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Date: 10 Sep 2007 00:30:07
From: Bill Velek
Subject: Report on sanitizing using a bleach and vinegar solution
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This is my report on my experimentation over several batches with a
bleach and vinegar sanitizing solution; for those unfamiliar with what
I'm speaking about, I believe there is at least one old thread about the
subject on this group and in a few other forums as well; here is a
tinyurl link to one of them: http://tinyurl.com/ytdbqu
The concept is based on a podcast on 'Basic Brewing Radio' which hosted
Charlie Talley from Five-Star Chemicals, which you can listen to here:
http://media.libsyn.com/media/basicbrewing/bbr03-29-07.mp3
CAUTION: Do NOT mix bleach and vinegar directly; it is dangerous!
However, I'm convinced it is safe to do it by following his directions.
Prior to this experiment, I had been using Iodophor with great success,
but decided to give this a try. Following the directions that Charlie
provided, I mixed a solution of five (5) gallons of water with _eactly_
1 tablespoon of bleach, stirred it well, and then added _exactly_ 1
tablespoon of _white_ vinegar, as suggested. I then used it as a "no
rinse" sanitizer for everything during bottling. I am happy to report
that I have not detected any off-flavors from doing so. I'm going to
guess that, as cheap as bleach and vinegar are, that this is probably
less expensive than Iodophor, but my main reason for trying this is that
I can get them at the local grocery store in a pinch whereas the
Iodophor is a little harder to get in a little town like where I live.
Cheers.
Bill Velek - PERSONAL sites = www.velek.com & www.2plus2is4.com
710+ homebrewer group just for Equipment: www.tinyurl.com/axuol
330+ just for Growing Hops/Herbs/Grains: www.tinyurl.com/3au2uv
NEW group just for Homebrewing Supplies: www.tinyurl.com/2wnang
Join 'Homebrewers' to Help Cure Disease: www.tinyurl.com/yjlnyv
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Date: 17 Sep 2007 22:27:51
From: DonF
Subject: Re: Report on sanitizing using a bleach and vinegar solution
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On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:30:07 -0500, Bill Velek <billvelek@alltel.net >
wrote:
>This is my report on my experimentation over several batches with a
>bleach and vinegar sanitizing solution; for those unfamiliar with what
>I'm speaking about, I believe there is at least one old thread about the
>subject on this group and in a few other forums as well; here is a
>tinyurl link to one of them: http://tinyurl.com/ytdbqu
>
>The concept is based on a podcast on 'Basic Brewing Radio' which hosted
>Charlie Talley from Five-Star Chemicals, which you can listen to here:
>http://media.libsyn.com/media/basicbrewing/bbr03-29-07.mp3
>
>CAUTION: Do NOT mix bleach and vinegar directly; it is dangerous!
>However, I'm convinced it is safe to do it by following his directions.
>
>Prior to this experiment, I had been using Iodophor with great success,
>but decided to give this a try. Following the directions that Charlie
>provided, I mixed a solution of five (5) gallons of water with _eactly_
>1 tablespoon of bleach, stirred it well, and then added _exactly_ 1
>tablespoon of _white_ vinegar, as suggested. I then used it as a "no
>rinse" sanitizer for everything during bottling. I am happy to report
>that I have not detected any off-flavors from doing so. I'm going to
>guess that, as cheap as bleach and vinegar are, that this is probably
>less expensive than Iodophor, but my main reason for trying this is that
>I can get them at the local grocery store in a pinch whereas the
>Iodophor is a little harder to get in a little town like where I live.
>
>Cheers.
For those fearing a lingering presence of chlorine, I suggest a
further inexpensive tweak. I sanitize my carboys exclusively using the
bleach/vinegar approach. I add one oz of vinegar to the empty but
cleaned carboy, fill to 3/4 full with cold tap water, add 1 oz of the
cheapest, non-perfumed bleach I can buy (generic, Dollar store
variety) then fill with tap water to the top of the carboy and let set
until I need the carboy. If the carboy will not be used for several
days, I cap it with aluminum foil.
A few minutes before I use the carboy, I dump most of the contents
down the drain leaving maybe 1/2 to 3/4 gallons in the carboy. I next
add 1 tbsp of 3% topical hydorgen peroxide, (H2O2, the 69 cent for 16
oz WalMart stuff) to the carboy, slosh the liquid around for a few
seconds and dump the contents down the drain. The H2O2 reacts with the
hypochlorite in the bleach solution and converts it almost instantly
to gaseous chlorine. The result? No lingering chlorine in the carboy.
Any drops of liquid remaining in the carboy is essentially water.
See the article at: http://www.essentialwater.net/articles/hp2.htm
for more info on dechlorination using hydrogen peroxide.
DonF
>
>Bill Velek - PERSONAL sites = www.velek.com & www.2plus2is4.com
>710+ homebrewer group just for Equipment: www.tinyurl.com/axuol
>330+ just for Growing Hops/Herbs/Grains: www.tinyurl.com/3au2uv
>NEW group just for Homebrewing Supplies: www.tinyurl.com/2wnang
>Join 'Homebrewers' to Help Cure Disease: www.tinyurl.com/yjlnyv
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Date: 11 Sep 2007 13:58:59
From: Bill Velek
Subject: Re: Report on sanitizing using a bleach and vinegar solution
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Bill Velek wrote:
> This is my report on my experimentation over several batches with a
> bleach and vinegar sanitizing solution ...
snip
I'm bottling three batches today: a pale ale, a brown ale, and a stout.
I'm using the vinegar/bleach solution again. I'll report any problems.
Cheers.
Bill Velek - PERSONAL sites = www.velek.com & www.2plus2is4.com
720+ homebrewer group just for Equipment: www.tinyurl.com/axuol
330+ just for Growing Hops/Herbs/Grains: www.tinyurl.com/3au2uv
NEW group just for Homebrewing Supplies: www.tinyurl.com/2wnang
Join 'Homebrewers' to Help Cure Disease: www.tinyurl.com/yjlnyv
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