Mouldy bottles

[socrates]

Hi all,

I'm completely new to brewing - as in I have a kit and I'm about to get started - and I've been saving bottles for a couple of months. The problem is that I took a look at my bottle collection today... and most of them have mould growing in the bottom. I guess I didn't rinse them thoroughly enough!

Does anyone have any advice on cleaning the mould out of these bottles so that they're safe to use? I've had a google around and the prevailing advice on American forums seems to be to use something called Oxyclean, which I can't seem to find in the UK, and in any case seems to be some kind of stain remover for laundry, and I don't know how I feel about that! There seems to be a huge difference of opinion on the best ways of cleaning bottles generally, its very confusing trying to figure out the best approach.

I hope this isn't a repost, I had a quick search on the forum and couldn't see anything. Thanks very much in advance :)

 

[Godsdog]

Hi all,

I'm completely new to brewing - as in I have a kit and I'm about to get started - and I've been saving bottles for a couple of months. The problem is that I took a look at my bottle collection today... and most of them have mould growing in the bottom. I guess I didn't rinse them thoroughly enough!

Does anyone have any advice on cleaning the mould out of these bottles so that they're safe to use? I've had a google around and the prevailing advice on American forums seems to be to use something called Oxyclean, which I can't seem to find in the UK, and in any case seems to be some kind of stain remover for laundry, and I don't know how I feel about that! There seems to be a huge difference of opinion on the best ways of cleaning bottles generally, its very confusing trying to figure out the best approach.

I hope this isn't a repost, I had a quick search on the forum and couldn't see anything. Thanks very much in advance :)

Oxyclean readily available in pound land,about a quid a throw I believe:whistle: and the laundry stuff is oky dokie

 

[sdt7618]

Oxyclean readily available in pound land,about a quid a throw I believe:whistle: and the laundry stuff is oky dokie

Think I got mine from b&m, good soak in that and then rinse the bejesus out of them.

 

[chewie]

Hi all,

I'm completely new to brewing - as in I have a kit and I'm about to get started - and I've been saving bottles for a couple of months. The problem is that I took a look at my bottle collection today... and most of them have mould growing in the bottom. I guess I didn't rinse them thoroughly enough!

Does anyone have any advice on cleaning the mould out of these bottles so that they're safe to use? I've had a google around and the prevailing advice on American forums seems to be to use something called Oxyclean, which I can't seem to find in the UK, and in any case seems to be some kind of stain remover for laundry, and I don't know how I feel about that! There seems to be a huge difference of opinion on the best ways of cleaning bottles generally, its very confusing trying to figure out the best approach.

I hope this isn't a repost, I had a quick search on the forum and couldn't see anything. Thanks very much in advance :)

The best way is to clean them until you are happy enough to put something you will drink into them.

For me, if they are extremely mouldy then i would be cleaning them twice, first time to shift all the mould as i doubt oxi on its own unaided will shift it completely, hot water and a good stiff bottle brush to degunk them, then fresh hot water and oxi mixed in and let it get to work with another quick brush, then rinse thoroughly and sanitize.

If you are storing bottles again make sure they are rinsed clean, dried, away from light and reasonably cool, they shouldn't need more then than a quick wash and sanitize then the next time.

Oxi is available in many forms here, Vanish is probably the most expensive, Wizz Oxi which B&M and poundland sell is the budget variety, Sodium Percabonate is the active ingredient and can be bought on its own from chemical retailers and is usually the cheapest way to buy it but you do need to buy it in bulk but it is free from all the other stuff that is in the washing powder varieties.

 

[mattellis70]

Agree with above but if the mold has been there for a bit you'll need a bottle brush. Remember that cleaning is not sanitizing. Still need to perform that step


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[Gerryjo]

Just remember to buy unscented..

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[shepp]

I would soak for 24 hrs in oxygen then 24 hrs in diluted thin bleach.

 

[foxbat]

In future, to prevent mold, after rinsing give them a spray of Starsan inside, swill around and leave upside down to drain dry. The idea is that if the last wet thing in the bottle is Starsan then there's absolutely no way that mold will grow in it while it's drying. This is the same approach I take with siphon tubes. They take ages to dry so the last thing that they have running through them before being left to dry out is Starsan.

 

[Sandimas]

All of the above.

But don't worry, I've done the same as you. I'm a hoarder and gather up bottles whenever I can find them, but don't always clean then before storing them - I get many empties from the local cricket club after they've been in the recycling for weeks. Just give them a good physical clean, then a soak in Oxy, and then sanitise before use - they'll be fine. :thumb:

 

[Clint]

All of the above...but don't subject your bottle brush to boiling water. . .you will melt it!

 

[MyQul]

Once you've given the bottles a good clean. To kill any remaining mould spores and sterilizes them, oven them
http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=54300

Then put a cap of tin foil on each bottle to prevent any further mould spores getting in there whilst your storing them

 

[Byron]

I've always rinsed thoroughly after use and used my dishwasher on the hottest setting on bottling day (which I think is 70c and 2hrs). When the cycle has finished I leave the bottles sealed in there until I'm ready to bottle then it's straight out of the dishwasher to be filled. Never had a problem.

 

[Cwrw666]

I use washing soda solution which is just a strong alkali (calcium carbonate I think) - fill the bottles and leave them for a day or so and all the gunk will completely dissolve. It's great stuff - about a quid a kilo packet from the supermarket.
Obviously I rinse the bottles afterward but as it's not some sort of noxious chemical you don't have to be totally anal about it.

 

[socrates]

cheers all, I'm a bit paranoid about this kind of thing but oxiclean clearly isn't doing anyone any harm :)