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CLEANSERS
& SANITIZERS
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WARNING: Never ever combine or mix any
cleaners or disinfectants! The gasses that are released by chemical reactions can be
seriously toxic.
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Household Ammonia: |
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Pros: Effective for bottle label removal.
One cup per 5 gal. of cold water, soak overnight. Removes all but metallic labels from
bottles. Pros: Effective for bottle label removal.
One cup per 5 gal. of cold water, soak overnight. Removes all but metallic labels from
bottles. |
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Cons: Unpleasant to work with. Use in
ventilated area & NEVER mix with chlorinated cleaners. |
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Chlorine:
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| Pros: A powerful cleaner, sanitizer
& sterilant. Not to be confused with chloride. Easily accessible. As a cleaner
use 2 oz. of bleach per 5 gal. of cold water, soak overnight to remove residues and stains
from the inside surfaces of bottles and glass fermenters. Thoroughly rinse with warm or
hot water. As a sanitizer mix 1/3 - 1 1/2 tsp. of bleach per 5 gal. of cold water,
soak clean equipment 1/2 - 1 hour. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. Pros: A powerful cleaner, sanitizer
& sterilant. Not to be confused with chloride. Easily accessible. As a cleaner
use 2 oz. of bleach per 5 gal. of cold water, soak overnight to remove residues and stains
from the inside surfaces of bottles and glass fermenters. Thoroughly rinse with warm or
hot water. As a sanitizer mix 1/3 - 1 1/2 tsp. of bleach per 5 gal. of cold water,
soak clean equipment 1/2 - 1 hour. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. |
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Cons:
Never combine with other cleaners,
especially ammonia! When combined with nitrogen compounds (such as protein and yeast
nutrients found in beer wort), this may result in very stable compounds such as
chlorophenols, chloroform and chloromenes; contributing off-flavors to beer and possible
toxic compounds if present in significant amounts. These compounds area odorless. |
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Detergents:
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| Pros: Can aid in cleaning homebrew
equipment. Non perfumed varieties are preferable. Using elbow grease, detergents will
remove dirt, grease and oils, making equipment physically clean. Detergents clean, they do
NOT sanitize! Pros: Can aid in cleaning homebrew
equipment. Non perfumed varieties are preferable. Using elbow grease, detergents will
remove dirt, grease and oils, making equipment physically clean. Detergents clean, they do
NOT sanitize! |
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Cons:
Must rinse very well. Residues can
alter the character of your beer. Do not mix with soaps. They are not the same and in
combination will render both useless. |
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Heat:
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| Pros: Boiling water or temperatures
held above 170° F, will sanitize equipment. Imparts no flavor
into beer. Pros: Boiling water or temperatures
held above 170° F, will sanitize equipment. Imparts no flavor
into beer. |
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Cons:
Will soften and even melt plastics.
Very Hot - use caution. |
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Iodine:
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Pros: B-T-F Iodophor Sanitizer uses only 1/2 oz. per 5 gal. of cold water.
Quickly sanitizes in 2-5 minutes of soaking. Rinse or air dry per specified instructions.
Odorless. Pros: Available in your homebrewing
supply store or commercial restaurant suppliers. Usually sold in highly concentrated
amounts. Example: B-T-F Iodophor Sanitizer uses only 1/2 oz. per 5 gal. of cold water.
Quickly sanitizes in 2-5 minutes of soaking. Rinse or air dry per specified instructions.
Odorless. |
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Cons:
Can be as toxic as chlorine, so care
should be taken when handling. Do not soak equipment longer than specified instructions,
may cause staining over a period of time. |
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Metabisulfite, Sodium or Potassium:
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Pros: Sodium or potassium
metabisulfite is a bacterial inhibitor only. It does not necessarily have the ability to
disinfect. Metabisulfites should only be used in winemaking, not beermaking. Due to wines
higher alcohol content, metabisulfites will further inhibit bacteria. Pros: Sodium or potassium
metabisulfite is a bacterial inhibitor only. It does not necessarily have the ability to
disinfect. Metabisulfites should only be used in winemaking, not beermaking. Due to wines
higher alcohol content, metabisulfites will further inhibit bacteria. |
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Cons: Not to be used in beermaking. If
added to water alone, metabisulfites are not at all effective for sanitizing homebrew
equipment. |
| Quaternary Ammonia: |
| Pros: A very powerful and persistent
disinfectant used by breweries to clean floors and the outside of brewhouse equipment. |
| Cons: Should never be used to clean
anything that comes in contact with beer. Not recommended for homebrew use. |
| Soap: |
| Pros: With a little elbow grease, soap
can be used to clean, not sanitize, homebrew equipment. |
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Cons: Attention should be given to rinse all
residues with warm water. |
| Star San: |
Pros:
Contact time is 1-2 minutes. No rinse. Does not impart any flavors into beer. Can be used
on all brewing equipment (even copper if used at the appropriate dilution, i.e. 1 oz./ 5
gallons water at 50-120° F). Phosphoric acid based, high foaming
sanitizer which will passivate stainless steel. |
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Cons:
Costs approximately 14¢/gallon. Do not
mix with chlorine. |
| Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate): |
Pros: Washing soda is a mild alkaline
cleanser. Use 1/4 - 1/2 cup per 5 gal. of water to remove most labels from beer bottles.
Slowly dissolves organic matter.
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Cons: Washing soda solutions will corrode
aluminum and release explosive hydrogen gas. However they are considered very safe to use,
not to be confused with Sodium Hydroxide which can be very dangerous if not used properly.
Rinse well. |
