Cleaning Chemicals

[RichSib]

I have been cleaning all my kit, kettle, fermenters, bottles, kegs etc with PBW since I lived in the US, where it dominates the market. It's a little harder and more expensive to get here. Can anyone suggest a more affordable, more readily available solution? My kit is mixed bag of stainless, copper, various plastics and glass, I would like one cleaner for all materials. I use Star San to sanitise everything so I don't necessarily need a combined cleaner sanitizer. I do not like chlorine and I would like to avoid it where possible.
Thanks lads,
Rich.

[irish_goat]

I'd be tempted to get some caustic if people wanted a group buy?

Very cheap prices here and it's what a lot of the pros use.
http://nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,2696.0.html

[imark]

Lidl W5 Oxy cleaner is cheap and effective.

[brenmurph]

Ill second W5 which Im using for 18 months and 150 brews.. zero infections   Super cleaner, ozone friendly and I believe nothing lives following contact with it.. the jury's out though some believe it dosnt sterilise.  Its my only cleaner / sanitiser/ steriliser and Ill be sticking with it for sure

[Hop Bomb]

PBW & starsan here. W5 too sometimes if the gear is particularly cruddy.

[Covey]

I converted from VWP to W5 about 6 months, and have'nt looked back, cheap as chips too. I use it from fermenter,bottles,keg and lines too, i do rinse it too generaly,

[Greg2013]

Ill second W5 which Im using for 18 months and 150 brews.. zero infections   Super cleaner, ozone friendly and I believe nothing lives following contact with it.. the jury's out though some believe it dosnt sterilise.  Its my only cleaner / sanitiser/ steriliser and Ill be sticking with it for sure

I converted from VWP to W5 about 6 months, and have'nt looked back, cheap as chips too. I use it from fermenter,bottles,keg and lines too, i do rinse it too generaly,

I use this for cleaning everything, never thought it was a sterilizer as well?

[brenmurph]

cheaper than chips...bag of chips are 3 quid up the town   w5 is 2.49 and lasts for about 20 brews prep and clean up and kegs and so on..

[RichSib]

Thanks lads, sounds like a pretty compelling case for W5. I take it W5 contains no perfumes, in the US they stopped selling unscented oxy clean and the perfumed stuff left your gear smelling like a load of laundry.

[Will_D]

Correct

[mr hoppy]

just picked up some w5 oxi today. How much in 5 gallons of water for brewing use?

[Greg2013]

just picked up some w5 oxi today. How much in 5 gallons of water for brewing use?

If you mean per 25 litres i would say two of the scoops in the container. It depends really how dirty your gear is, use slightly lukewarm water to get better reaction.

[brenmurph]

contains no perfumes and its completly odourless. It does contain enzymes, which I believe are its powerful agent so u must use it warm / hot as per instructions.

The recomended temp is 40c as stated on the tub.

It also gives the mix ratio on the tub ( 1 scoop for 4 litres) or something like that.

Ive used this stuff exclusively for cleaning / sanitising and no flawed beer in 150 brews.

I use a strong solution ( tablespoon in a pint)  at 40-50 c and give it 5 minutes contact time ( based on the industrial version's instructions)   sometimes I use rubber gloves and wash with a soft sponge.

Dont get this on hands...ur fingers skin will start splitting a few days later like cracked lips..

for really caked on stuff like the ring of sticky stuff after uve been fermenting a strong solution as above will dissolve it in minutes usually without scrubbing...I think this is due to the enzymes rather than the oxy effect.

[brenmurph]

just picked up some w5 oxi today. How much in 5 gallons of water for brewing use?

If you mean per 25 litres i would say two of the scoops in the container. It depends really how dirty your gear is, use slightly lukewarm water to get better reaction.

I think it says 40c... check the tubs instructions because I think with the enzymes in the mix, it will depend on temp for them to work optimumly   The laundry enzymes will be a mix of lipases, amylases and lipases as far as I know.

[Greg2013]

just picked up some w5 oxi today. How much in 5 gallons of water for brewing use?

If you mean per 25 litres i would say two of the scoops in the container. It depends really how dirty your gear is, use slightly lukewarm water to get better reaction.

I think it says 40c... check the tubs instructions because I think with the enzymes in the mix, it will depend on temp for them to work optimumly   The laundry enzymes will be a mix of lipases, amylases and lipases as far as I know.

True but what i was saying is that you don't necessarily need the enzyme action, if it aint that dirty then the oxy action might be enough. I use this all the time and tap temp water is fine despite what it says on the tub. Just because it says 40c does not mean you have to use 40c, however if you had a really baked on dirt then i would say yes certainly go with the higher temp.

Lets face it its not as if we are ever going to be dealing with industrial level dirt as in a washing machine load?