Properly cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment may be one of the most overlooked aspects of beer making. If you don’t take the extra time to clean your dirty brewing equipment, you could end up wasting your valuable money and time making beer you’ll pour down the drain.
However, cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment can be time-consuming, but doing it right can prevent spoilage from unwelcome yeasts, bacteria, mold, and undesired flavors from old deposits. Discover how to clean and sanitize your brewing equipment with our expert tips.
Why You Should Clean And Sanitize Your Brewing Equipment
Deciding to skip cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment is not ideal. While you may initially save money, the inevitable consequences make the frugality seem idiotic.
In brewing, you need to create a healthy and happy environment for the yeast. Any bacteria can have adverse effects on your beer. Therefore, you need to clean and sanitize anything that will come in contact with the beer, including brewing pots/kettles, mash paddles, brewing spoons, fermenters, siphons, tubing, airlocks, and many more, before, during, and after the brewing process.
How To Clean Brewing Equipment
You need to clean your brewing equipment before you do any sanitizing. This includes removing the gross materials on the surface of your equipment. Thankfully, the process of cleaning your brewing equipment is pretty easy. It only requires your attention and a little common sense. Here are different methods for cleaning your brewing equipment.
Using Powder Brewery Wash (PBW)
PBW is a cleaner specifically made for brewing equipment. It is an alkali cleanser developed for the easy removal of brewing byproducts while remaining environmentally friendly and completely biodegradable. This solution can effectively destroy stubborn stains even in tiny or hidden corners that are difficult to reach. This solution can clean any brewery equipment. You can use it on the interior of the hose, airlocks, fermenter, plastics, and metals within a thirty-minute soak. Cleaning procedure
- Rinse your brewing equipment with hot water.
- Add the water and then PBW according to instructions. (Use 2 ounces per 5 gallons of water).
- Agitate the solution by shaking.
- If the equipment is very dirty, leave it to soak for some minutes.
- You can clean airlocks, lids, and bungs with hot water and soak them in the cleaning solution.
- Rinse with cool water after cleaning, and let the equipment dry.
Using Bleach
Chlorine bleach is another excellent and effective brewing equipment cleaner. Unscented bleach is the best choice for cleaning your brewing equipment. Cleaning procedure:
- Mix one tablespoon of bleach with one gallon of water.
- Soak all your brewing equipment into the bleach solution. ( Keep in mind that bleach can absorb plastic, which can cause off-flavors in your beer, and should never be used for stainless steel).
- Rinse continuously and thoroughly to rid of the bleach smell.
Using Dishwashing Detergents
While detergents are great for your dishes, you can also use them for cleaning your brewing equipment. Keep in mind that any scented detergents need to be carefully rinsed off. Detergents containing phosphates clean quickly than those without, but people don’t use them because phosphates are pollutants. Only burnt-on deposits or stubborn stains will require something more potent.
Using Oxy Clean Free
This solution is Food Grade, so it’s safe for your brewing equipment. To use:
- Mix one tablespoon of this solution with a gallon of water.
- Immerse your brewing equipment into the solution and give everything a light rinse once you have covered them.
Using One-Step Cleaner
This environmentally friendly cleaning product contains no chlorine. Not having Chlorine is appealing to your brewing equipment. It is the only no-rinse cleanser in the market today. Unlike other brew equipment cleaner that requires you to rinse because of their alkaline nature, One-Step Cleaner is the original no-rinse cleanser and uses active oxygen to clean your brewing equipment. Work on plastic and metals. This solution requires only two minutes of contact time with your equipment.
- Use one tablespoon per gallon of water.
- Immerse your brewing equipment inside the solution
- Remove and rinse after few minutes.
A mixed solution of One Step cleaner can be stored for weeks when refrigerated in a closed and clean container.
Sanitizing Your Brewing Equipment
Now that you’ve clean your brewing equipment. It’s time to sanitize. This process creates an unfriendly environment for bacteria and germs and ensures that your yeast will not have much competition. However, there are plenty of good options when choosing a product and method to sanitize your brewing equipment. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Bleach
Again, bleach can sanitize your equipment. To use bleach to sanitize your brewing equipment:
- Mix up about one tablespoon per gallon of water and wait for a few minutes.
- Immerse your brewing equipment in the solution.
- Drain the drain sanitizing solution when ready to use.
Note: Make sure the solution doesn’t come in contact with your beer.
Idophor
This is a sanitizing agent of choice for many people. It’s also used in the food and medical industries to sanitize equipment.
- Mix up about one tablespoon per five gallons of water.
- Let your equipment soak as little as 60 seconds to get them sanitized.
- When ready to use your equipment, drain sanitizing solution.
Star-San
Star San is environmentally friendly and will not harm your equipment. It can be stored and reused as long as the pH doesn’t change and it doesn’t get cloudy. Star San is safe to use on all brewing equipment, but contact should be kept to a minimum since it’s acidic. To use:
- Mix one ounce per 5 gallons of water.
- Let your equipment soak inside the solution. (You will see a lot of foam, which is OK)
- Drain the star-san solution, and if foam remains, don’t bother to remove the foam – it will not affect your beer.
Anionic/Acid Sanitizers
Anionic/acid products make an excellent sanitizer. The bactericidal properties of anionic/acid sanitizers have been known for years. This sanitizer does a great job of killing unwanted organisms from your brewing equipment and can also remove scale buildups.,
- Mix 1 ounce of this sanitizer per 5 gallons of water.
