Ever had trouble with no rinse sanitiser?

[Paddyg84]

Hi guys I have had 2 bacterial infections (in my homebrew) since I started using no rinse sterilizer. I scrub the bottles in soapy water, rinse then use a bottle rinser to spray the sanitising solution inside the bottles then drain on a sterilised bottle tree before bottling. Is the sanitiser im using just not up to the job. Think I might go back to trusty old bleach.

Any thoughts? What way do you guys ensure sterile bottles?

 

[Robin54]

Hi guys I have had 2 bacterial infections (in my homebrew) since I started using no rinse sterilizer. I scrub the bottles in soapy water, rinse then use a bottle rinser to spray the sanitising solution inside the bottles then drain on a sterilised bottle tree before bottling. Is the sanitiser im using just not up to the job. Think I might go back to trusty old bleach.

Any thoughts? What way do you guys ensure sterile bottles?

Put my (clean) bottles in the dish washer....in fact Iv got 15 in there at the moment, ready to go. I think MQ uses the oven, which seems to work as well.

 

[MarkBowie]

Put my (clean) bottles in the dish washer....in fact Iv got 15 in there at the moment, ready to go. I think MQ uses the oven, which seems to work as well.

What cycle etc do you put them on in the dishwasher? Is this instead of using no-rinse sanitiser or as well as?

 

[Simonh82]

What sanitiser are you using? I've never had a problem using star-san which I think is the mutt's nuts.

If you've had repeated infections, I'd be looking for a source of the bacteria? Are you using plastic fermentation vessels or equipment? If so, i'd be looking for scratches or other nooks which might be harboring bacteria.

Nothing wrong with giving it a good soak in bleach to make sure everything is dead but a sanitiser can only sanitise something that it is in contact with.

 

[Budgie]

I use star san and swear by it. However, my last couple of brews have formed what looked like a pelicle on top. They were both fine as I just siphoned from underneath and left it behind. I noticed a couple of marks in the inside of the fermenter last time I used it, and those marks had mould growing on them last Sunday. I'm not going to take the chance putting any more wort into it so that FV is only used for transporting spent hops and grain to the compost bin now.
I think it's generally a good idea to change plastic FVs every 6 months or so.

On a slightly different topic, you say you're rinsing the bottles with soapy water - I always thought that soap/washing up liquid of any kind killed the head on your pint? I could be wrong there though.

 

[Robin54]

What cycle etc do you put them on in the dishwasher? Is this instead of using no-rinse sanitiser or as well as?

My washer effectively only has one cycle (1 hour long) and they come out red hot so no sanitiser/chemicals ever needed. They must be clean, with no dried yeast/gunk in them, but I always wash out my bottles very thoroughly after I pour a beer.

 

[johnbarleycorn]

Are you sure its an infection and not fermenting at too high a temp.....? I initially thought some of my brews were infected until I realised that keeping the FV in a "warm" place (next to radiator etc) was the wrong thing to do and in fact the infections were fusel compounds due to the overly high temps.....
I now use star san and ive got a temp regulated modified freezer as a brew chamber- the difference in my quality of brews is amazing.
As others have said, try not to use scratched plastic FV's as they can harbour bugs; however as long as the glass vessels you use are clean ive heard they are a lot easier to sanitise than plastic.
good luck and dont give up....

 

[Paddyg84]

Thanks guys, my fv is pretty new and smooth. Will Def buy some star san and use it from now on. My dishwasher goes to 70 degrees so will maybe out them through that as well as the star san. Don't.think I ferment too hot tho I'm making a brew fridge for an attempt at pilsner so will maybe use that for my ales as well.

 

[dad_of_jon]

Thanks guys, my fv is pretty new and smooth. Will Def buy some star san and use it from now on. My dishwasher goes to 70 degrees so will maybe out them through that as well as the star san. Don't.think I ferment too hot tho I'm making a brew fridge for an attempt at pilsner so will maybe use that for my ales as well.

starsan kills bacteria as long as the ph remains low as per manufacturers spec.

for bottles I dishwash, rinse and bake in the oven then once cooled put foil on top and store in shed.

a quick rinse in star san on bottling day.

the fv gets a hot boiled water rinse and star san.

thats worked for me.

 

[zippy40]

I have used starsan and last two brews have had infection. Switched to bleach and no new infections.