Sterilise or Not to Sterilise!!!

[Chubbs]

You have to buy that product though. 95% abv heads are a free byproduct of what we do if running a column, spray bottle, and any excess evaporates.

Never thought of using heads as a steriliser, thanks for the info. That's even more money I will be saving in the future.

Cheers.

[packapoo]

I fancy I can see a flaw in that idea. Tho' might be just me....

[Capt-Cudellez]

I fancy I can see a flaw in that idea. Tho' might be just me....

What's your concern? I'm guessing either.....

Contaminating the wash with heads? The quantity from a spray gun is tiny, maybe a table spoon, to do my 60l fermenter, most evaporates off, and even if it didn't, what's and extra 30ml when you are collecting 1.5l heads from the spirit run of 2 stripped washes.

Or

High proof touching plastic? I'm not soaking it in the stuff, contact is maybe a minute, it really does evaporate dry, then I'm chucking 50l of wash in there. If you're not comfortable doing that, then don't do it. They cart NGS about in HDPE totes, so if you drink commercial gin, that base spirit has been in contact with the same type of plastic for much much longer.

[packapoo]

Both.

[Mash]

I use alcohol to clean all of my wine/beer/stilling gear.

Very little left, because it evaporates.

Ideal as a splash in everything from bottles to ss vessels. Keeping them fresh ready for use.

I do dilute it. 90% heads does destroy the workings of a spray quite quickly

[Easydrinker]

I am not going to criticise another persons Health & Safety criteria.
IMHO this is an area where we each make our own informed choices.
And we can expect different strokes from different folks.

Robert.