Plastic brewing kit - end of its life?

[Cidermaker]

Hi,

I have been using plastic fermenters and barrels that I bought in 2010, and nowadays I'm struggling to get the consistency I had back then. There's often an indescribably off-taste, or a lack of freshness. I've replaced the seals on the barrels in the last year or two, but I'm wondering if after a few years, you just can't get all the stale hints out of the barrels. They're hard to clean, with the narrow necks.

Any one have any ideas on this one? I don't want to buy new kit if I don't have to.

Many thanks.

[gobuchul]

A good dose of bleach, followed by a very good rinse with water and a campden tablet.

I have also used salt to remove residual odours from lots of stuff, can be very effective.

[IPA]

Hi,

I have been using plastic fermenters and barrels that I bought in 2010, and nowadays I'm struggling to get the consistency I had back then. There's often an indescribably off-taste, or a lack of freshness. I've replaced the seals on the barrels in the last year or two, but I'm wondering if after a few years, you just can't get all the stale hints out of the barrels. They're hard to clean, with the narrow necks.

Any one have any ideas on this one? I don't want to buy new kit if I don't have to.

Many thanks.

Here is the answer.
http://www.swimmingpoolchemicals.co.uk/ ... p-794.html

One teaspoon in 25 litres of warmed water leave over night and your vessels will be like new.

[guypettigrew]

Although you don't want to buy new kit, this may be the perfect reason to get some new barrels with larger necks so you can easily reach into them to clean them properly.

Just a thought!

Guy

[IPA]

Although you don't want to buy new kit, this may be the perfect reason to get some new barrels with larger necks so you can easily reach into them to clean them properly.

Just a thought!

Guy

With that product that I mentioned there is no need to reach inside. I am amazed that the homebrew community do not use this because with the dilution rate I quoted it is the cheapest most effective cleaner/sanitiser you can buy.

[f00b4r]

Although you don't want to buy new kit, this may be the perfect reason to get some new barrels with larger necks so you can easily reach into them to clean them properly.

Just a thought!

Guy

With that product that I mentioned there is no need to reach inside. I am amazed that the homebrew community do not use this because with the dilution rate I quoted it is the cheapest most effective cleaner/sanitiser you can buy.

Do you put water and a campden tablet in afterwards to ensue it is all neutralised?

[IPA]

No need it rinses readily with warm water. If you have a shower the best way to rinse barrels is turn them upside down point the shower hose inside the hole (shower head removed) and turn on the shower for a couple of minutes. If the shower is on your bath taps cut a plank of wood wide enough to fit across the bath cut a 75 mm hole in the middle a place the upside down barrel as a support whilst rinsing.

[f00b4r]

No need it rinses readily with warm water. If you have a shower the best way to rinse barrels is turn them upside down point the shower hose inside the hole (shower head removed) and turn on the shower for a couple of minutes. If the shower is on your bath taps cut a plank of wood wide enough to fit across the bath cut a 75 mm hole in the middle a place the upside down barrel as a support whilst rinsing.

Nice, gonna have to order some of that.

[IPA]

No need it rinses readily with warm water. If you have a shower the best way to rinse barrels is turn them upside down point the shower hose inside the hole (shower head removed) and turn on the shower for a couple of minutes. If the shower is on your bath taps cut a plank of wood wide enough to fit across the bath cut a 75 mm hole in the middle a place the upside down barrel as a support whilst rinsing.

Nice, gonna have to order some of that.

Don't forget the dilution rate ONE TEASPOON IN 25 LITRES

[a-slayer]

I personally think plastic does have a end of life, I had a FV that had persistent brew failures whatever I did to clean/sterilise it, the only answer was replacement and then on no problems.

[gobuchul]

I am amazed that the homebrew community do not use this because with the dilution rate I quoted it is the cheapest most effective cleaner/sanitiser you can buy.

Well I tried some of that chlorine shock.

I was a bit wary at first and probably mixed it slightly weaker than the 1 teaspoon full per 25 litres.

It cleaned very well and it does rinse away very well. No residues or the slightest hint of a chlorine smell.

I will definitely keep using it for certain jobs, but it won't totally replace my usual oxi and Malt Miller No Rinse sanitiser.