Keeping kit sterilised

[PenhowBrewer]

how does everyone keep their equipment sterilised?

I have a long plastic Xmas tree storage box ( long enough to fit the siphon tubes in), with about an inch of metabisulphate solution in it.
I keep airlocks, plastic bungs, siphon tubing, taps, hydrometer &jar etc. in this, so I can take anything out, swill it under the tap and use it straight away.
I change the solution every month or so, and I find this really convenient

I keep my plastic jugs and funnels in a FV with metabisulphate soution in it as well

Does anyone else do this, or do you keep stuff dry and sterilise before you use it?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Does anyone else do this, or do you keep stuff dry and sterilise before you use it?

I keep stuff dry and sterilise before i use it, my method is 2 x Milton tablets in a washing up bowl of warm water i lay everything i can in the bottom of the bowl then pour some down my syphon tube with a funnel repeating 8 minutes later (contact time is 15 minutes) for bottles, DJ's and buckets i pour enough into each to allow shaking/swirling to cover all surfaces and again repeat after 8 minutes, its a no rinse steriliser so hassle free and i have never had a problem.

 

[Peter Scandlyn]

Heck, some of the bits and pieces I use for brewing/wine making/d.....ling haven't been near anything that could be termed sterilising in years.

I DO keep my fermenters sterile tho'.....

 

[Banbeer]

Clean everything after brewing and swill the bottles out after use then just Videne everything on brew day and when bottling I do the same.

 

[foxy]

I just clean everything thoroughly after use and use proxitane no rinse before use.
I did leave the end of a blow off tube in some Starsan once and it dissolved.

 

[Derekmr]

Milton tabs before use, simple

 

[Sadfield]

I keep things clean, then sanitise before use with Starsan. Keeping the time between application and use to a minimum.

I've never sterilised my brew kit or fv's and doubt anyone has either.

Petty semantics? Possibly. However it's worth learning the difference between sterile and sanitised.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

It doesn't help when the manufactures use the word on the label.

 

[Peter Scandlyn]

I keep things clean, then sanitise before use with Starsan. Keeping the time between application and use to a minimum.

I've never sterilised my brew kit or fv's and doubt anyone has either.

Petty semantics? Possibly. However it's worth learning the difference between sterile and sanitised.

Okay. Well here's the thing - IF you practise sanitary habits, as a matter of course, you can even throw away your Starsan.......

To radical for you

 

[marshbrewer]

Clean everything after brewing and swill the bottles out after use then just Videne everything on brew day and when bottling I do the same.

Same here.

 

[GerritT]

I sanitise before and clean after. Some things go into the dishwasher. Not worth sterilising or getting anal at all. It's homebrewing, not brain surgery.

 

[aamcle]

Sanitised NOT sterilized . You need an autoclave to sterilize .

This is the righteous way :-

Clean it, DRY IT, store it, sanitize it, use it.

Dry, Dry, dry, dry if it's dry contamination will not build up.


Aamcle

 

[ACBEV]

I store all my bits and bobs in a thin bleach solution (50ml thin bleach 25L water) between brews and rinse with starsan on brew/bottling day.

 

[Cwrw666]

Wash with hot water straight after use - FVs, etc. Leave to dry.
Bottles - rinse out a few times after drinking, then fill with washing soda solution to clean yeast deposits. Drain and rinse and leave to dry.

Rinse with boiling water before use.
Have recently started cooking bottles in the oven instead but haven't yet decided if this is less of a faff on than rinsing with boiling water.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

It doesn't help when the manufactures use the word on the label.

DOH - I thought i had added a picture to my post above.

 

[Taff]

Just about ready to resume home-brewing after my stuff has been in storage for a year,( and been transported here from Aus.) Usual method for me is a good bleaching, then a good washing, then a thin bleaching. Wish me luck.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Keep us posted Taff.