newbie cleaning question

[Bradfrd12]

Hello all...

First, thank you for having such a great site and for your patience as I am making my first beer today!!

My question concerning cleaning is that I do not have any of the special products you all talk about. I do have a sanitzing powder that came with the equipment. I am wondering if I can clean with regular dishsoap and then rinse and soak everything in the sanitizing solution. Would that be enough?

Thanks.

Bradford

[wortchillergoal]

You will want to rinse very well after using dish soap and before using the sanitizing powder.

[danno]

Bradford, welcome! yes, that is sufficient, but make sure you've rinsed well, you don't want any residual soap, it can wreck your head retention...

the powdered sanitizer you have is probably One Step, it's not "officially" a sanitizer (here in the US, anyways), but it works fine. once you start running low, I'd look at some of the other methods of sanitiation, you'll find a lot of experienced and professional brewers prefer Star-San, from Five Star Chemicals (http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/homebrew/products.html#card), email them and see if they have any distributors in Spain...

[toneyc]

And if all else fails, bleach should be available just about anywhere. Just make sure you rinse.

:)
Toney.

[brewmonkey]

dish soap can leve behind fatty deposits that will hamper fermentation as well as throw some off flavors. It is best to avoid using it but if you must not only should you rinse well you should rinse with hot water. Residue from soap will also affect head retention of the beer.

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by brewmonkey
Residue from soap will also affect head retention of the beer.

Just like that cop ready to knock on the car window.

[crashbobo]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
Just like that cop ready to knock on the car window.

LMAO...that was a good one :D

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
Just like that cop ready to knock on the car window.

Good memory...;)

[Bradfrd12]

thanks for all your recommendations. I will get some new stuff as soon as I can. Unfortunately, here in Spain there isn't hardly any good beer (hence, my new hobby) nor are there hardly any places to get homebrew stuff. So, I am limited and most probably going to have to get most of my things from England or Germany.

But, I will definitly be on the look out. Thanks.

Bradford

[brewmonkey]

Originally posted by Bradfrd12
thanks for all your recommendations. I will get some new stuff as soon as I can. Unfortunately, here in Spain there isn't hardly any good beer (hence, my new hobby) nor are there hardly any places to get homebrew stuff. So, I am limited and most probably going to have to get most of my things from England or Germany.

But, I will definitly be on the look out. Thanks.

Bradford

Sorry, I neglected to note your location.