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Main
Date: 13 Aug 2006 14:53:58
From: kkociolek@pghmail.com
Subject: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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Hi,
I am a newbie to the hobby and group and have a basic question. The kit
I bought from the homebrew shop included 8oz of One-Step. After
cleaning, is the best way to sanitize a carboy to mix up a 5 gallon
batch in a bucket and then pour it in the carboy up to the top and let
it sit?
Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution in
the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
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Date: 13 Aug 2006 18:55:50
From: kkociolek@pghmail.com
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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Andy McKellar wrote:
> kkociolek@pghmail.com wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am a newbie to the hobby and group and have a basic question. The
> > kit I bought from the homebrew shop included 8oz of One-Step. After
> > cleaning, is the best way to sanitize a carboy to mix up a 5 gallon
> > batch in a bucket and then pour it in the carboy up to the top and
> > let it sit?
> >
> > Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution
> > in the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
> >
> One Step is a good cleanser, but it is _not_ a sanitizer, i.e., although
> it does a good job of washing dirt and grunge away, it won't do a good
> job of killing bacteria (although, to be fair, you don't care if the
> germs are dead or not once they're washed away). My basic rule is,
> "clean first, then sanitize the clean surface"; I use a bleach solution
> -- and thorough rinse -- to sanitize fermenters and a BTF (iodophor)
> solution for equipment, kegs and keg parts, etc.
>
> Why two different sanitizers, you ask? Basically, because I'm both
> cheap and lazy. BTF costs about 5-10 cents per gallon of solution,
> whereas chlorine is almost free; OTOH, bleach requires a thorough rinse
> and is reputed to pit stainless steel over time, but BTF needs no rinse
> and is metal-friendly.
>
> -- Andy McKellar
> Dallas, TX
That's what makes this so confusing to a beginner. The guy at the
homebrew store tells me that One-Step is a sanitizer. I'll look more
into Iodophor for my carboy. Thanks.
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 15:07:38
From: John Bleichert
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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kkociolek@pghmail.com <kkociolek@pghmail.com > wrote:
>
> Andy McKellar wrote:
>> kkociolek@pghmail.com wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I am a newbie to the hobby and group and have a basic question. The
>> > kit I bought from the homebrew shop included 8oz of One-Step. After
>> > cleaning, is the best way to sanitize a carboy to mix up a 5 gallon
>> > batch in a bucket and then pour it in the carboy up to the top and
>> > let it sit?
>> >
>> > Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution
>> > in the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
>> >
>> One Step is a good cleanser, but it is _not_ a sanitizer, i.e., although
>> it does a good job of washing dirt and grunge away, it won't do a good
>> job of killing bacteria (although, to be fair, you don't care if the
>> germs are dead or not once they're washed away). My basic rule is,
>> "clean first, then sanitize the clean surface"; I use a bleach solution
>> -- and thorough rinse -- to sanitize fermenters and a BTF (iodophor)
>> solution for equipment, kegs and keg parts, etc.
>>
>> Why two different sanitizers, you ask? Basically, because I'm both
>> cheap and lazy. BTF costs about 5-10 cents per gallon of solution,
>> whereas chlorine is almost free; OTOH, bleach requires a thorough rinse
>> and is reputed to pit stainless steel over time, but BTF needs no rinse
>> and is metal-friendly.
>>
>> -- Andy McKellar
>> Dallas, TX
>
> That's what makes this so confusing to a beginner. The guy at the
> homebrew store tells me that One-Step is a sanitizer. I'll look more
> into Iodophor for my carboy. Thanks.
>
Both my LHBS and northernbrewer state that OneStep is a sanitizer.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/sanitizers.html
I never noticed that it says nothing about sanitizing on the
label. For what it's worth, for the last year I've spent my time
cleaning and very little sanitizing (this side of racking equipment).
I never sanitize my secondary carboys, but I scrub the hell out of
them *right* before I use them with some good biodegradeable dish
soap. I do normally shake some bleach solution around in primaries
before loading them, but never any secondaries or tertiaries.
I've been using One-Step as a sanitizer all this time and haven't had
any problems. I'll consider a move to Iodophor if I have any problems.
