Cleaning, Sterilising and Bottling?

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Is this the correct W5 before I use it and make a balls of it all

[Eoin]

Is this the correct W5 before I use it and make a balls of it all

That's the right one. Don't panic, lots of information in this thread, maybe looks a bit intimidating. You'll be fine.

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[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Cheers Eoin - yes lots of information but I condensed it all together and made a little .pdf file of how to clean and santise the bottles correctly.  I'll probably only use it the once and remember how to do it from then on but at least I'm doing it properly and learning a lot as I go along.

If somethings worth doing, its worth doing properly!

Thanks again guys.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Just a quick one Eoin, I'm buying one of these guys tonite - http://www.homebrewwest.ie/brewsmarter-mini-bottle-rinser--sterilizer-fits-coopers-oxbars-2937-p.asp

I'd probable only need maximum a litre to do a load of bottles so do I just divide your solution down from 20 litres to 1 litre? No hidden equations to do?

If 20 litres of Water becomes 1 litre
30 mls of Thins Bleach becomes ... ?
30 mls white vinegar becomes ... ?

[Eoin]

Just a quick one Eoin, I'm buying one of these guys tonite - http://www.homebrewwest.ie/brewsmarter-mini-bottle-rinser--sterilizer-fits-coopers-oxbars-2937-p.asp

I'd probable only need maximum a litre to do a load of bottles so do I just divide your solution down from 20 litres to 1 litre? No hidden equations to do?

If 20 litres of Water becomes 1 litre
30 mls of Thins Bleach becomes ... ?
30 mls white vinegar becomes ... ?

It's direct ratios. Personally I'd not go lower than 5l because it gets too tight without pipettes etc for accuracy.

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[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Excellent, thanks

I'll go no lower than 5ltrs so.

Now to get some thin bleach and white vinegar in tesco, presume plain old clear vinegar is ok?

[Eoin]

Yep, plain white vinegar.

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[RichC]

Excellent, thanks

I'll go no lower than 5ltrs so.

Now to get some thin bleach and white vinegar in tesco, presume plain old clear vinegar is ok?

nothin fancy like cider/wine vinegars etc.. Just plain old distilled malt vinegar. And if you want to be anal about it the correct quantites are(direct from Charley Talley) 5 US Gallons of water, 1Oz Vinegar, 1Oz thin bleach

[brenmurph]

the oxy action is 100% biodegradable in a short time, it does leave a fine white film of sodium carbonate which is harmless and will rinse off the next wash / rinse. so from a food safe point of view oxyaction does not have to be rinsed, its more asthetic reasons for rinsing.  Other option is to pick up some starsan or h2o2. Ask at your next homebrew meeting about all things sanitation as well.
good that you are following the good advice as I feel its an area where homebrewers fall down.
wash everything till spotlessly clean especially around taps, lids and so on. if you have a normal fermenter bin with lid use the hot oxy and when the pressure buildup is over ( which happens) you can leave the fermenter upside down with the lid on, this will clean / sanitise all the crevices around the lid area.  Small bits and pieces just leave them soaking oxy when warm, about 15 mins everything will dissolve.

Again with the oxy in the pic from lidl, use rubber gloves and rinse well if you get it on skin or eyes, kits not hazardous but irritant and keep dry powder and wet mixes well away from  kits, they may be attracted to the bubbles and foam it produces

[LordEoin]

20l of water
30 ml White vinegar
30 ml thin unscented household bleach

+1

As far as i remember, it'll sanitize in 12 about 12 seconds.

I wouldn't recommend the dishwasher for PET bottles, it can warp them.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Cheers, I'll only put the glass into a high temp wash in the dishwasher.
I'll soak the PET Bottles in the w5 solution and only give them a low temp rinse in the dishwasher.

Thanks again!!!

[brenmurph]

great but make sure the rinse follows immediatly from the intensive wash so your dishwasher is sterile!
Or use a no rinse spray is perfect too  bleach/ vinegar, starsan, or h2o2 all work well

[Ciderhead]

Just cleaning and sterilising my bottles for beer to be beer gunned in tomorrow.
What a complete pain in the arse bottling is

[LordEoin]

i don't mind it so long as the bottles were properly washed after use.
40 bottles only takes about 15 minutes to sterilize in dozen batches.

[brenmurph]

wats wrong with ya CH... our bottling sessions here in Kildare atre therapy sessions,


we fill some.....and empty some at the same time