How do you clean the inside of your syphon?

[alanywiseman.]

I racked 5G of elderberry wine the other night and rinsed my syphon tube immediately after finishing but there is residue on the inside of the tube. Does anyone have any clever ways of cleaning it out?

Wanting to bottle some raspberry melomel tomorrow night but do not want to risk any infections due to the dirty syphon.

 

[RobWalker]

put it under the tap and run the water through it quickly? :p

 

[ScottM]

When cleaning out the vessel I do so with VWP, filling it right up with hot water. I then syphon the entire contents into the sink in order to clean the syphon.

I generally try to do a few things at the one time so that I can syphon from vessel to vessel, so that I'm not just tipping the solution after first use.

 

[PD]

its my syphon and I will clean it as fast and as often as I want.....

:nono: :nono: :nono:

 

[Moley]

Does anyone have any clever ways of cleaning it out?

No.

Mine gets flushed through immediately after use, then I dip the racking cane into a bottle of Videne solution, suck it through, fit a tap and close it. I leave that for a few minutes while I clear other stuff away then drain the tube, whirl it around my head and hang it by the centre on a hook.

I usually have a choice of at least 3 syphon tubes and replace them regularly. A 5ft tube costs me 75p.

 

[calumscott]

Rinsed after use.

Sterilised with VWP and rinsed before use.

It's all it needs.

 

[oldbloke]

I have a gallon bucket full of VWP solution when I'm bottling, everything goes in before and gets rinsed and goes in again after.
The siphon tube coils into it and I make sure it fills.

 

[Onionman]

Make up a wine bottle full of sterilising solution.

Syphon into another wine bottle on the same level. Levels equalise.

Syphon tube remains full of sterilising solution.

Occasionally move one of the bottles up and then back down beforeit empties to refresh the solution in the tube.

Lovely.

Vin

 

[BIGJIM72]

Got a narrow pipe cleaning brush thats ideal.

 

[IPA]

I have a gallon bucket full of VWP solution when I'm bottling, everything goes in before and gets rinsed and goes in again after.
The siphon tube coils into it and I make sure it fills.

+1 Works every time for me. Try this instead of VWP it costs less and is most effective.
http://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/index.ph ... oductId=82

 

[ScottM]

I have a gallon bucket full of VWP solution when I'm bottling, everything goes in before and gets rinsed and goes in again after.
The siphon tube coils into it and I make sure it fills.

+1 Works every time for me. Try this instead of VWP it costs less and is most effective.
http://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/index.ph ... oductId=82

Not surprised at 12g per litre... that's LOADS.

VWP is 1tsp per gallon (and that's overkill).

 

[Cononthebarber]

Choose the sterilising fluid/powder of your choice,make sure its extra hot water and get 2 DJ's and syphon the fluid from one into the other and vice-versa till clean :thumb:

 

[jasea3632]

i do as moley says,
sterilise,
rinse,
wang it around my head (outside)
Hang up to dry.
SIMPLES!!!!!

 

[alanywiseman.]

Thanks for all the suggestions :thumb:

I always rinse straight after use but for some reason there is residue after racking the elderberry wine. I will try the 2 DJ/Wine bottle trick. I thought about adding some rice or cous cous to try and help scrap the crap off the inside of the tube. I will give it a go and let you know how I get on.

 

[Intelekt]

I have a gallon bucket full of VWP solution when I'm bottling, everything goes in before and gets rinsed and goes in again after.
The siphon tube coils into it and I make sure it fills.

+1 Works every time for me. Try this instead of VWP it costs less and is most effective.
http://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/index.ph ... oductId=82

Not surprised at 12g per litre... that's LOADS.

VWP is 1tsp per gallon (and that's overkill).

So what's the best amount of VWP then?
It says 1-2 teaspoons per gallon on the packet, so I usually use ½ tsp for a litre to do some little bits of sterilising, have I been using too much :shock:

 

[Megaross]

I fill the kitchen sink with the VWP (2tsp per gallon, belt and braces) I used to sterilise my bottles into the kitchen sink.
Then I suck fluid into the syphon and submerge it, soak it.

Then clamp the end onto the kitchen tap using a beefy hand and that shoots water through it.

I've been meaning to come up with more efficient solutions but VWP does a cracking job, if it takes 20 minutes to sterilise my gear, so be it.

 

[IPA]

I fill the kitchen sink with the VWP (2tsp per gallon, belt and braces) I used to sterilise my bottles into the kitchen sink.
Then I suck fluid into the syphon and submerge it, soak it.

Then clamp the end onto the kitchen tap using a beefy hand and that shoots water through it.

I've been meaning to come up with more efficient solutions but VWP does a cracking job, if it takes 20 minutes to sterilise my gear, so be it.

Try one of these!

bottle rinser AVVINATORE 021.218.3 € 16,50 usually available from stock
With its own reservoir for e.g. a sulphite solution. When you push down the bottle, a powerful waterjet rinses out the bottle completely. Ideal for e.g. disinfecting bottles just before bottling. With table stand, also fits on bottle drainer 021.085.7.

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

Hot water direct from the tap, using a funnel, until it runs clear. Then one gallon cold water in my primary fermenter and two campdens; submerge the syphon in such a way that there's no air left inside, and leave until either or both are needed.

 

[alanywiseman.]

Cheers for all the replies. Some oxyclean and hot water did it but I think I am just going to buy another piece of tubing. :thumb:

 

[Megaross]

I fill the kitchen sink with the VWP (2tsp per gallon, belt and braces) I used to sterilise my bottles into the kitchen sink.
Then I suck fluid into the syphon and submerge it, soak it.

Then clamp the end onto the kitchen tap using a beefy hand and that shoots water through it.

I've been meaning to come up with more efficient solutions but VWP does a cracking job, if it takes 20 minutes to sterilise my gear, so be it.

Try one of these!

bottle rinser AVVINATORE 021.218.3 € 16,50 usually available from stock
With its own reservoir for e.g. a sulphite solution. When you push down the bottle, a powerful waterjet rinses out the bottle completely. Ideal for e.g. disinfecting bottles just before bottling. With table stand, also fits on bottle drainer 021.085.7.

I have been meaning to make/ get one for bottling, and using some Videne for steilising my clean bottles.

But I'll probably always use VWP for my kit, does such a good job cleaning it and sterilising in one fell swoop.