-----------------------------------------------
John Bleichert syborg@earthlink.net
The heat from below can burn your eyes out!!
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 18:04:04
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:07:38 GMT, <syborg@earthlink.net > wrote:
> kkociolek@pghmail.com <kkociolek@pghmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Andy McKellar wrote:
>>> kkociolek@pghmail.com wrote:
>>> > Hi,
>>> >
>>> > I am a newbie to the hobby and group and have a basic question. The
>>> > kit I bought from the homebrew shop included 8oz of One-Step. After
>>> > cleaning, is the best way to sanitize a carboy to mix up a 5 gallon
>>> > batch in a bucket and then pour it in the carboy up to the top and
>>> > let it sit?
>>> >
>>> > Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution
>>> > in the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
>>> >
>>> One Step is a good cleanser, but it is _not_ a sanitizer
>>
>> That's what makes this so confusing to a beginner. The guy at the
>> homebrew store tells me that One-Step is a sanitizer. I'll look more
>> into Iodophor for my carboy. Thanks.
Here's the story, at least how I understand it. The term "sanitizer" in
the US is a legal definition that *must* be backed up with EPA approval
and registration, which is a fairly expensive process. The makers of
One-Step have decided that it is not financially beneficial for them to
go through that "official" process, and therefore are prevented by law
from calling their product a sanitizer on the packaging. However, in
theory the contents of One-Step will sanitize, they are just not allowed
to claim that it does.
They have an interesting description about this on their website.
John.
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Date: 13 Aug 2006 19:18:38
From: Andy McKellar
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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kkociolek@pghmail.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am a newbie to the hobby and group and have a basic question. The
> kit I bought from the homebrew shop included 8oz of One-Step. After
> cleaning, is the best way to sanitize a carboy to mix up a 5 gallon
> batch in a bucket and then pour it in the carboy up to the top and
> let it sit?
>
> Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution
> in the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
>
One Step is a good cleanser, but it is _not_ a sanitizer, i.e., although
it does a good job of washing dirt and grunge away, it won't do a good
job of killing bacteria (although, to be fair, you don't care if the
germs are dead or not once they're washed away). My basic rule is,
"clean first, then sanitize the clean surface"; I use a bleach solution
-- and thorough rinse -- to sanitize fermenters and a BTF (iodophor)
solution for equipment, kegs and keg parts, etc.
Why two different sanitizers, you ask? Basically, because I'm both
cheap and lazy. BTF costs about 5-10 cents per gallon of solution,
whereas chlorine is almost free; OTOH, bleach requires a thorough rinse
and is reputed to pit stainless steel over time, but BTF needs no rinse
and is metal-friendly.
-- Andy McKellar
Dallas, TX
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 08:40:44
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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Andy McKellar wrote:
> Why two different sanitizers, you ask? Basically, because I'm both
> cheap and lazy. BTF costs about 5-10 cents per gallon of solution,
> whereas chlorine is almost free; OTOH, bleach requires a thorough rinse
> and is reputed to pit stainless steel over time, but BTF needs no rinse
> and is metal-friendly.
How does bleach do in plastic buckets? Mine has quite a brewing smell to
it. And while its not horrid, it would be good to clean that out once in
a while.
Also, I just purchased 4 used corney kegs and they reek of sodas. I will
replace the O-rings, even though they are in good condition.. just stink.
Any products that are SS safe that will help reduce or remove odor?
--
Dan
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 16:51:13
From: Bob
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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"Dan Logcher" <dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net > wrote in message news:44e06f4e$0$564
> Also, I just purchased 4 used corney kegs and they reek of sodas. I will
> replace the O-rings, even though they are in good condition.. just stink.
> Any products that are SS safe that will help reduce or remove odor?
My experience was that the lid gasket is the main carrier of the odor.
Replace that, and the problem is gone.
Bob
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Date: 13 Aug 2006 19:41:59
From: Phil
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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On 13 Aug 2006 14:53:58 -0700, "kkociolek@pghmail.com"
<kkociolek@pghmail.com > wrote:
>Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution in
>the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
I usually put a gallon of water and some sanitizer in the carboy and
shake it several times while the wort is boiling.
