Cleaning syphon tubes

[Garry]

A few weeks ago I went to get my syphon tube and there was some mold growing inside it. I soaked it in warm water and oxi cleaner for an hour and gave the tube a squeeze where the mold was. I eventually got it off but it was a PITA 

I went to get it again this weekend and there was a spider and a cocoon inside the tube. I ended up cutting a few inches off the end and chucking it away (after I failed to wash the bitch and her evil spawn out ).

I think I'm having these problems because it's very difficult to dry the inside of the silicon tube when I'm finished washing it. This time I went outside and swung the tube around my head like a mad rodeo cowboy and this managed to get a lot of the water out but there were still small drops left.


Is there any way I can store the tube in water or will the water just go stagnant over time? I think my vinegar/water/bleach sanitizer would go off over time if I used it for long term soaking? I'm also thinking of hanging the hoses up on the wall so they can drip dry.

Does anyone use a beer line brush like this one?

Any tips appreciated 

[Eoin]

I tend to soak mine in VWP  before use, they don't tend to get mouldy on me which is a good thing, but I've often seen mineral deposits and water marks that a good soak removes.

[brenmurph]

anyone know if silicone tubing can be pressure cooked to sterilise and kill mold spores?

[LordEoin]

challenge accepted garry

[LordEoin]

Ok, I just made this and it sems to work a treat.

Coat hanger >> string >> cloth

The coat hanger is to get the string through the flexible pipe.
The string drags the cloth through.
The cloth dries the inside of the tube.

I use something similar for my rifle and it's the job.

Generally though for syphon tube I just swing it around like a looney, then hang it in the kitchen for a while.

I suppose you should plug up the ends if your place is prone to spider infestation.

[Garry]

Nice idea Eoin, thanks 


I should have thought of that myself; I used to watch my ould fella clean his shotgun with a coat hanger and a pair of Y-fronts


Plugging the ends might be worth a try too.

[Partridge9]

Very good !

I recently purchased one of these for my fish tank ..

http://www.waterzoo.co.uk/EHEIM-PIPE-CLEANING-BRUSH-SET-M736

a bit of a rip-off.

Generally I rinse all my pipes with star-san after use - I then hang them for a days in the kitchen to dry out (until I am told to move those bleeding hoses)

The trick is not to store them damp.

[DEMPSEY]

And if the underpants got stuck in the barrel he could shoot them out!

Doctor,Doctor,I'm shitting chips,"well lift your string vest then".

[Will_D]

anyone know if silicone tubing can be pressure cooked to sterilise and kill mold spores?

Silicone tubing is good for sterilising at 120C in a pressure cooker at 1 bar:  it will withstand over 200C easily

Thats why they make silicon bakeware/oven mats (whot we make kettle gasket out of) that are safe to 250C or so

HTH

[brenmurph]

anyone know if silicone tubing can be pressure cooked to sterilise and kill mold spores?

Silicone tubing is good for sterilising at 120C in a pressure cooker at 1 bar:  it will withstand over 200C easily

Thats why they make silicon bakeware/oven mats (whot we make kettle gasket out of) that are safe to 250C or so

HTH

It good to know.. Id say if theres a risk of infection its a good chance to be the siphon tube . I like that draw wire above.. A little strip of sponge would would work as well.
Do the pub line service people still force little sponge pellets through the hoses?

[LordEoin]

Silicone tubing is good for sterilising at 120C in a pressure cooker at 1 bar:  it will withstand over 200C easily

Suppose a baby bottle steam sterilizer would be the job too so 

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

I think in industry they use a 'pig' to clean the pipes (if the regular CIP has stopped being effective) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigging
It's basically blowing a plug through the pipe work. It might be possible to do on a home scale if you can attach the siphon to the ktichen tap somehow so you can blast the wadding (or similar) through. I haven't tried it myself.

It's a good idea to try to clean pipes, siphons, etc rather than relying on sanitation techniques (even heat) because when soil and biofilms build up, they offer a degree of protection to microbes that might allow them to survive regular cleaning and sanitation regimes.

Andrew