Cleaning Cooper PET Bottles...

[dx4100]

Hi Guys

Just finished off my Woodfords Wherry and need to sort out the bottles...

I rinsed them all out to get the nasty sediment etc straight after pouring. Should I be doing further cleaning ? or is that enough ?

If its not enough what method for cleaning do you recommend.

Cheers

 

[shocker]

Depends on how grotty they are ! they need to be cleaned AND sanitised . If they have stuck on stuff then soak in oxyclean and then bottlebrush them . If not go directly to the next step and sanitise in the manner of your choice , regular thin chlorine bleach , bottlebrush and lots of water to rinse being a basic method . Or invest in some VWP which will clean AND sanitise ,soak , then bottlebrush and rinse .

There are many products and methods , steaming , no rinse sprays and soaks , you really need to find what is appropriate to you , your means and situation . Being PET bottles steam is most likely out , for starters ! I know this isnt a very definitive answer but the best advise is to do some searches on this site and see what other people do and choose what is closest to your needs .

 

[craigite]

I use these too, usually for handing out to folks to try. They would be great for posting.

Those horrible nobblie bit on the bottom are a pain. With normal bottles we rinse as soon as they are emptied and the throw the in the dish washer, then before I bottle I sanitise with vidine soln before filling. The plastic Coopers ones we don't put in the dishwasher so we are a bit more fussy when rinsing out and make sure they are clean, the sanitise with vidine before use.
Any bottles that don't clean I soak in steriliser which cleans and sterilise.

Hope this helps. Cheers

 

[stu brew]

Dishwasher then seal the tops with film seems to work well for me

 

[dx4100]

The bottles where rinsed out straight away so pretty sure there is nothing in there...

Will just oxy clean them just to be sure and sterilise when I use...

Cheers

 

[klaus]

If your bottles are generally clean, I would soak them before bottling in VWP (or whatever you use) and then rinse ready for priming and filling. If the bottles been in my shed for any length of time I normally give them a good soak a few days before and then just sanitise on the day. I only use glass so I can use vey hot water which helps. I also check most bottles by eye against the light for anything I might have missed (actually holding the bottle opening to my eye!). Also look out for chips or cracks.

 

[thewinebrewer]

Hey I got a great video on cleaning bottles here: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK69p7FP43w[/ame]

 

[FatCol]

Bottle tree, Avinator & StarSan. The Coopers PET bottle neck is slightly too wide to fit the pump on the Avinator, but if you cut out the centre of an old CD and slip that over the pump, it works perfectly.

All I do is rinse bottles thoroughly after use and dry on bottle tree. On bottling day, they get a blast with the Avinator using a solution of StarSan no rinse sanitiser, back on the bottle tree to drain off for 10 mins and then bottled. Whilst the bottles drain, I lay out all of the screw caps on the worktop and spray them with the same StarSan solution. Never had a problem doing it this way.

Thgere's a video here of someone using the same system, though I mount my Avinator on top of my bottle tree and stand the whole rig on the floor.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9u0cIERnuQ[/ame]

FatCol

 

[Ravabelli]

i just rinse twice after use, then sterilising solution for 10-15 mins and rinse when bottling. Never had to use a bottle brush and 4 brews so far all has been good.

 

[DrHopper]

Don't dishwasher them!!! I did this with coopers pets and they shrank and warped so the lids didnt fit.

 

[Slid]

I rinse the Coopers PET bottles immediately after pouring and add a small amount of Sodium metabisulphite solution, then put the top back on.

To re-use, pour out preservative, rinse twice and ready to go. Tedious for 48 bottles, but better than getting bits off the bottom.