Phil
======
visit the New York City Homebrewers Guild website:
http://www.hbd.org/nychg
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 08:37:21
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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Phil wrote:
> On 13 Aug 2006 14:53:58 -0700, "kkociolek@pghmail.com"
> <kkociolek@pghmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>>Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution in
>>the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
>
>
> I usually put a gallon of water and some sanitizer in the carboy and
> shake it several times while the wort is boiling.
That's what I do with B-Brite.. except I shake it more often since it
needs longer contact time.
--
Dan
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 09:28:35
From: Phil
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 08:37:21 -0400, Dan Logcher
<dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net > wrote:
>Phil wrote:
>> On 13 Aug 2006 14:53:58 -0700, "kkociolek@pghmail.com"
>> <kkociolek@pghmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution in
>>>the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
>>
>>
>> I usually put a gallon of water and some sanitizer in the carboy and
>> shake it several times while the wort is boiling.
>
>That's what I do with B-Brite.. except I shake it more often since it
>needs longer contact time.
When it comes to cleaning, I'll use a carboy brush. Sanitizing just
requires shaking.
Phil
======
visit the New York City Homebrewers Guild website:
http://www.hbd.org/nychg
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 07:52:07
From: Jerry Z
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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Dan Logcher wrote:
> How does bleach do in plastic buckets?
<<SNIP >>
Bleach solutions are great for sanitizing plastic fermenters, and do a
pretty good job at removing odor "stains" (for lack of a better term)
as well.
For reducing (maybe even removing) a strong smell in a plastic vessel,
make solution of 1 cup bleach per 5 gallons water, and fill the bucket
to maximum capacity (if the odor is *really* strong, you could double
the bleach/water ratio - just keep your hands out of it).
Allow to soak for 24 hours. If there's still residual odor after a
thorough rinse, repeat with a fresh batch of bleach solution. It won't
hurt to allow the soak to go longer than 1 day at a time, but in my
experience, a soak longer than 24 hours without a change of the bleach
solution doesn't seem to get any more effective at removing odors.
Jerry
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 22:27:44
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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Jerry Z wrote:
> Dan Logcher wrote:
>
>>How does bleach do in plastic buckets?
>
> <<SNIP>>
>
> Bleach solutions are great for sanitizing plastic fermenters, and do a
> pretty good job at removing odor "stains" (for lack of a better term)
> as well.
>
> For reducing (maybe even removing) a strong smell in a plastic vessel,
> make solution of 1 cup bleach per 5 gallons water, and fill the bucket
> to maximum capacity (if the odor is *really* strong, you could double
> the bleach/water ratio - just keep your hands out of it).
>
> Allow to soak for 24 hours. If there's still residual odor after a
> thorough rinse, repeat with a fresh batch of bleach solution. It won't
> hurt to allow the soak to go longer than 1 day at a time, but in my
> experience, a soak longer than 24 hours without a change of the bleach
> solution doesn't seem to get any more effective at removing odors.
I'll give it a shot.
--
Dan
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 17:41:51
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Sanitize Carboy w/ One Step
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On 13 Aug 2006 14:53:58 -0700, <kkociolek@pghmail.com > wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am a newbie to the hobby and group and have a basic question. The kit
> I bought from the homebrew shop included 8oz of One-Step. After
> cleaning, is the best way to sanitize a carboy to mix up a 5 gallon
> batch in a bucket and then pour it in the carboy up to the top and let
> it sit?
This is what I do with my sanitizer. It used more water, but IMO is easier.
> Or could I get away with a couple gallons of mixed One-Step solution in
> the carboy and just shake it up a few times?
I believe you can do this as well. The sanitizer you are using should list
a contact time. Basically you just need to make sure that the sides of
the carboy stay wet for that duration. Whether you do that by filling it
and letting it sit, or by partially filling it and shaking should not make
any difference. You don't have to shake the entire contact time, just shake
often enough to ensure that the sides stay wet for the duration of the contact
time.
John.
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