Ordered Sanitizer by mistake will it be okay?
- Thread starter jakejoe30
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Sanitiser and steriliser are two words that are often mixed up in the forum, it doesn't help when you see Milton (which i always use) advertised as Steriliser.
Sanitising is the removal of contaminants that could grow bacteria, while sterilising is the complete destruction of bacteria.
Sanitising is the removal of contaminants that could grow bacteria, while sterilising is the complete destruction of bacteria.
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Brewnaldo
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Jake, I use fairy liquid and hot water to clean my buckets, sometimes also sloshing about some boiling water in the bottom, run it through the tap etc, then use chemsan. Never had any problems.
Is it the Sanitizer you use instead of Sterilizer?
MmmBeer
Brewer
A sanitiser is the norm for brewing or winemaking and Chemsan is the type many members now use. A steriliser would be necessary for laboratory conditions, but certainly not for brewing. Just remember to clean thoroughly first with a dilute solution of either sodium percarbonate (Oxi laundry additive), thin bleach, soda crystals or other detergent, but try to avoid anything scented and rinse very well to remove any traces and odours. Then spray or slosh around the sanitiser solution and just drain, don't rinse before filling the bucket.
I always clean my kit, then use a sanitizer.
Brewnaldo
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I clean my FVs immediately after use then put 5 litres of chemsan solution in them. Shake them about. Then shake them about again and empty before use
johncrobinson
Landlord.
I sanitise as i go.
Say i am making a must and i want to stir it,I grab my large spoon dunk it in a bucket of Milton, Rinse with a bit of boiled water from the kettle and use.
No more effort than that.
Say i am making a must and i want to stir it,I grab my large spoon dunk it in a bucket of Milton, Rinse with a bit of boiled water from the kettle and use.
No more effort than that.
johncrobinson
Landlord.
Second that Brewnaldo
Dont leave used demijohns and other used equipment hanging about unwashed until there is mould growing on them.
Dont leave used demijohns and other used equipment hanging about unwashed until there is mould growing on them.
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As I understand it once yeast gets going it creates a pretty hostile environment for a lot of competing microorganism. Don't get me wrong I always try to take reasonable precaution, I clean thoroughly, and use sanitiser on my fermentor before use, and make sure anything coming into contact with cooled wort is sanitised, but I don’t think it would actually be possible to create a sterile environment as a home brewers (and for that matter if you ever go on a tour of a commercial brewery you quickly notice that they also have a clean but not sterile environment).
I would sanitise immediately before use, chemsan is a fast acting no rinse sanitiser so it doesn't take long. As long as you have made it up in the correct proportion just swill it around your FV, empty and fill with wort/wine
I used to use milton but now I use chemsan because it's very quick to use. The best thing about chemsan is you can keep the solution for a few days, as long as the PH is ok and the water is not mucky (get some PH strips). I have a big party tub (what you would store bottles of booze in for a party) and I put 2 gal of water in that with 20ml chemsan. I find this shape of bucket great for making sure your long things (stirring spoon, hydrometer) get sanitised properly and are not sticking up out of solution. 2 minutes contact time is enough. I would get them out after two minutes though because they can make your equipment go slimy otherwise as it's acidic (melting the plastic?) It's quite expensive but will last you a long time. 
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Go to a hydroponic shop and get some 'pH Down' only takes a tiny drop, I use rain water which is a lower pH anyway drop the pH with pH Down and will last for months.
johncrobinson
Landlord.
The great bucket of sanitation. 
Have you seen that site Lisa its very watchable
Have you seen that site Lisa its very watchable
The great bucket of sanitation.
Have you seen that site Lisa its very watchable
CS Mead? Yes that's where I got the idea from ha ha! Their's is red though (the red bucket of sanitisation TRBOS) and mine is green
Any homebrew shop will have them. I use www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk There's also www.home-brew-online.com which is actually local to me, and I loved it, until they closed the walk-in section which was annoying (nothing to do with covid).
Found some on eBay description 80 PH Test Strips - Measures from 1 to 14 Alkaline Acid Litmus Testing Paper. These okay?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Litmus-p...iversal-Full-Range-Strips-Tester/333747075119
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Litmus-p...iversal-Full-Range-Strips-Tester/333747075119
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