Thick bleach for sanitizer

[skulltat280]

I have used thick perfumed bleach, but it takes a lot of hot rinsing to remove the taint.

Thanks for that. I'll give the bleach a miss until I can get thin bleach or until I get star san

 

[keat64]

Reminds me of back in the 80's when my mate decided once to use 'Toilet Duck' (I kid you not).
Not only was the beer ruined, but the barrel also.
Despite many months of washing, soaking, soaking and washing, the smell just never went away.

We still laugh and reminice 30 odd years later.

 

[skulltat280]

Reminds me of back in the 80's when my mate decided once to use 'Toilet Duck' (I kid you not).
Not only was the beer ruined, but the barrel also.
Despite many months of washing, soaking, soaking and washing, the smell just never went away.

We still laugh and reminice 30 odd years later.

 

[Mavroz]

I only use sodium percarbonate for cleaning.
Rinsed with tapwater if necessary.
I only use Starsan for sanitising, no need to rinse anything.
I only use tapwater as top up water in a brew, conditioned with Purebrew or Camden tablets.
Never had an issue or a bad brew yet.
When these are readily available and value for money (Starsan outlay can seem expensive but it lasts months and months if rescued), I have never seen the need to faff mixing risky bleach and vinegar etc.

Everyone has their own methods...

 

[Bigcol49]

is rinsing water actually unsanitary, assuming clean tap/drinking

Hi!
Don't fear the foam!
The foam that is produced when applying Starsan is actually a nutrient for the yeast, so don't worry about it. Starsan is a no-rinse sanitiser, so not only is there any need to rinse, it could be harmful to your wort.
For brewing purposes, we have to view tap water as dodgy, even though it is safe to drink. If you rinse with tap wzter, your surfaces are not sanitised.
Charlie Talley, the developer of Starsan, said in an audio blog that sanitation is unnecessary as long as things had received a thorough cleaning. However, then it has to be rinsed, and rinsing with tap water requires an application of sanitiser.
Next time you use Starsan, don't fear the foam! If you fill a Corny that is full of foam, most of it will be pushed out as the beer fills the keg.

 

[JhnMcK]

Im just this minute out of another Tesco. I think they've removed the value thin bleach for whatever reason. Price label was there but shelf empty again so I purchased these which hopefully someone can give advice on how to use for a no rinse. When I get a chance I'll create a new thread
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I’ve always used the Milton steriliser. I’ve not had any sterilising issues as of yet but let’s not jynx it as I’m brewing tomorrow so I’ll be using it again to sterilise. If it’s good enough for a baby, it’s good enough for brewing. Wilko’s normally has the litre bottles for about £2.50

 

[SteveH]

thanks @Bigcol49 - I will embrace the foam next time!

To be fair I'd been a bit enthusiastic with the shaking, so the corny was half-full of foam, but perhaps I should've just rinsed with more starsan or left it to drain, lesson learned!

Fingers crossed it'll turn out OK!

 

[pvt_ak]

I’m a Milton man - never had any issues.

 

[beertrap]

I use regular bleach to clean everything. Just make sure you rinse well with hot water.

Then I use starsan right before fillin a fermenter or bottling.

 

[strange-steve]

I live in Northern Ireland so maybe the thin bleach option is "not available in Northern Ireland" as usual

I've found it in Asda

 

[skulltat280]

I’m a Milton man - never had any issues.

Do you just follow the directions on the bottle? And do you use the spray bottle of Milton

I’ve always used the Milton steriliser. I’ve not had any sterilising issues as of yet but let’s not jynx it as I’m brewing tomorrow so I’ll be using it again to sterilise. If it’s good enough for a baby, it’s good enough for brewing. Wilko’s normally has the litre bottles for about £2.50

I’m a Milton man - never had any issues.

?

