Sterilisation tips

pottsworth · Dec 30, 2018

Does a dishwasher actually get that much liquid inside the bottle, or is the aim to just sterilise by heating the environment?

I always assumed the bottle openings would be so small that no significant amount of liquid would actually get in.

Daniboy0812 · Dec 30, 2018

pottsworth said:
Does a dishwasher actually get that much liquid inside the bottle, or is the aim to just sterilise by heating the environment?

I always assumed the bottle openings would be so small that no significant amount of liquid would actually get in.

It’s the long duration of heat/steam.

Bottles have to be clean before a cycle. Then rinse with cleanse/steriliser and clean water for a final swill to make double sure then bottle straight away - so I’ve learned thanks to this group

chrisbjones202 · Dec 31, 2018

Personally I wouldn’t trust the dishwasher as being completely clean of any food matter in the sump. I put bottles in to get labels off (admittedly with dishes) and find it can get bits of food in but fails to rinse it out.

I’m with the several hot water rinse after emptying and allowing to fully dry opinion. Any that don’t look sparkling clean get a oxy/brush clean. Always use starsan before filling as it’s so easy and cheap to use.

Finally I suggest you do what makes you comfortable that they are sufficiently sanitised. There are many who seem to get away with just rinsing all their brewing stuff with boiling water and get away with it.

dad_of_jon · Dec 31, 2018

Daniboy0812 said:
Hey guys.

So my St Peters Stout kit is ready to bottle after sticking at 1018 for 10 days, now it’s at 1014 it’s going into brown swing tops.

A question on sterilising new bottles.

Can I just put them all in a dishwasher on a full cycle with no detergent?

Heard this is a good way to sterilise but only if bottles are clean beforehand.

Peoples views would be great.

Also started a Young’s Wine buddy Cab Sav kit - added 3.5kg’s of sugar as per instructions and 4 litres of red grape juice from Sainsbury’s (not from concentrate) yeast and oak chips in and ready for finnings next weekend.

Bottles or 5L bags with taps?

I dishwasher them ,then rinse with tap warer, then nuke them in the oven. put a starsan'd used bottle cap on and store till bottling day. a quick dunk on a star-san solution on bottling day sorts me out. - only had 2 gushers in over 2000 bottles.

Bigcol49 · Dec 31, 2018

dad_of_jon said:
I dishwasher them ,then rinse with tap warer, then nuke them in the oven. put a starsan'd used bottle cap on and store till bottling day. a quick dunk on a star-san solution on bottling day sorts me out. - only had 2 gushers in over 2000 bottles.

Overkill?

bobukbrewer · Dec 31, 2018

I rinse my FV with hot water when it is emptied, and again before the next brew. Likewise for bottles. I hydrate my safale 04 yeast in a pyrex jug that has been rinsed in hot water. Never had a problem in 40 years, I brew approx 30 batches of beer a year. So if you use milton or dilute bleach or chempro or VWP or starsan you will never have a problem so don't get compulsive....happy new year all....

PhilM · Dec 31, 2018

I do the oven method as well. Works wonders and no hassle with chemicals. Instead of cling film I put foil on each bottle before putting them in the oven. Once they’re cooled they’re ready for storage.