StillSmart

Hi all. I can get hold of loads of sachets of key-5 sanitizer and just wondered if anyone uses it for sterilising their equipment .

I had to google it. as its chlorine (bleach) based you would need to rinse it well (3 times) to clear all residual.

you cant beat 5star starsan imho, cheap as chips as a bottle should last 5+years before you need more. due to its persistent nature you can mix it up and apply via a trigger spray bottle, and use 1l for a good few brews, a cheap book of indicator paper strips is all you need to test the mix after a few months and as long as its ph3 or less its good to go,
http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... CskBfldWac

not endorsing the shop just the first link google kicked up

I use videne to sterelise my cornies and fermenting bins
1.5ml to a 1ltr water also got it from chemist about £7

I use this for long time storage of empty fermenters demijohns etc.

Similar to Milton but a third of the cost.

A pound for a litre in the discount chemist chains.

YHB wrote:I use this for long time storage of empty fermenters demijohns etc.

Similar to Milton but a third of the cost.

A pound for a litre in the discount chemist chains.

also you can get this from poundland. poundworld. or 99p shops

I've always use good old VWP :-)

The guy in one HBS told me starsan is a good sanitiser but it doesn't clean anything, so you still need something to clean with first before using it, taking twice as long.

VWP does both, it is expensive but in my experisnce works perfect at 1 teaspoon per gallon.

Apart from making up the wash and pouring it out etc. I keep the lid and airlock on my fermenters. While the T500 is warming up, I rinse out a fermenter with cold water. Takes about 3 goes of swirling water around to get a clean fermenter. Then I make up the wash.

I'm not sure that I'd be this lax if making a regular wine but the VS ferment looks strong enough to kill any nasties still there after the rinse.

I'm guessing that this is one of those personal things,in that if it has always worked for yourself,then that is good.
Myself,if immediately re-using a fermenter,I simply wash/rinse and re-use.
Discovered the hard way that if not,then simply storing after a wash/rinse leads to furry stuff growing.
Keeping it simple,and low cost,I now wipe such offending articles with household bleach,and rinse.

My reason?
4 years ago I sat in the dentists chair for 3 straight hours having a jawbone graft,not pleasant.As they waited for me to become normal-ish, they started cleaning up the room,as always,with the cheapest household bleach.
I asked.
They replied why not?
My jaw healed,I have a lot of faith in such simple practise.
Robert.

I would like to think that we haven't hi-jacked your thread,merely moved it along,even if non of us actually answered your original question!

Not at all. This is all very interesting to read and glad your jaw healed well

I use home bargins 99p sterilising tablets.Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate a bit more expensive than bleach but at least I know the strenght of it.



I also use starsan, when brewing beer.. it's so easy to use

Myself,if immediately re-using a fermenter,I simply wash/rinse and re-use.
Discovered the hard way that if not,then simply storing after a wash/rinse leads to furry stuff growing.

Adding for clarity: When I syphon off the wash, there is an inch or so of wash/sediment left. I leave it like that which may be the reason I have no problems rinsing out when needed.

I used to use the tablets from HB, but now I just use Wilkos functional household bleach. It's cheap enough to fill my 80l plastic box with, which allows me to fully immerse my pressure barrels, fermenting buckets, demijohns, bottles etc. I probably use it too liberally though.

I use Milton, diluted as per instructions, and kept in a spray bottle but I only sterilise immediately before using a fermenter. Keep it simples peoples

AM