- Soak your brewing equipment inside the solution.
- Drain the solution properly. This product will not flavor beer.
Saniclean
Saniclean is an acid-based sanitizer but non-foaming. This solution is very effective because microorganisms cannot thrive in an acid environment. It’s an excellent choice for breweries that do not like the foam from Star San. To use
- Mix two ounces with 5 gallons
- Let the solution be in contact with your brewing equipment for 2 to 3 minutes.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Another great substitute is Hydrogen Peroxide. It can be found at any drug store. You don’t need to mix this product with water but make sure the peroxide grade is at least 3%. You will use this the same way that you use No-rinse sanitizer. Buy enough Hydrogen Peroxide so you can sanitize all your equipment.
- Soak your brewing equipment with Hydrogen Peroxide for one to two minutes.
- Drain when ready to use.
Other Sanitizing Methods
- Boil water with your burner.
- Use a pressure cooker or Autoclave.
- Apply heat- use your oven for good dry heat.
- You can also use an ordinary house dishwasher to sanitize your brewing equipment.
Note: Dishwashers are excellent for cleaning the outside of bottles, however will not clean the insides.
If your bottles are sticky, dirty or moldy, soak them at room temperature in a sodium percarbonate type cleaner or in a mild bleach solution for an hour to soften any residue inside. But, you’ll still need to scrub them with a bottle brush to remove any stuck-on residue. To reduce the need to scrub the insides of bottles in the future, rinse them right after each use.
What Will Happens If You Don’t Sanitize Your Brewing Equipment?
If an unwanted fungus, bacteria, or wild yeast remains present in your brewing equipment, it can lead to problems:
- The alcohol content of the beer changes.
- The beer is unsafe to drink.
- The aroma of the beer changes.
- There will be significant changes in the flavor and quality of the beer.
- Additional compounds can change the beer color and make the beer cloudy.
Other Sanitizing Tips
Anything that touches your beer should be cleaned and sanitized if you want to make the best beer. A good rule is not to let anything that has directly touched your hand touch brewing equipment. When done brewing, it’s best to keep your equipment clean and dry. Do not store equipment wet. Give your brewing equipment a 1-minute soak when you want to use it.
Things To Remember
A few things to remember when cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment:
- Clean before sanitizing, and clean and sanitize as soon as you finish using the equipment so that you won’t be dealing with hard-to-clean or stuck-on residue.
- Follow the instructions on the product packaging when using any chemicals.
- Be mindful of splashes and wear rubber gloves when handling potent chemicals.
- Always add the chemical to water when mixing solutions, and not the other way around.
What’s The Difference Between Cleaning Vs. Sanitizing Brewing Equipment?
Although many people use cleaning and sanitizing synonymously, there is a big difference. Cleaning agents remove debris, dirt, and scale from the vessel’s surface, hose, or implement. While cleaning agents make your equipment look clean, they are not meant to sanitize your brewing equipment.
In contrast, a sanitizer has specific bacteria and germs-killing properties. The sanitization step will remove any germs hiding in your brewing equipment — ensuring your brewing is successful. Sanitizing works on a microscopic level, killing all bacteria or germs that would ruin your beer. Therefore, your brewing equipment should be clean, then sanitized.
Where To Get Brewing Sanitizer
You are lucky if you have a brewing equipment store near you. But there are many reliable online stores for those of us who rely on Internet suppliers. Remember that cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment is the most crucial part of the beer-making process, which many people overlook. Do yourself a favor and follow our cleaning and sanitizing tips, and you will be rewarded with delicious beer.
How To Clean Your Fermenter
Cleaning and sanitizing your fermenter is more complicated. Follow the steps below:
Step 1
Make use of warm or hot water to wash out the dirt in the fermenter. Do it repeatedly if the equipment is too dirty.
Step 2
Pour the cleaner inside water or follow the instructions attached to the cleaner.
Step 3
Rapidly move the fermenter irregularly to and fro.
Step 4
If the dirt in the fermenter is stubborn, leave it to soak in the mixed solution.
Step 5
If your fermenter is made up of glass, a carboy brush will remove stubborn substances.
Step 6
Rinse the solution once you’re done.
Note: Stay away from any abrasive or sharp tools if your fermenter is plastic.
How To Sanitize Your Fermenter
Step 1
Mix your sanitizer by adding it into water or follow the instruction on your product
Step 2
Shut the lid of the fermenter and pour the solution inside the equipment. Move the equipment to and fro so that every part of the interior can feel the effect of the solution.
Step 3
Let the sanitizer remain in contact with all equipment for a few minutes or the time inscribed on the sanitizer pack.
Step 4
Empty the fermenter by pouring all of the solutions out.
Step 5
You’d have to rinse the fermenter if the sanitizer used is not a no-rinse product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe not to rinse brewing equipment after sanitizing?
First-time brewers commonly ask this question. We’ll say yes and no, depending on the type of sanitizing product you are using. It’s advisable to start with a no-rinse sanitizer to avoid unexpected situations. As long as you follow our tips on cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment, you’re in safe hands.
Is PBW safe to use?
Yes, PBW is an alkaline cleaner and not acidic, so it is safe to use. However, Forgetting to rinse off the PBW may seriously affect the taste of your beer and not safe for consumption.
In Conclusion
Cleaning and sanitizing your equipment are essential if you want to make professional and fantastic tasting beer. The best cleaning and sanitizing regime is one that is safe without sacrificing the quality of the final product. Cleanliness is key to brewing success.