Save Star San

[whyjune1st]

After I mix up my star san sanitizing solution can I keep it for an extended period of time or do i need to throw it out after i use it. If i can keep it for how long is it good for? thanks.

[vance71975]

After I mix up my star san sanitizing solution can I keep it for an extended period of time or do i need to throw it out after i use it. If i can keep it for how long is it good for? thanks.

If you have pH papers to check your star san you can keep and reuse it as long as the pH is around 2.0 it is good to use, when the pH goes up dump it and make more.

[Mikegobrew]

The StarSan I have mixed up now is about 3 months old (used, re-used, etc.) and still reads at 2.0 or below on my strips. I've become addicted to the stuff and use it outside of brewing. Gotta use distilled water for it to last like that though. I use it on the kitchen counter tops and spray everyone's toothbrush in my home with the stuff every few days. :D I rinse the toothbrushes afterward though.

[markaberrant]

I keep a 5 gallon bucket of Star San around at all times. I think the last time I dumped it was about a year ago. I'll top it up from time to time, and add more star san accordingly.

[shamanjp]

I use it in a spray bottle to sanitize all my equipment. A little bit goes a very long way and it works great, just don't inhale any of the spray.

[whyjune1st]

Another follow-up question. . . I put my star san into a bucket with a lid. I came back about a week later and there was like white stringy sediment floating around in it. What is this? Is it still usable or should i throw it out? How should i avoid this in the future?

[Mad Scientist]

Dump it.
Sounds like you used tap water to mix it. As stated in a previous post, you have to use distilled or R.O. water for it to keep. My current mix is going on about 2 to 3 months, and it is 1/2 way down. I usually don't even bother with pH strips anymore. Better to go to wallyworld and get a five gallon drinking water bottle for your starsan than a bucket.

[Mikegobrew]

Yep, the white stringy stuff is what happened to mine with tap water. Had to switch to distilled before my wife thought this brewing thing was exciting me waaaay too much. :p I found some of those clear blue containers for putting water in the fridge. it's a little bigger than a 12 pack fridge pack of coke. Has a very large opening with lid that I can get my hand into to retrieve items and a spout. So far it's great, I can dump into the fermenting bucket from a height with the spout and create lots of foam to get long items sanitized. And fill hoses right from the spout.

[whyjune1st]

Hey thanks guys for clearing that up. Its funny, I wanted to say that it looked like baby juice in my original post, because that is the best description of what i saw, but being new here I didn't want ppl to think I was being crude or nonsensical. Ps. Mike I'll let the redwing logo go because of your helpful information. (I am currently wearing a 2007 Ryan Malone Penguins jersey)

[cul8rv8]

I probably should check mine, I think I made it with tap water and put it in a keg for storage.

Oh, and yeah, the Red Wings suck. :) Of course, my NHL team isn't that great, but I've been a fan since day 1. Go Jackets!

[Mikegobrew]

Whoa, haters out there. I thought losing game 7 last year would calm things down, but apparently when your head coach wins gold in the Olympics, it stirs things up like wort currents from high krausen! (And I wasn't rooting for Canada btw). :mad:

[whyjune1st]

Yea, being a pens fan, that Olympic gold winning goal by Sid split me down the middle. . .I didnt know weather to cry or cheer. Ha oh well that's hockey I guess.