I finally picked up some PBW and plan on replacing my dish soap usage. Is there anything particular worth commenting about while using PBW? As I understand it, it is more of a soaking cleaning method. Can I use it with a soft sponge to scrub plastic? Any issues touching the stuff for long periods? Thanks and I hope you all are enjoying the weekend!
I find if you can give things a hot soak for several hours or overnight, most organic material is very easily removed with light scrubbing. I always wear gloves, PBW I believe is a fairly strong base that will strip your hands natural oils leaving them very dry, particularly is you also work with StarSan without wearing gloves.
So would PBW not be necessary for cleaning fermenting buckets?
I don’t use it on buckets just because they are so easy to clean with a regular mild dish soap and when I’m scrubbing (gently with a non abrasive sponge), I like bubbles.
I use it on all my fermenters, but its the most useful on carboys and better bottles where you can’t reach everywhere. I prefer not to scrub my plastic buckets to minimize scratches, so that’s why I use PBW on them.
For fermenters I’d recommend 1/3 the recommended rate (1 tsp per gallon instead of 1 tbsp per gallon). It works just as well and will save you some serious cash. For kettles I’d use it at the recommended concentration.
I guess it depends on the definition of “necessary”. I generally use Oxiclean, which is very much like PBW but less expensive. But about once every 3-4 uses, I clean my buckets with PBW and it appears to remove s4tuff that the Oxiclean didn’t.
+1 on oxiclean. I usually buy it when Costco puts the 10 lb boxes on sale.
Same here, Frank.
10lbs? I don’t think I’ve seen that big. I do buy the largest they have a repackage it into old costco almond containers.
PBW is also great in the corny washers with hot water. About 20 minute cycles and no scrubbing. If you use bottles, soak them over night and the labels tend to slip right off and the glue residue is much easier to remove.
Yep… To be honest it might be bigger. They have 14 lb boxes. Usually have two bags inside. I think it runs around $30 or so
My LHBS sells PBW for $16 a lb which I think is crazy. Is that similar for anyone else?
I hooked into a distributor and bought a 55 lb pail for $120. Big mark up.
I find myself much more likely to use the recommended amount now.
120 is a really good deal, thats essentially what distributors pay for them from 5Star. Also when you buy from Distributors there is no retail mark up, thats 55lb pail should go for about 300 bucks, and bulk is ALWAYS cheaper
Thanks for this tip. I was soaking bottles in a bleach solution and I would still have to scrap glue off. Tonight I let a bunch of bottles soak in Oxyclean for about 1/2 hour and the labels literally slid off. Any glue residue that was left rinsed off under warm running water. And why do American brewing companies put their labels on with so much glue? With anything I get that was bottled in Europe, the labels almost come off by breathing on them. Goose Island, Breckenridge, and Sam Adams are the exceptions. Anyway, thanks for this one.
I use ammonia to remove labels. About a cup in a few gallons and soak for several hours or overnight. Most peel off easily or fall off, some are stubborn. It depends on what glue the brewery uses. Ammonia is very cheap.
yearly or so reminder that PBW at recommended concentrations can eventually damage Better Bottles. Depending on your concentration it doesn’t even take that long. (Buckets seem to be fine.) I get around this by inverting the BB after a little while so it can continue to work on that stubborn krauesen ring without sitting on the bottom of the BB and causing any caustic stress cracking.
I do not buy it.
PBW is non caustic alkaline cleaner.
To my experience PBW work the best at lower temp range.
Anyone ever run PBW through an automatic coffee maker?
It sure worked great on the carafe and my nasty old thermos.
I speak from experience, but if you do not wish to believe it, by all means do not. I know what I will and will not do again with PBW and am comfortable with my current procedure.
a simple google search will turn up many people who have ended up with something that looks like what you see on page 8 here.
http://www.better-bottle.com/pdf/WashingSanitizingStudy.pdf
cheers–
–Michael
I use a half scoop (line 2 of a big scooper) if oxyclean in my better bottles. Most of the time I leave them overnight, sometimes a bit longer. Never had an issue in 4 years and 40+ batches each.
I wonder how much was used in the bottle that cracked.