I was given 4 glass carboys. One has some algae growth in it, the others just need a darn good cleaning. What is the best to really get these sparkling clean. Normally, I’d wash them out with TSP and bleach the heck out of them but is there a better option?
PBW (powdered brewery wash) by five star chemicals. the stuff rocks, easy to use, very effective.
http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/PBWTech2.pdf
I use Oxiclean most of the time and PBW for the critical cleaning (like fermenters). Even the stuff I clean with Oxiclean gets PBW every 3-5 cleanings.
I, too, use a lot of Oxy Clean. For stubborn gunk, though, I just use Cascade detergent, or whatever unscented brand I can get on sale.
I think I gave PBW a whirl some time ago and didn’t find it to be much more effective than Cascade.
Anyway, I have a tub somewhere of some brewery wash I bought years ago. I rarely, if ever, have used it in the last 5 or more years.
+1 to PBW.
Aside from the expense, it is my “go to” cleaner. Oxiclean will do the same level of cleaning but it lacks the “wetting agent” that PBW utilizes.
I’ve found that a nice variety of brushes; carboy, bottle, 1/2" and 1/4" long and short stem for corny tubes, makes my cleaning chores much easier. PBW and StarSan are my cleaner and sanitizer of choice.
+1 to PBW. Remember to wear your goggles. Alkali cleaners can really mess up your eyes. I went to the ER for getting a non-brewing related solvent in my eye, and he told me the worst accidents he sees relate to alkali products. Drain-o is strongly basic, and will “turn your cornea into oatmeal,” apparently.
PBW isn’t an alkali, is it? :o
According to the description on Northern Brewer it is. “PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) is a patented alkali cleaner originally developed for Coors, …”
Paul
Yes it’s considered a “buffered alkaline detergent”. So it uses active oxygen to penetrate carbon and protein soils.
One of the best cleaners on the market IMO.
Thanks…here’s the info from 5 Star if anyone is interested…
http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/PBWTech2.pdf
Great info Denny.
I got this info from a Brewstrong show sometime ago when they had a rep from fivestar chemical on the show.
Edit: Bluesman beat me to it. Here’s the MSDS also:
http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/PBWMSDS2.pdf
The MSDS for PBW recommends rubber gloves and goggles or safety glasses, so it’s probably a good idea. MSDS for Star-san requires safety goggles.
I use goggles whenever I handle PBW or Star-san. Probably overkill, and at the recommend dilutions it’s probably not THAT big of a deal, but no one ever plans on getting chemicals in their eyes. The last time I went to the ER it cost me about $180 out-of-pocket, which is way more expensive than just wearing my $10 chemical goggles. I also couldn’t see for a couple days out of one eye. That’s pretty terrifying.
I’m reading on my phone so I can’t open the MSDS sheets. What’s the active ingredient? I wonder if there is a suitable alternative in the dairy industry.
Sodium Metasilicate is the active ingredient.
5 star makes a lot of chemicals for the dairy industry too, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they used the same compound. With a few simple precautions PBW is as safe as anything else. Definitely safer to use than an automobile.
Since metasilicate is the main ingredient of the TSP substitutes in hardware stores, the original post offering TSP and bleach should be sufficient if they are on hand. I’d support that approach.
Personally I find the cost of PBW to be rather high and Oxiclean does not recommend using their product on food contact surfaces.
I’m a fan of sodium hypochlorite for glass and plastic. Cheap and effective.
For stainless I use iodophor. Cheap and effective.
iodophor is a good sanitizer - but not a cleaner. it’s a great for sanitizing stainless, not so great for plastic tubing which ends of taking on the color after soaking.
I actually use Oxyclean/TSP Sub 50:50 which is approximately what PBW is, less some surfactants.
I can’t imagine why it would be a problem since you rinse it thoroughly. No doubt a legal thing. I’ve been using Oxiclean on brewing equipment for years with no ill effects other than this pesky 3rd arm.