Pink stains on plastic keg

[beerwallah]

Hi,

Posting this here as I am assuming this is a sanitation issue.

I've got a couple of plastic kegs which have been sitting out in the garage for a few weeks (they were cleaned before they were put out there). Both have developed pink staining on the bottom of the inside of the keg in the same sort of pattern you would expect to see mould growing. Has anyone come across this before? Tried a google & forum search but didn't turn up anything.

Kind of difficult to get a decent picture, but the pinkness should be visible in the pics below. The keg pictured had VWP solution in it overnight a couple of days ago, but that's not shifted it.

Any ideas what caused it, and is it safe enough to ignore?

TIA
-C

[Mattypower]

Kill Existing Pink Mold
Pour white vinegar on a washcloth and aggressively scrub the area infected with mold. Rinse the area where vinegar was applied with cold water to remove as much of the infected area as possible. In a small bowl, mix hydrogen peroxide with 3 oz. baking soda. Work the solution into a paste with a hard-bristled toothbrush. Use the toothbrush to scrub the peroxide and baking soda paste into the area that has been infected with pink mold, making sure to remove the entire remaining mold with this technique. Rinse the area with cold water and allow the tile or surface to dry completely over the course of 24 hours before subjecting the area to moisture again.

[wburgess]

...good luck scrubbing through that hole...

[Jack Hackett]

...good luck scrubbing through that hole...

hahaha... the trick to scrubbing the bottom of budget barrels is to remove the tap and use that hole to poke a stiff 'barrel' brush through and work from there.

[beerwallah]

Cheers for the replies I like the idea of taking the tap off (but how easy is it to get back on).

So far, I've tried

-Overnight soak with VWP
-Overnight soak with strong soda crystals + water solution
-Neat bleach
-Overnight solution with Oxy cleaner

The results are in and it's a no-score draw.

I've come to the conclusion that whatever it is is probably a by-product of a mould or something like that which has stained the plastic. I've got a pilsner coming out of my FV within a few days and I'm putting it in the keg either way... Note to self: time to get cornies sorted out.

-C

[Jack Hackett]

Cheers for the replies I like the idea of taking the tap off (but how easy is it to get back on).

It simply screws back in. The hole is threaded on budget barrels there is no back nut.

[bungle666]

just out of interest have you tried a high pressure water cleaner??

i would have a go at sticking the lance of a jet washer in the top hole and letting it drain via the tap hole. and give it a blasting with it, you never know it might blast it all off!!

cheers

B..

[beerwallah]

Excellent suggestion bungle. Amusingly, there was a Kärcher powerwasher sitting just out of shot in the first picture I attached to the original post.

Will def. give it a try!

-C

[EoinMag]

I'd be kinda worried that you've never taken your tap off, it needs to be done every time the keg is used to clean the taps properly.

[Wolfy]

-Overnight solution with Oxy cleaner

The results are in and it's a no-score draw.

I'm very surprised that this did not get rid of it. I find that a 24h soak in hot water and a decent dose of sodium percarbonate (active ingredient in Oxy clean) gets rid of any and all organic gunk.

[huiajoe]

I have had these pink stains on a couple of my kegs, for a year or so and have just cleaned and sanitized them as normal the spots have never got any worse and there has been no detrimental effect to the beer.

[LeeH]

I'd be kinda worried that you've never taken your tap off, it needs to be done every time the keg is used to clean the taps properly.

I'm kinda worried you say this. I just leave mine soaking for a few hours then run it through the tap and follow up with starsan.

No infection yet but maybe I'm risking it so il strip it down next time.