Slightly hard water? No rinse sanitiser? What should I be using?

[Eric]

Am I missing something in the chemistry here?

It seems you (who I respect for your knowledge) would rather have the problem then fix it, rather than not have to problem in the first place.

As a logical joe, thatta maka no sense?

Is that to me?

I have no confidence in Starsan, indeed in any Five Star product. I accept it is better than using no sanitiser.
The subject was,
Slightly Hard water? No rinse sanitiser? What should I be using?
My answer to that would be peracetic acid, but currently it is hard to find in quantities of less than 25 litres.

[MashBag]

Gotcha.

All of these purpose built "no rinse" sanitizers seemed very poor when I tested them.... And went back to caustic TFR. Have to rinse, but it did the job admirably.

Peracetic acid makes sense now, but like you say not an easy find.

[guypettigrew]

All of these purpose built "no rinse" sanitizers seemed very poor when I tested them

Fascinating. How many did you test, and how did you test them?

Guy

[MashBag]

Thoroughly. Hot, cold, soak & cip.

[guypettigrew]

Thoroughly. Hot, cold, soak & cip.

So in what way were the one(s) you tested "very poor"?

Guy

[MashBag]

Tested to prove (to my satisfactionn) that TFR is still quickest, cheapest & easiest.

[Jocky]

Thoroughly. Hot, cold, soak & cip.

But how did you test whether the sanitisers actually sanitised?

If you're using a 'sanitiser' hot then you're doing it wrong, unless you're sanitising by submerging in boiling water or steam.

Cleaning products on the other hand are often most effective when used hot.

[MashBag]

All tested according to type and instructions at very least.

The testing was for the effectiveness of the end to end process, not ability to sanitise.

[Jocky]

I only use a no rinse sanitiser as a final step on spotlessly clean equipment.

As far as I'm aware it'll rinse off dust and other particles that may have drifted onto items after cleaning (floury grain dust in a brewing environment can carry infectious contaminants). It may also remove very limited contamination from touching other items, but don't expect to sanitise a dirty/greasy handprint on something.

[IPA]

I wonder how many homebrewers taste a yeast starter before adding it to the wort ?

[guypettigrew]

All tested according to type and instructions at very least.

The testing was for the effectiveness of the end to end process, not ability to sanitise.

So, what was the point? Water's cheap, fast and easy to use, but not much good at sanitising.

Guy

[MashBag]