I keep the old caps and stick them back on the bottles

Yes, always caps on for storage.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Yes, always caps on for storage.

How do you fill the bottles with the caps on?

 

[chris-s]

How do you fill the bottles with the caps on?

Have I missed a joke?

I take them off for bottling.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Got yer

Have I missed a joke?

I take them off for bottling.

Got yer

 

[chris-s]

That'll be a yes then.

 

[chris-s]

Since I started with the no rinse (which I rinse), I just checked and I have done 18 kits. No problems associated with cleaning.

For anyone just starting, here is my very simple way.

If not washing straight away, pop the cap back on to avoid any drying overnight. That includes used crown caps.

Rinse with clean water, inspect, every bottle has been pristine so far but if one weren't, put it to one side for cleaning.

Put caps on again to avoid dust etc. during storage.

On bottling day, drain any water, spray the inside with no rinse sanitiser. By the time you have finished spraying, you are ready to start rinsing and/or draining.

Bottle.

It works. Just like many other ways mentioned in this thread. It's also quick, cheap and easy.