I picked up 5 6gal carboys off of Craigslist. I talked lady down to $60 for all 5 she originally wanted $100. The carboys are pretty dirty inside. Looks like they were emptied and lightly rinsed if that. One carboy had newspaper stuck to the body with a date of 1992. I just want to make sure these are cleaned properly. Any sugestions out there. I thought about pre rinse then soak with B Brite for a few days to loosen up the whatever that is in there. Then rinse and run a power drill carboy cleaner. Then sanitize with sulfate solutions. Any other suggestions? Thanks
Very dirty Carboys
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Oxiclean and warm water (NOT hot water!). Let it sit a day or so, then siphon the oxiclean out and rinse. I would be surprised if you need a scrub brush, but I would use one just to be thorough.
Good Luck,
Cody
Good Luck,
Cody
I agree with Oxiclean soak. PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) is another nice soaking cleaner.
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I agree with Oxiclean - the green container - without bleach and perfume
Then using the carboy cleaner to make sure that the entire carboy is cleaned from the inside.
It works 100% better than a brush !!
Then using the carboy cleaner to make sure that the entire carboy is cleaned from the inside.
It works 100% better than a brush !!
My goodness! In trying to answer your question, look what I came across from Daniel Pambianchi: http://www.techniquesinhomewinemaking.com/attachments/File/The%20Definitive%20Guide%20to%20Washing%20and%20Sanitizing%20Winemaking%20Equipment.pdf
I had never seen this before. It looks like an invaluable reference for cleaning.
Anyway, Mr. Pambianchi says that:
Oxyclean contains: sodium carbonate, sodium percarbonate, and sodium metasilicate
B-brite contains: sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate
PBW contains: sodium percarbonate and sodium metasilicate
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Good find Paul! Thanks for sharing. Often we use what works or what we were taught without ever seriously considering other options.
I use Oxiclean for all my heavy cleaning, except for the brewery after a brew day. I use PBW for that. Used properly, all of them will work, I just find that Oxiclean is the cheapest for most things. However, I don't want residue in my brew kettle, so I use PBW there.
Cody
Triple action. Gotta be better!
Mike, you're the chemist: what is the difference between sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate?
Hydrogen Peroxide.
I am not a chemist but it would seem to me that they should work in much the same way. Sodium Percarbonate is Sodium Carbonate combined with Hydrogen Peroxide. In water, the H2O2 would break down to H2O and O2 as a gas, leaving a Sodium Carbonate solution.
PBW is incredible stuff.
Boatboy24
No longer a newbie, but still clueless.
Wow, what a lot of detail. I haven't read it yet, but upon scanning, noticed this:
"Never carry glass carboys by their necks and be aware that even lifting a full glass carboy off a counter by placing your hands around its base can cause it to crack wide open."
In other words: don't ever touch your carboy; don't even look at it!
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I use oxy clean and hot water with a good brushing.
Jericurl
The Ferminator
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In other words: don't ever touch your carboy; don't even look at it!
I have one glass carboy left, all the rest are plastic.
And yes, if I look at them they break.
Wow, if all that is true I have been skating on thin ice. I move empty and full carboys all the time. I regularly pick up the empties by the neck and I move full ones by placing my right hand under the carboy and my left on the neck.
Has anyone ever had a carboy crack or break while merely handling it (not dropping, banging against something, etc.)?
EDIT: Looks like almost nothing is recommended for cleaning carboys. I did find this on Amazon. Anyone ever use it? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CRDXI16?keywords=Natural%202X%20Concentrated&qid=1444914687&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
EDIT: Yes, I am a sucker. I ordered a bottle!
Has anyone ever had a carboy crack or break while merely handling it (not dropping, banging against something, etc.)?
EDIT: Looks like almost nothing is recommended for cleaning carboys. I did find this on Amazon. Anyone ever use it? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CRDXI16?keywords=Natural%202X%20Concentrated&qid=1444914687&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
EDIT: Yes, I am a sucker. I ordered a bottle!
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The sodium percarbonate is like a "designer drug" version of sodium carbonate. It has 3 peroxide molecules attached as well
That is what makes it a "better cleaner". That breakdown reaction assist in cleaning things.
Bartman
Senior Member
I read through the article, and I gotta say, his "Sidebar" about the risks of handling glass carboys sounds very 'CYA'. I suspect his lawyer told him to add that precautionary statement to avoid liability for someone misusing his advice and then blaming him for not being clear enough. I have tried (and failed) to imagine a means of handling a carboy that does not involve picking it up by the neck or lifting the base. Other than bear-hugging the middle which would be very impractical for almost anyone, all I can picture is storing it on a palette and using a forklift to raise and move the entire palette - also not very practical for the home winemaker. 0_oWow, what a lot of detail. I haven't read it yet, but upon scanning, noticed this:
"Never carry glass carboys by their necks and be aware that even lifting a full glass carboy off a counter by placing your hands around its base can cause it to crack wide open."
In other words: don't ever touch your carboy; don't even look at it!
