jayhkr
Junior Member
So I just want to be sure what I'm doing is within acceptable sanitation guidelines while I'm doing the "cheapy" recipes. I would hate to start a bad practice when I get into the more pricier kit wines later on. Basically I keep all my supplies (plastic spoon, thermometer, hydrometer, test tube, turkey baster) in a plastic tub with a lid on it to keep any dust from getting on them. They, of course, have all been deep cleaned and are rinsed off after every use. Since I use each of those multiple times a day, or at least once a day, what I've been doing is using a spray bottle with the sanitation liquid in it, I just spray down what I'm using real well, give it a few seconds, shake the excess water off and then use them as intended. My question is, is that enough? Do I need to let the sanitation water sit on the tool longer? I'm just making a few batches of Welch's grape wine now, but I know later on I will get into the kit wines and really don't want to ruin one of those batches by contaminating it by being lazy.
On a side note, I've found a great way to "protect" my hydrometer and make it easier to store. My turkey baster was purchased at the Dollar Tree, and it's the perfect size to put my hydrometer in, skinny end towards the tip of the baster. Then put the "bulb" of the baster over the end where it belongs encapsulating the hydrometer. The baster then fits very nice and snug inside the hydrometer test tube creating a water tight seal at the mouth. I've sprayed the sanitation water in the tube and put the baster in there as described too, hoping the fumes will keep everything sanitized that way too. Any thoughts on that? (I can attach pictures later if needed)
On a side note, I've found a great way to "protect" my hydrometer and make it easier to store. My turkey baster was purchased at the Dollar Tree, and it's the perfect size to put my hydrometer in, skinny end towards the tip of the baster. Then put the "bulb" of the baster over the end where it belongs encapsulating the hydrometer. The baster then fits very nice and snug inside the hydrometer test tube creating a water tight seal at the mouth. I've sprayed the sanitation water in the tube and put the baster in there as described too, hoping the fumes will keep everything sanitized that way too. Any thoughts on that? (I can attach pictures later if needed)