bottle cleaning
- noel.grandy
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bottle cleaning
so while i figure out if i am going to get kegging, i had to get some bottles to store my current batch in. some of the bottles have crap stuck on the insides. i am currently letting them all soak in sanitizer and then am going to use the jet washer to try and chizzle the crap out. i think though that its not going to get all of it. does anyone have any suggestions on how to get these bottles sparkling clean? i was thinking if i put some rice in the bottle and shook it to death might work.
- Jimmy
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Re: bottle cleaning
A good soaking in OxiClean will normally clean them pretty good. If it still won't come out after the oxiclean and jet washer I'm not sure if I'd bother with them. You can go to the recycle depot and pick bottles up for next to nothing.
Edit: I'm sure there are members on here looking to get rid of bottles too..
Edit: I'm sure there are members on here looking to get rid of bottles too..
- RubberToe
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Re: bottle cleaning
Soaking them in oxyclean free works well (has no detergent) or one of the no name brand oxyclean (zellers, walmart). That goes for other brewing equipment as well. I don't know what sanitiser you're using but generally they're not great cleaners.
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On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
- mr x
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Re: bottle cleaning
Caustic.
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- noel.grandy
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Re: bottle cleaning
i am using a chlorine sanitizer, removing labels as well. will re-wash and sanitize before bottling takes place.
- amartin
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Re: bottle cleaning
I just use bleach. However, I'm using the same bottles over and over again, and I rinse them out after every pour, so that helps. That makes a big difference. If they're new to me though, I'll just soak them for a few days. If they don't come clean, I'll pass, there's plenty more where they came from.
- know1
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Re: bottle cleaning
A coarse bristle bottle brush would likely free up stuck on crap but I agree with Jimmy, if it takes that much effort, toss it, bottles are cheap
Kegged: El Dorado IPA, Rocketfuel 2.0, Wet Hopped Pale, Ryrish Red, Marzen, BN Exchange Dunkel, BN Exchange NEIPA, Lies Lies Lies - Citra <0.5% ale
Fermenting: NZ Pilsner with Enigma, Strawberry brett cider
Fermenting: NZ Pilsner with Enigma, Strawberry brett cider
- Juniper Hill
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Re: bottle cleaning
Where did you get you oxyclean free? I had to order mine on amazon, cuz all I could find in the stores was the scented one.RubberToe wrote:Soaking them in oxyclean free works well (has no detergent) or one of the no name brand oxyclean (zellers, walmart). That goes for other brewing equipment as well. I don't know what sanitiser you're using but generally they're not great cleaners.
- Jimmy
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Re: bottle cleaning
Try the no name brands. I pick mine up at walmart, it's the truvalue brand.Juniper Hill wrote:Where did you get you oxyclean free? I had to order mine on amazon, cuz all I could find in the stores was the scented one.RubberToe wrote:Soaking them in oxyclean free works well (has no detergent) or one of the no name brand oxyclean (zellers, walmart). That goes for other brewing equipment as well. I don't know what sanitiser you're using but generally they're not great cleaners.
- Juniper Hill
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Re: bottle cleaning
Cool! Is it unscented?Jimmy wrote:Try the no name brands. I pick mine up at walmart, it's the truvalue brand.
- Jimmy
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- Juniper Hill
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Re: bottle cleaning
Fantastic!
- derek
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Re: bottle cleaning
I use regular oxyclean all the time - it just needs more rinsing. That said, I will try to seek out the unscented stuff sometime in the next decade or so when we need moreJuniper Hill wrote:Cool! Is it unscented?Jimmy wrote:Try the no name brands. I pick mine up at walmart, it's the truvalue brand.

Currently on tap: Nothing!
In keg: Still nothing.
In Primary: Doggone American Rye Pale Ale
In keg: Still nothing.
In Primary: Doggone American Rye Pale Ale
- RubberToe
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Re: bottle cleaning
Yeah I guess I have to rinse the crap out of my walmart brand anyways so no biggie.
