Grainfather High Performance Cleaner

[james1988]

Afternoon All,

My Grainfather arrived today and as such I intend on firing it up next weekend to do my first brew on it. I normally use VWP to sanitise everything but I've that it's no good for the Grainfather and could end up damaging it. So, I was wondering what cleaning products people use to clean their Grainfathers; do you use the high performance cleaner or something else?

James

[Andy]

I believe they also recommend Five Star PBW.

[DeadFall]

First clean I used PBW (I think the HPC is just rebranded PBW). Now I use oxi with the temp set to 55c for most of my cleaning. Every 4-5 brews I return to PBW as it does give a better clean.

[Fil]

fwiw i use good old generic unscented laundry oxi in my mk1 g/f post rinsing out and grain basket cleaning its 8-10l of warm oxi solution pumped through and rinsing/wiping down the walls, that tipped out before 2 x cold water rinses again pumped thru before upending and drain drying upside down.

touch wood - so far ive had no bother with the pump and original small mk1 hop filter..

[Hairybiker]

I'm over 18months and gawd knows how many brews with my GF.
I ONLY use plain OXY ONE scoop in ~10L @66C. Pump it about through both the sparge & chiller for about 10min each. Then rinse and add 10L of water to boil for the same time through each. Never had any issues.
The malt sleeve gets hosed down and washed by hand with a spray and a microfibre cloth.

Any "burnt" on bits get cleaned with a scrubby and "Astonish Over and Cookware cleaner" good for SS pots as well as the GF. Usually shifts any on the element in a few seconds, then a rinse with water to remove it.

[james1988]

Thanks for the replies. I use Oxi clean for the kegs so I'll use that and follow your lead; it saves shelling out on more cleaners!

James

[nibber]

Not impressed with the Grainfather cleaner- i have used two tubs of it-i now use PBW all the time- the Grainfather cleaner never used to shift the build up of the crud on the base of my Grainfather.

[Kev888]

I've had similar results in other applications - the GF cleaner shares some components with PBW but I don't believe it is the same stuff; PBW is an alternative but not identical.

I was tempted because on paper the GF cleaner's suggested dilution rate makes it better value than PBW, but IMO you can use less PBW for the same cleaning power so the GF stuff seems costly by comparison (and PBW itself is hardly cheap). I do very much like the yellow/green dye it contains though - theres no chance of mistaking the solution for water and its more obvious when it has been rinsed through a CFC etc.

[Fil]

Im now thinking i may add a few drops of food colouring to my cleaner and sanitisers just for the reason you mention Kev..

[aamcle]

Cheap and very effective, basic Dish Washer powder or tablets I've found it works as well as the fancy "brewing" products and you can pick it up very easily.

atb aamcle

[spanspoon]

aaamcle

never even crossed my mind to use a dishwasher tablet. they should be ideal, strong cleaning power and won't damage stainless steel.

[james1988]

That's a great shout. I'm using Oxy Clean and hot water which seems to work. I heat the water to 60c, add in the oxy and leave it go about its business for fifteen minutes. After that is done I rinse the GF out with clean colder water and leave to dry. Seems to work...

James

[lancsSteve]

Lots of detergent in dishwasher tabs - would need serious rinsing else that'll be headless beer won't it?