# Craftmeister alkaline brewery wash amount **URL:** \ **Category:** General Homebrew Discussion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707 "2018-07-11T21:24:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rookie\_l\_a](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/rookie_l_a/32/19_2.png) [@rookie\_l\_a](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/rookie_l_a)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/1 "2018-07-11T21:24:13Z")
Can I use a weaker solution than reccomended on the package? (2 ozs. per 1-2 gallons of water.) I’m on a pretty tight budget and this stuff is spendy. ---
**Author:** ![flars](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/flars/32/10286_2.png) [@flars](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/flars)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/2 "2018-07-11T21:31:31Z")
I always use less for cleaning bottles and carboys.  I’m not afraid to let the bottles soak until I get around to jet rinsing them nor using a carboy brush to make sure the carboys are clean.  i don’t spend more dollars than necessary either.  Clean is clean. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/3 "2018-07-11T21:40:49Z")
Steve, experiment to see how much works for you…start small and work up if you need to.  I use maybe 3 scoops for one of my 5 gal. buckets. ---
**Author:** ![rookie\_l\_a](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/rookie_l_a/32/19_2.png) [@rookie\_l\_a](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/rookie_l_a)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/4 "2018-07-11T21:45:23Z")
> [@denny](#): > > Steve, experiment to see how much works for you…start small and work up if you need to.  I use maybe 3 scoops for one of my 5 gal. buckets. How much is that ounce wise? I got several 2 ounce packets at homebrewcon. ---
**Author:** ![Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Robertestein05_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/5 "2018-07-11T22:00:22Z")
Remember, for any chemical cleaner (not sanitizer of course) effectiveness is the product of three factors:  concentration, time, and temperature.  Reducing one element in the triangle can be compensated by increasing one or both of the others.  I rarely use ABW,  PBW or the like at recommended strength.  I mix hot, and soak as long as it takes to get stuff clean.  The only place I _might_ follow the directions, just to be safe, is in draught lines or other CIP applications where I can’t see what’s going on.  Don’t waste your money.  And if it doesn’t seem to be doing the job, you can always add another scoop later. > [@](#): > > > [@denny](#): > > > > Steve, experiment to see how much works for you…start small and work up if you need to.  I use maybe 3 scoops for one of my 5 gal. buckets. > > How much is that ounce wise? I got several 2 ounce packets at homebrewcon. I just checked, the scoop that comes with ABW is 1 Tbs/0.5 oz. ---
**Author:** ![a10t2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/a10t2/32/6257_2.png) [@a10t2](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/a10t2)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/6 "2018-07-12T01:26:04Z")
I use 1 tbsp (1/2 fl oz) per gal for general cleaning/soaking and it works very well. IIRC that’s a quarter the recommended dosage. An overnight soak with that solution brought some disturbing-looking deposits out of my chiller when I used it for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Robertestein05_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/7 "2018-07-12T01:43:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I use 1 tbsp (1/2 fl oz) per gal for general cleaning/soaking and it works very well. IIRC that’s a quarter the recommended dosage. > > An overnight soak with that solution brought some disturbing-looking deposits out of my chiller when I used it for the first time. Overdoing it (any alkaline wash) on copper has disturbing effects indeed – there was reference to this just a few days ago on the forum, and, ironically, that reminded me to give my IC a good cleaning, with the same result.  ::)  But no worries.  I likewise overdid the follow-up acid, and it’s never looked prettier since I built it.  :)  Again, concentration, temperature, time.  BTW 1 Tbs/gal is also my default.  Looks like Denny goes way more dilute, I’ll have to try that. ---
**Author:** ![a10t2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/a10t2/32/6257_2.png) [@a10t2](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/a10t2)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 2:01am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/8 "2018-07-12T02:01:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Overdoing it (any alkaline wash) on copper has disturbing effects indeed I don’t think it was over-exposure, it broke up when handled so I’m pretty sure it was bits of hop material that had been held up in some kind of biofilm the PBW couldn’t handle. :o ---
**Author:** ![Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Robertestein05_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 2:20am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/9 "2018-07-12T02:20:40Z")
> [@a10t2](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Overdoing it (any alkaline wash) on copper has disturbing effects indeed > > I don’t think it was over-exposure, it broke up when handled so I’m pretty sure it was bits of hop material that had been held up in some kind of biofilm the PBW couldn’t handle. :o Eeeww.  So glad I have an IC I can see the “business” surface of.  But that’s why I don’t like to shave pennies on CIP applications. ---
**Author:** ![a10t2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/a10t2/32/6257_2.png) [@a10t2](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/a10t2)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 3:01am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/10 "2018-07-12T03:01:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Eeeww.  So glad I have an IC I can see the “business” surface of.  But that’s why I don’t like to shave pennies on CIP applications. A new chiller is definitely next up and I’ll go stainless. For now I’m limping along with my 3/8" copper and garden hose model from maybe 12 years ago. And then a stainless head for the March and I’ll be all-stainless (except for the impeller, nothing you can do about that)… Someday. The pennies add up. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/11 "2018-07-12T14:51:48Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@denny](#): > > > > Steve, experiment to see how much works for you…start small and work up if you need to.  I use maybe 3 scoops for one of my 5 gal. buckets. > > How much is that ounce wise? I got several 2 ounce packets at homebrewcon. Sorry, no idea. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkham](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jkirkham/32/6463_2.png) [@jkirkham](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jkirkham)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/12 "2018-07-12T16:05:43Z")
Another way to reduce cost is to buy in bulk. I used to buy 1lb at a time when I was starting off, then 4lbs, now 8lbs. Maybe one day I will work up to 50lbs. I also shop those chemicals on amazon because they are widely used. ---
**Author:** ![rookie\_l\_a](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/rookie_l_a/32/19_2.png) [@rookie\_l\_a](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/rookie_l_a)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/13 "2018-07-12T17:53:49Z")
[/quote] I just checked, the scoop that comes with ABW is 1 Tbs/0.5 oz. [/quote] Cool, that makes the amount Denny recommends a little less than the two ounce packs I snagged at homebrewcon. ---
**Author:** ![chumley](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/chumley/32/12153_2.png) [@chumley](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/chumley)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/14 "2018-07-12T23:42:02Z")
Back in the day 15-20 years ago, if this question was posted on the B&V, a poster with the handle of “Brewer with a Thick Wallet” would have replied… Oh, you already know the answer. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/15 "2018-07-13T15:07:59Z")
> [@chumley](#): > > Back in the day 15-20 years ago, if this question was posted on the B&V, a poster with the handle of “Brewer with a Thick Wallet” would have replied… > > Oh, you already know the answer. Thank God things change… ---
**Author:** ![TechBrew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/techbrew/32/19_2.png) [@TechBrew](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/TechBrew)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/16 "2018-07-13T15:44:43Z")
> [@jkirkham](#): > > Another way to reduce cost is to buy in bulk. I used to buy 1lb at a time when I was starting off, then 4lbs, now 8lbs. Maybe one day I will work up to 50lbs. I also shop those chemicals on amazon because they are widely used. Today’s prices for 5 lbs of ABW: Amazon: $42.99 MoreBeer: 29.99 Big difference! I didn’t search all suppliers, so there may be even lower prices out there. It is worth looking around. ---
**Author:** ![Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@Robertestein05\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Robertestein05_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/craftmeister-alkaline-brewery-wash-amount/27707/17 "2018-07-13T17:57:56Z")
MoreBeer is the best I’ve found.  Even if I don’t buy more stuff to make free shipping, the cost is negligible and way undercuts Amazon Prime. Like jkirkham said, one of these days I’m gonna get the 50lbs…