Using VWP cleaner

liammiller · Nov 1, 2015

I've just finished my first batch and everything tasted alright on bottling. It's a Brewferm Kriek so I'm going to leave it a good couple of months.

I'm cleaning my equipment tonight and was just wondering if there are any problems with leaving VWP for too long. I have filled my FV with all of my equipment, added 7tsp of VWP and filled with water. It's not sitting upside down in the bath slowly draining.

I plan to leave it overnight as was wondering if there is any reason not to do this?

ManseMasher · Nov 1, 2015

As long as there is no metal in there, it will be fine. Give it a really good rinse before it dries though.

liammiller · Nov 1, 2015

ManseMasher said:
As long as there is no metal in there, it will be fine. Give it a really good rinse before it dries though.

What would be the problem with metal? The spring from my siphon is in there.

ManseMasher · Nov 1, 2015

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=13095

Can cause stainless steel to pit/corrode, apparently....

peebee · Nov 2, 2015

Not just apparently! I left some VMP solution in my then brand new (and expensive) fermenter and a few days later there was an oily rusty scum! The fermenter still bears the scars as a black staining (on stainless steel!).

I wont be leaving VMP in it (or anything else) for more than a couple of hours from now on.

MrDasherD · Nov 2, 2015

Had to bin some of my EasyKegs when the cider developed a tinny taste and ended up putting that down to VWP reacting on the metal. No problems on plastic or glass ... I often leave stuff soaking for quite a while but always ensure to rinse thoroughly. I picked up some old mucky demijohns from the local recycling centre and a good soak brought them up a treat!

Halfacrem · Nov 2, 2015

Same thing with leaving metal in Star San also, as I discovered today! I Left some flip top bottles in a bucket of Star San for two days and the metal flip arms are now black!

Racinsnake · Nov 2, 2015

I tried using VWP as a soak sanitiser but after a few days a scum developed on top of the water, i later found out it's not designed for this, it's also very aggressive on metals.