I have diluted Star San stored temporarily in a plastic bucket. I’m curious if items that weren’t first cleaned well and placed into the bucket will affect the solution. For instance, tonight I threw a wine thief in there after using it without first washing the thief off. Thank you!
Great question! I’ve done the same as you when pulling samples from multiple beers.
of I remember correctly 5 star says that the solution gets cloudy because the surfactants bind to impurities in the water and learn the effectiveness because the surfactant aids in liking the critters by compromising their membranes. So it’s not ideal but tort laughably okay for now. Try a squirt bottle
Do we blame fingers or alcohol for this?
thats a lot of alcohol…
Thanks, if only I had a dollar for every question I’ve asked here… 
big foot vertical round two?
Probably a toss up at best. 
I thought the cloudiness was from the phosphate ion precipitating with hardness ions. I thing your Ok with traces of wine in your StarSan.
Let’s go with fingers?
This could well be what I am remembering. Okay so maybe a little alcohol.;D
Ha! That’s what I was thinking too!
I think you can measure its effectiveness based on its pH, but I can’t ember the point at which it is considered ineffective…it says on the Five Star site that it is not affected by organic matter:
http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/Star-San-HB4.pdf
Above a 3 for pH calls for sweetening with more Star San or phosphoric acid per the product website.