Sanitize....

[Helium]

So say I've boiled my caps, sanitized all the bits, and am ready to bottle for the first time - which hopefully I will be tonight - won't my hands contaminate some part of the whole process?
Should gloves be used?

[corkybstewart]

I never worried about my hands, though maybe I should. If you're worried you could rub some rubbing alcohol on your hands, or some idophor I guess.

[Helium]

Sorry, just noticed a "cleaning" topic in this section, if an admin wants to move this.

[Wilson]

Dont worry about it. By this point, if you've followed good sanitation practices, I wouldnt (and dont) think your hands will be that big a problem. I've been brewing for about 3 years now, and have never worn gloves or washed my hands, and have never had a problem...knock on wood.

[Vienna Lager]

"...knock on wood"

But make sure it is sanitized. Hehe

[Halgarmeister]

I don't worry about it too much. I constantly wash my hands and use vodka to sanitize them. As long as you've followed good sanitizing habits with the rest of your equipment, you should be fine.

[Mill Rat]

You can't wash you hands too frequently once you're past flame-out. No sense going to all sorts of effort to sanitize everything else and then get dried-out dog drool from your hands into the wort. Wash 'em until you think you think Howard Hughes would have understood.