Electric Brewery Build
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
On tap at RubberToe's:
Sometimes on a Sunday Belgian Dubbel, Oaked Old Ale, Ordinary Bitter
- Juniper Hill
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Re: bottle cleaning
I've been using it on an infected barrel. It's supposed to be able kill mycoderma....we'll see. Wouldn't want any scent, as there would be no way to remove it from wood. It's a great all-purpose cleaner.derek wrote:I use regular oxyclean all the time - it just needs more rinsing. That said, I will try to seek out the unscented stuff sometime in the next decade or so when we need moreJuniper Hill wrote:Cool! Is it unscented?Jimmy wrote:Try the no name brands. I pick mine up at walmart, it's the truvalue brand.
- jtmwhyte
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Re: bottle cleaning
Same here.Walmart great value brandJimmy wrote:Try the no name brands. I pick mine up at walmart, it's the truvalue brand.Juniper Hill wrote:Where did you get you oxyclean free? I had to order mine on amazon, cuz all I could find in the stores was the scented one.RubberToe wrote:Soaking them in oxyclean free works well (has no detergent) or one of the no name brand oxyclean (zellers, walmart). That goes for other brewing equipment as well. I don't know what sanitiser you're using but generally they're not great cleaners.
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Such hilarious visions clamber
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- Jimmy
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Re: bottle cleaning
Yeah, I f'd up the name....but that's what I use.jtmwhyte wrote:Same here.Walmart great value brand
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- derek
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Re: bottle cleaning
[quote="Juniper Hill"I've been using it on an infected barrel. It's supposed to be able kill mycoderma....we'll see.[/quote]
Good to hear. I pulled the cork out of my 15 gallon demijohn a couple of weeks ago, and found it covered in mold (of course, this summer, our whole house got covered in mold). That's not a huge problem, as I only use the cork to seal it when it's not in use as a fermenter, but still, who wants mold on their brewing equipment. Soaked it in oxyclean, and it sure looks clean, but I had no idea if it was really sterilized. In this case, I don't care about the scent.
Good to hear. I pulled the cork out of my 15 gallon demijohn a couple of weeks ago, and found it covered in mold (of course, this summer, our whole house got covered in mold). That's not a huge problem, as I only use the cork to seal it when it's not in use as a fermenter, but still, who wants mold on their brewing equipment. Soaked it in oxyclean, and it sure looks clean, but I had no idea if it was really sterilized. In this case, I don't care about the scent.
Currently on tap: Nothing!
In keg: Still nothing.
In Primary: Doggone American Rye Pale Ale
In keg: Still nothing.
In Primary: Doggone American Rye Pale Ale
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Re: bottle cleaning
hey,
I use a stiff bristle (narrow arm) toothbrush taped to a metal or wood stick easier to get into narrow neck bottles, simple and cheap & fast, used before any cleaners.
ken..slipping into oblivion
I use a stiff bristle (narrow arm) toothbrush taped to a metal or wood stick easier to get into narrow neck bottles, simple and cheap & fast, used before any cleaners.
ken..slipping into oblivion
- Tony L
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Re: bottle cleaning
amartin wrote:I just use bleach. However, I'm using the same bottles over and over again, and I rinse them out after every pour, so that helps. That makes a big difference. If they're new to me though, I'll just soak them for a few days. If they don't come clean, I'll pass, there's plenty more where they came from.
Moi Aussi.

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Re: bottle cleaning
I usually rinse them after every pour, so they are quite clean. After that I put them on the pots and pans cycle in the dish washer. I normally fit 60 500 ml bottles in one wash, enough for the whole batch.
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- Dirt Chicken
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Re: bottle cleaning
I now have a huge vat of bleach sitting in the basement covered. I have been throwing bottles etc into that crap and letting it sit. It holds enough bottles for 2 batches. just don't wear any good clothes while working around that crap! It also seems to do a great job of removing cables without any scrubbing! 
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- Tony L
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Re: bottle cleaning
Just got finished cleaning and sanitizing 2 buckets worth of bottles.
Pain in the arse, but it is something that's necessary.
I will probably bottle a festa kit for my B-I-L I'm currently fermenting.
Pain in the arse, but it is something that's necessary.
I will probably bottle a festa kit for my B-I-L I'm currently fermenting.
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