Hi folks,
I have a cheap (at the time £30) pressurised steam gun.
It claims it can be used for sanitizing. I've used it for additional cleaning for corny kegs, posts etc.
This would be useful for sanitizing the tops of demis, flasks, and bottles.... any idea of the sort of blast times i'd need?
Max
Steam gun
-
maxashton
-
Stoutman
I guess it depends on the temp of the pressurised steam at the nozzle. If its significantly above 100C, you wouldn't need much exposure time at all to kill virtually everything.
At work, we autoclave things @ 121C for 15 mins; but that cycle kills absolutely everything, even the hardest-ass sporeformers.
Most bacteria and yeast/moulds are rendered useless at anything above 85C, so if you've got steam @ say 110C, a good spray should sterilise surfaces really well, as long as they aren't wood or heavily, deeply scratched.
I'm interested to see how this goes; using just steam rather than chlorinated sterilisers seems somehow nicer, more natural or something (look at me, I'm a neo-hippy)
At work, we autoclave things @ 121C for 15 mins; but that cycle kills absolutely everything, even the hardest-ass sporeformers.
Most bacteria and yeast/moulds are rendered useless at anything above 85C, so if you've got steam @ say 110C, a good spray should sterilise surfaces really well, as long as they aren't wood or heavily, deeply scratched.
I'm interested to see how this goes; using just steam rather than chlorinated sterilisers seems somehow nicer, more natural or something (look at me, I'm a neo-hippy)
-
maxashton
I think the product literature said the steam was at 130 odd degrees. I don't know if i believe that, but it's certainly superheated steam, noted for the "dry steam" effect. You can put your hand in the steam a safe distance away and not get condensation on there.
Though i'd love to use the steamgun for general sanitation, i don't think it's really very practical. The high pressure/temperature head is effectively a small point, it would take ages to get anything large like an FV sanitary. However, for small things like bottle neck spot sanitizing, poppets, quick disconenct posts, and worksurface cleaning where i don't need to be quite as careful it's ideal.
I personally use Iodine for all my large area sanitation. I have one of those pump-up spray bottles they sell in garden centres (carefully selected to not be one of the ones that uses cheap plastic that stinks), which is a life changing tool for brew sanitation.
Though i'd love to use the steamgun for general sanitation, i don't think it's really very practical. The high pressure/temperature head is effectively a small point, it would take ages to get anything large like an FV sanitary. However, for small things like bottle neck spot sanitizing, poppets, quick disconenct posts, and worksurface cleaning where i don't need to be quite as careful it's ideal.
I personally use Iodine for all my large area sanitation. I have one of those pump-up spray bottles they sell in garden centres (carefully selected to not be one of the ones that uses cheap plastic that stinks), which is a life changing tool for brew sanitation.
-
lastordersplease
Re: Steam gun
I was also wondering about using steam to sanatize my cornies, I have used a steam wallpaper stripper (removed the plastic hand apilicator thingy, and replaced with s/steel lance) to sanatize my wine bottles for the last few years and it really is a quick and reliable way to sanatize bottles. I may put a longer lance to get to the bottom of my cornie.