Help with my sanitation routine for bottling

[DeadFall]

Throw the 1/4 oz marked on the bottle into a 5L bottle of Tesco Ashbeck. We're not making Swiss watches, just sanitiser.

What if I didn't want 5L, just a litre. Why should I buy a 5l bottle of water when my tap water is fine for the job? I have a 500ml spray bottle I make up, how should I measure the 0.8 - 1ml I need for that? Your method isn't suitable for everyone. we have our own methods we've gained from our own experience of how we want to use star-san.

[Manngold]

Thanks guys, it just seems to be quite expensive compared to others, so wanted to make sure I had the facts right about it before going in. Thanks for the advice.

[mozza]

Star-san is 1.6ml per litre if you convert the measurements from the label, a little over won't hurt. I use a syringe because I know from experience how damaging the neat stuff is and I don't want to splash it around. It will eat pretty much anything you throw at it, it loves to dissolve kitchen worktops. Wipe any spills up immediately and rinse with lots of water.

The malt millers own stuff is 1.5ml per litre and that gives a ph of 2. So you could probably dilute it even further. It's good stuff and cheaper than the branded product

[Manngold]

Star-san is 1.6ml per litre if you convert the measurements from the label, a little over won't hurt. I use a syringe because I know from experience how damaging the neat stuff is and I don't want to splash it around. It will eat pretty much anything you throw at it, it loves to dissolve kitchen worktops. Wipe any spills up immediately and rinse with lots of water.

The malt millers own stuff is 1.5ml per litre and that gives a ph of 2. So you could probably dilute it even further. It's good stuff and cheaper than the branded product

Thats interesting Mozza, as the starsan previously mentioned is out of stock in the link provided. This other stuff is just as good you say?

[mozza]

I've had no problems and I test the ph before reusing ( usually keep it for a month or more) and the ph remains around 2

[Manngold]

Got some of the stuff from the malt Miller! silly question, but what is the easiest way to measure 5ml, and does it matter if I use more than 5ml per 5 litre to dilute?

[DeadFall]

Got some of the stuff from the malt Miller! silly question, but what is the easiest way to measure 5ml, and does it matter if I use more than 5ml per 5 litre to dilute?

I use a syringe. You can probably get them from your local chemist. If not a pack from ebay is only a few quid and will last you a few years.

[timbo41]

If you search the forum you'll find reams if stuff about starsan which frankly boils down to
add 1.5ml per litre
use a low carbonate water like ashbeck
Dont worry if it clouds
buy a method of measuring Ph ...I use colour strips
if Ph is three or less, its good to go
Contact time..give it a minute it so..do something else
use on everything that might come into contact( a pump spray bottle is useful)
don't worry about foam,it breaks down into something harmless.
fill bottles..and get on with life

[Manngold]

Thanks guys. Timbo, I have searched the forum, but find the search function pretty lackluster, especially when trying to navigate on a smart phone. thanks tho.

[LeeH]

The 1/4 oz mark to 5L is all you need.

[Jocky]

Hi Manngold,

There was a really great post by Orlando a while back about this, with pics, I'll see if I can find a link.

As a result of that post, I went to Starsan for a non-rinse sanitiser. After each bottle of beer I drink, I rinse it out straight away and then a few sqirts of Starsan from a ready-made up triggered spray bottle and I stick a re-useable plastic snap-on cap on the bottle.

When it comes to bottling day, I bottle with a little bottler. So I sanitise the little bottler and anything else that may be in contact with the beer. Snap lids off bottles and tip out excess Starsan and fill. Certainly made life easier.

This is exactly what I do.

[ianh82]

i use this stuff and its great:

http://www.colchesterhomebrew.co.uk/col ... 00gms.html

[Wonkydonkey]

Just a bit more info for you to think about, there is a starsan that foams up. It's disigned this way to get in every little gap. There are posts about this too. If you get this type, The short answer is don't worry about it. It will not hurt your beer (the foam)

And yes, mix with soft water. Ie, some bottle waters, but not all types. RO (reverse osmosis) water you can get it from some fish shops. Deionised water (water for irons, batteries). Rain water. Water from a dehumidifier. Just any water that does not contain chalk as it neutralises the phosphoric acid.

Hope this helps
Wonky

[orlando]

I make up 5 gallons at a time and keep it in a document storage box.

You can see it in the right hand box. Keeps for weeks. Don't worry about foam or cloudiness as long as the pH is 3 or less it will do its job. Minimum of 30 second contact a minute is better.