Bleach

[tyesai]

I have noticed on this forum most people sanitize with something called PBW or B-Brite or various other cleaners except bleach. I was just wondering why. I have used bleach exclusively. I will say I am new to this kind of, I have been doing the occasional batch about once a month for the last year and a half and just decided to upgrade, kind of, and bought enough equipment to do double batches or two different 5 gallon brews. So why the preference for the others? I know bleach will take out any nasty stuff, and works great for removing labels.

[Jeff]

The are probably two main reasons for most of us here.

1) The simplicity of the commercial brands you mentioned, I use One Step, which is a no rinse santizer. You just add it in and then drain the water.

2) Bleach if not rinsed thoroughly could definately add some off tastes.

[Fast_Eddy]

Bleach must be rinsed very thoroughly in hot water to avoid imparting off-flavors(I'd swear I can still smell it though) and it cannot be used on stainless.

Other things like PBW or B-Brite(as cleaners) are almost odorless amd rinse easily. One-step(as a sanitizer) is simple - no rinse - and has almost no smell even in high concentrations.

[brewmonkey]

Star-San is the way to go. It is not expensive and it does not take much to work. It has an incredible low contact time for sani. It's one draw back is it is a high foaming agent, but it has a cousin called Sani-Clean which is low foam. Sani-Slean was designed for brewery use where a CIP loop is in place and a foaming agent would not work. It works just as well as star-san but is a bit more expensive, needs double the amount to work and has a bit linger contact time. Both are from 5-Star chemicals and most LHBS carry them. If not www.morebeer.com does.

Bleach is a bad way to go IMHO. As stated, if rinsed improperly or used in to high a concentration it will impart chlorophenols into the beer.

[Caffinehog]

Plus, I found out the hard way, that the tap water you rinse with is not necessarily 100% sanitary.

[mmmBeer...]

I used to use bleach, now star-san…but quite simply…no chloroseptic taste, no ruined clothing, a hell of a lot less time rinsing and smelling for bleach. Just a hell of a lot easier, and as brewmonkey mentioned pretty inexpensive.

I used to get hung up on the foam, but now I don’t worry about it and my beer still tastes good!

[tyesai]

I guess I need to give it a try. I will say I have this thing with bleach because I know even in small amounts it sanitizes extremely effectively. As far as worrying about if my tap water is sanitiary, I can't go that far, just not me. Plus I only do 5 gallon batches so if it gets a little messed up, witch has yet to happen, I have no big losses. But I do appreciate the info, if I can only give it a try, I am bad about being a creature of habit.

[kgaugler]

imho, there is no other way to go but Star-San. I used to use bleach too but based upon feedback from this forum (thanks all) I switched and can't believe I ever used anything else.

"I only do 5 gallon batches..." It's still the labors of love that you would mess up with the bleach.... just not worth it.

[danno]

for those of you with foaming prejudices, Five Star also makes Saniclean, which is, according to their website (http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/homebrew/index.html) "Saniclean is fundamentally the same as Star San, only without the foaming action. Perfect for circulation cleaning, spray bottles, or other applications where foam is not desired."

[YamahaXS]

i love bleach. its cheap!

I have tried starsan and 1 other, but for the price, bleach is IMO the best option. Yes, you have to rinse... And you can use it on stainless steal, you just can't leave it in contact for extended time. maybe i'm old school, or just a cheap old codger... :)

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by YamahaXS
i love bleach. its cheap!

I have tried starsan and 1 other, but for the price, bleach is IMO the best option. Yes, you have to rinse... And you can use it on stainless steal, you just can't leave it in contact for extended time. maybe i'm old school, or just a cheap old codger... :) \

The two common stainless steel types used in brewing are 304 and 316.

I went and did some reading(The Brewers' Handbook by Ted Goldammer) - bleach is fine for use on SS 316. For SS 304 temp should be less than 60 C and concentration less than 250 ppm. Exposure should be less than 30 minutes or pitting can occur.

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy
\

The two common stainless steel types used in brewing are 304 and 316.

I went and did some reading(The Brewers' Handbook by Ted Goldammer) - bleach is fine for use on SS 316. For SS 304 temp should be less than 60 C and concentration less than 250 ppm. Exposure should be less than 30 minutes or pitting can occur.

i never knew about the temperature thing, but i would guess the average hot water heater is set well below 60C.

[evilredlight]

I use bleach
I like it, I like the smell and I have no stainless steel.
I have recently changed over to A green bleach.

I don't have it here(so this is from memory) but it is not chlorine which is important as I live in a quite uncivilized country and our drains go directly to the harbour, and it uses oxygen somehow.
It works well and doesn't smell, which i am not happy with, I really like the smell of bleach!

[Fast_Eddy]

It can't really be bleach if it doesn't have chlorine in it since bleach is Sodium Hypochlorite.

And BTW - that's a little weird about liking the smell of bleach - do you work at a nursing home or hospital or something?

[davesarman]

I use PBW and Star San on everything except my glass bottles. There I use bleach. I rinse well and put them through a cycle in the diswasher with no soap to make sure it is all rinsed off. Works well. Never had a problem.