 

[skulltat280]

I've found it in Asda

Sweet thanks, good to know

 

[Alex.mc]

Hi!
Don't fear the foam!
The foam that is produced when applying Starsan is actually a nutrient for the yeast, so don't worry about it. Starsan is a no-rinse sanitiser, so not only is there any need to rinse, it could be harmful to your wort.
For brewing purposes, we have to view tap water as dodgy, even though it is safe to drink. If you rinse with tap wzter, your surfaces are not sanitised.
Charlie Talley, the developer of Starsan, said in an audio blog that sanitation is unnecessary as long as things had received a thorough cleaning. However, then it has to be rinsed, and rinsing with tap water requires an application of sanitiser.
Next time you use Starsan, don't fear the foam! If you fill a Corny that is full of foam, most of it will be pushed out as the beer fills the keg.

This^^
I heard a podcast where a brewer used a blow off tube for a vigorous yeast, into a demijohn with starsan in it.
The fermentation blew krausen into the demijohn, then sucked back about 4 pints of water/starsan mix! He said the beer tasted perfect, and theoretically finished at a fractionally lower FG because of it.
It does take a mental hurdle to be jumped though.... as everything beforehand has told you that unless it's just droplets of water then something is in there that shouldn't be.

 

[JhnMcK]

Yeah, I normally use one cap full per 5L. For my brewing bucket, I just use 3 caps of Milton and 15L of water, put the lid on and splash it around so it comes into contact with all of the bucket and the lid and give it a shake every 5 minutes or so. I do have a spray bottle as well that I use it in when I’m sanitising the worktop so I can rest stuff on there. After 15 minutes, I just empty the bucket and pour straight in

 

[Clint]

Rinsing water not sanitary....?? That's kit brewers in a pickle then! All my kits were made up with around 20 litres straight out the tap....no probs with any. Bit of a conundrum!

 

[-Bezza-]

This^^
I heard a podcast where a brewer used a blow off tube for a vigorous yeast, into a demijohn with starsan in it.
The fermentation blew krausen into the demijohn, then sucked back about 4 pints of water/starsan mix! He said the beer tasted perfect, and theoretically finished at a fractionally lower FG because of it.
It does take a mental hurdle to be jumped though.... as everything beforehand has told you that unless it's just droplets of water then something is in there that shouldn't be.

I think some brewers would put vodka in the DJ in the hope that exactly this happens!

 

[skulltat280]

Yeah, I normally use one cap full per 5L. For my brewing bucket, I just use 3 caps of Milton and 15L of water, put the lid on and splash it around so it comes into contact with all of the bucket and the lid and give it a shake every 5 minutes or so. I do have a spray bottle as well that I use it in when I’m sanitising the worktop so I can rest stuff on there. After 15 minutes, I just empty the bucket and pour straight in

thanks mate, 1st brew day should be tomorrow for sure. just running through everything again to make sure im ready before begining

 

[Pavros]

I always thought that we weren't supposed to use thick bleach as it leaves a film/coating on the surface which is difficult to remove and could contaminate the beer - probably another of those homebrew half-truths

 

[skulltat280]

Hi @skulltat280
1. The residue from the oxi product can be removed with vinegar.
2. Don't give up on the bleach/vinegar sanitiser - I've used it for over a year now and had no problems whatsoever. Make sure that it's the cheapest bleach you can find.
3. I would clean your new products, just to be sure. If you have cleaned properly, then you shouldn't need to sanitise. However, rinsing water is not sanitary, so we have to sanitise after cleaning.

I should have asked, how much vinegar would you use for a 10 gallon keg? Or would some warm water and a "slug" of vinegar wiped around with a cloth do?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Im just this minute out of another Tesco. I think they've removed the value thin bleach for whatever reason. Price label was there but shelf empty again so I purchased these which hopefully someone can give advice on how to use for a no rinse. When I get a chance I'll create a new thread

A few Milton threads here -

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/sanitising-with-milton.74409/

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/do-i-have-to-rinse-milton.54806/

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/milton-sterilising-fluid.24046/