Sterile or clean?

[dopejack]

Hi
I'm new to this AG brewing, but I've just sampled my first bottled stuff and don't think I'll ever go back to kits! My very first attempt was full of mistakes (getting mash temp. too high and chilling the wort in the FV being the two biggies!), and the resulting keg is drain-bound! Going to the homebrew shop later today where the very helpful people I'm sure will provide me with what I need for a good porter. But my question is, so long as my equipment is very clean, do I need to worry about sterilizing everything prior to the boil?
Thanks

[steve_flack]

Things that are used before the boil do not need to be sterilised. Everything used after boil needs to be clean and sterilised (or at least sanitised as actual sterility is nigh on impossible).

[agentgonzo]

No you don't. Boiling the wort for an hour will kill off anything that's in it. You only need to worry about sanitisation after the boil.

[Robdog]

TBH i clean my boiler after use then just give it a quick swill before i use it with no problems at all. Same goes for the HLT and Mash Tun.

[DarloDave]

Before the boil I stick a bit of sterilizer in the boiler and run it out through the tap, just to make sure there's nothing dodgy lurking in there.