Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

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Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby newbie123 » Sat Jun 14, 2025 2:42 pm

I've tried looking through the forum for an answer to this but not having much luck. What does everyone use to clean & sanitize after finishing a wash/starting new wash.

Only thing I've found is that Mangrove Jack's cleaner & rinse but it seems really overpriced. Scared about nasties getting into wash.

Also it's getting a bit colder now we're in winter, temps would regularly drop below 20 degrees. Do people just use heating strips like the ones on Kegland (belts, wraps, pads)?

Again sorry if this has been posted before just struggling on finding info about it, maybe I'm looking to far into it and it's a non issue.
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby howard » Sat Jun 14, 2025 2:55 pm

if it's fermenting buckets you're talking about....
a good rinse in the sink and wipe any sticking bits with a non-scratch sponge.
a spray with starsan, then rinse and air-dried for the next time.
https://brewhq.com.au/products/stellarsan-sanitiser-500ml?_pos=19&_sid=6279ebb99&_ss=r

boiler.............
just get a good rinse most of the time and air-dried.
once or twice a year maybe, it gets a soak in Stellaclean
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby Mr.Roughnutz » Sat Jun 14, 2025 6:09 pm

i just use bleach.
if im doing the same or very similar wash i will set my self up to refill the fermenter the same day i empty it so will just leave the yeast cake/slury on the bottom and mash back in on top nixing eny nutrient also saveing a couple bucks too. i hav a gen 4 wash bubbling away as we speak
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby The Stig » Sun Jun 15, 2025 3:46 pm

Napisan for cleaning the fermenters
Heat belts as sold by 5 Star
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby RuddyCrazy » Sun Jun 15, 2025 4:19 pm

After my ferments are finished and the fermenter is ready for cleaning I just wash it with a hose ensuring everything is gone then just sit the fermenter on an old fridge on it's side and let the sun totally dry it. Then when I take it back in the shed a few sprays of no rinse sanitizer and the lid is screwed back on and fresh water put in the air lock.

Then when I'm ready to start a new fermentation the fermenter is clean and ready to go.
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby TheRealMrMessy » Sun Jun 15, 2025 6:13 pm

Hose and bare hand to clean off the easily removed solids. PBW in some warm water and a clean cloth next. Hose again. If parking the fermenter I'll get it dry at this stage, and store it so it won't get dust etc inside (ie seal it as normal and put a solid stopper in the airlock hole).

Starsan/stellarsan to sanitise when time to use it again. Remember sanitiser needs to be in contact for at least a minute to be effective.
Last edited by TheRealMrMessy on Sun Jun 15, 2025 6:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby Mr.Roughnutz » Sat Jun 21, 2025 5:06 pm

20250621_145330.jpg


i just set this up today 1" copper tube caped off one end with 30watt heat belt inside i was a bit worried thay got to 52c on the bench but in liquid there only at 18 so far about an hr arfter power up
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby Mr.Roughnutz » Tue Jun 24, 2025 7:15 pm

edit on the above arfter 3days im sitting at 1degree above ambiant temp and right up against the side of the drum im at ambiant soooooooo bit of a failed experiment
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby newbie123 » Sat Jul 19, 2025 1:26 pm

Thanks all, I've purchased the heat belt and stellarclean/stellarsan. Will be ready for my next batch soon :D
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby Davianni » Wed Nov 19, 2025 2:29 pm

I’m still green but this product: Morgan’s sanitiser spray on and rinse free is the right stuff.
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Re: Cleaning after and before wash / Temp control

Postby TDick » Wed Nov 19, 2025 3:15 pm

Again sorry if this has been posted before just struggling on finding info about it, maybe I'm looking to far into it and it's a non issue.

Don't apologize for asking questions!
AND it IS appreciated that you are doing the work and looking for the answers before you asked.
I run a VW - Vevor Water Air Still - and don't know a thing about a T500.
I have forgotten - or been lazy - and not removed the crap after a stripping run.
If it's not nasty, rinse everything out with a sponger and the hose and crank back up.
If it is really grungy, wipe out and run a couple of liters of water with a teaspoon of citric acid.
(That's what came with my still for cleaning.)
Just run full blast until I start getting output, then dump the rest and rinse.

Only thing I've found is that Mangrove Jack's cleaner & rinse but it seems really overpriced.

Out of curiosity I wandered into a new Indian Market (In Alabama :shock:)
Several interesting things - including a bag of Citric Acid for $1.99.
Citric has a lot of uses around the still in addition to cleaning.

Also it's getting a bit colder now we're in winter,

We actually had a foot of snow last year and a recent dip to around freezing at night around here.
THIS week though - sunny and mid 70's.
BUT - my go to fermenters are 48 and 24 Quart (liters) Igloo coolers - cold boxes.
The insulation just helps maintain a steady temperature.
AND for cold weather I have 100W aquarium heaters - overkill but about $10.00 each. Easily adjustable temps and just hang them in the cooler.

Hope this helps.
Last edited by TDick on Wed Nov 19, 2025 3:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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