Sterilizing

[alfapat]

Is there a better way or simpler way of sterilizing my fermenting bucket other than filling it to the top with warm water and using 5 teaspoons of VWP powdered sterilizer or is this a fool proof method. I do this twice in a batch process to run the the finished brew into another bucket to bottle . Maybe being lazy HUH?

 

[MashBag]

No, not lazy. The Internet is full of bleach queens. Ignore it.

"could you eat off it" is clean enough.

 

[starseeker]

VWP is a excellent steriliser and of course it also cleans as well ,also it is very well priced ,no point in trying to take short cuts

 

[Alastair70]

I’m a Starsan fan. I’m also obsessive about cleaning. Everything gets a thorough clean when packing up, and then again, during the brewday. I’d be surprised if any bugs survive til Starsan time.
I ferment in SSBrewtec kit so chlorinated sanitation is a no no.

 

[starseeker]

But apparently VWP is perfectly fine to use on SS without fear of damage etc

 

[Alastair70]

But apparently VWP is perfectly fine to use on SS without fear of damage etc

It probably is, and I’ve been using it in the kegs for ever.
TSP was recommended when I bought the Brewbucket, it’s cheap as chips on eBay and I’ve stuck with that ever since. They advised that you stay away from chlorine back then.
I’m talking cleaning here. For sanitation, Starsan degrades into stuff that’s in beer anyway. Small volumes can coat your FV in a long lasting foam that is very reassuring to pour off just before you fill and pitch yeast.

 

[starseeker]

I will take a look at TSP for interest :)

 

[Alastair70]

I will take a look at TSP for interest :)

Only relevant if you’re cleaning stainless, and share my hygiene OCD

I edited my last post for context while you were replying-sorry!

 

[MashBag]

Tada

 

[Agentgonzo]

Is there a better way or simpler way of sterilizing my fermenting bucket other than filling it to the top with warm water and using 5 teaspoons of VWP powdered sterilizer or is this a fool proof method. I do this twice in a batch process to run the the finished brew into another bucket to bottle . Maybe being lazy HUH?

Put a litre of warm water in it, put a teaspoon of vwp in there (or whatever the recommended dose is) whack the lid on then shake it to get vwp on all the surfaces. Leave for a bit, then repeat. Leave for a bit then rinse.

Did this for 15 years. Never had an infection

 

[lancon]

This is all that is necessary, see instructions on the tub. I must admit that I used 5 litres hot water with a tablespoon of VWP and all other bits go in the FV, airlocks, siphons, dry-hop bags, cleaning cloths.

 

[MashBag]

Do you all sanitise your plates before dinner?

 

[Alastair70]

No. But I’m not worried about propagating a wild yeast cell over the following two weeks and spoiling the food I’m about to consume in the next 15 minutes.

 

[MashBag]

Neither am I. Yeast dominate an environment at the pitching level we use.

 

[Nucbrewer]

Put a litre of warm water in it, put a teaspoon of vwp in there (or whatever the recommended dose is) whack the lid on then shake it to get vwp on all the surfaces. Leave for a bit, then repeat. Leave for a bit then rinse.

This works for me.

 

[Agentgonzo]

Do you all sanitise your plates before dinner?

If I was going to put my dinner in the plate, seal a lid and then put it aside for 6 months then eat it, I probably would

 

[MashBag]

@Agentgonzo You keep beer in a fermentation bucket for 6 months .. jeeez

I bottle mine. RTFQ old chap

 

[alfapat]

Put a litre of warm water in it, put a teaspoon of vwp in there (or whatever the recommended dose is) whack the lid on then shake it to get vwp on all the surfaces. Leave for a bit, then repeat. Leave for a bit then rinse.

Did this for 15 years. Never had an infection

Great idea , why I didn’t think of that I don’t know , good job I asked , Thank You!

 

[Cwrw666]

I use a splash of bleach in a couple of gallons of water after cleaning the fv after bottling. Then before re using it again I rinse it out well with cold water and finally rinse it out with a kettle full of boiling water.
If that makes me a bleach queen, so be it. But it works

 

[Deadhead]

VWP is great for cleaning and sanitising all in one. Cheap and easy enough to get.
I clean my stainless steel stuff with grainfather cleaner or PBW and sanitise with StarSan. But will still use VWP for tubing, plastic buckets, etc.