Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

How to clean copper scrubbies.

This is nothing new...but it works.

I've been using an air still with a copper scrubby in the gin basket.
Have used it mainly for sugar washes and 1 or 2 casks of cheap wine.
The copper scrubby came out almost black after each session.
Apparently, it does its job...whatever that is.

To clean it:-
I have tried vinegar...both standard and double strength.
I have tried citric acid.
Both work....but just OK
(I have yet to try hot backwash)

Then I tried the 5-5-1 method.
It calls for 500mL of water, 50mL of hydrogen peroxide and 1 ounce of citric acid.
Does it clean copper scrubbies and copper mesh?.........HELL YEAH!!!

My H202 is many years old but it still made a big difference. The jar of liquid was bubbling.

I don't go by quantities, just wing it.
So, some water in a small jar, a pinch or three of citric acid and a small splash of H202 (hydrogen peroxide).

After about an hour or two the liquid could be used with a quill to write a letter or two.

Sure, vinegar or citric acid can clean copper (somewhat), but if you want 'shiny as new' copper, give the 5-5-1 a go.

Cheers,

I still use the same SS scrubbers in my packed section and to give them a good clean I just stick em in my stock pot with water add some distilled vinegar from the cleaning run and bring it to a boil and keep topping up the water so it boils for an hour. They come nice and clean and ready for use. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

RuddyCrazy wrote:I still use the same SS scrubbers in my packed section and to give them a good clean I just stick em in my stock pot with water add some distilled vinegar from the cleaning run and bring it to a boil and keep topping up the water so it boils for an hour. They come nice and clean and ready for use. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks for the tip.
Boiling something for an hour uses a fair bit of electricity.
But I will try your method the next time I use the little still.
Cheers,

I just chuck my mesh into a bucket of citric acid solution and jiggle it a bit for a few hours and it’s clean

The Stig wrote:I just chuck my mesh into a bucket of citric acid solution and jiggle it a bit for a few hours and it’s clean

I haven't got the time to sit there and jiggle it for a few hours.
But seriously, I have tried just using citric acid and the results were nowhere near to the addition of a bit of hydrogen peroxide. Try it and you will then know what I'm talkin' about.

Cheerio,

https://www.healthline.com/health/can-h ... e-kill-you

Think I will stick to citric and vinegar.... :handgestures-thumbdown:

bluc wrote:https://www.healthline.com/health/can-hydrogen-peroxide-kill-you

Think I will stick to citric and vinegar.... :handgestures-thumbdown:

Hi,
I checked your link and had a good read.
Was nothing new to me as I already knew about H202 and the benefits and not.
I'm not saying to drink it, just use it a a cleaning aid.
If you use a toothpaste, then there's a chance it has H202.
Won't kill you...but your teeth will be whiter.

All I'm saying is the addition hydrogen peroxide will help clean copper better than citric acid alone.

Cheers,

I don’t sit a jiggle for hours I just put the bucket where we walk past a few time per hour and instruct the Mrs if she walks past to give a little jiggle :laughing-rolling:
Job done , easy :handgestures-thumbupleft:

When I boil mine for an hour I just use my green can burner and after an hour only 1/2 a can is used :handgestures-thumbupleft: I also use the same burner for my 5 litre pot still and find a full can will do a whole run and when stripping I find 1.5 to 2 runs for each can. As they are only $4 for 4 of them at the big green shed that burner is one handy item for my shed.

Cheers Bryan