14 replies to this topic

[ncbeerbrewer]

Here is a pic of one of my primary carboys that I have used for oh 5-7 years. If you look at the pic closely in the top two center squares according to the glass marking there are marks and streaks on the glass. All of this is on the inside of the glass. I have used this carboy often and will use it again tonight too. I use Oxy to clean my carboys then Iodophore to sanitize. This carboy has never given me grief or given me contaminated beer. These marks just drive me nuts and I don't know how to get rid of them. A Carboy brush does not make it go away and that is even after being soaked in either Oxy or Iodophore. Anyone know what this could be or I could get rid of it?Appreciate the help!!

[Fatman]

Here is a pic of one of my primary carboys that I have used for oh 5-7 years. If you look at the pic closely in the top two center squares according to the glass marking there are marks and streaks on the glass. All of this is on the inside of the glass. I have used this carboy often and will use it again tonight too. I use Oxy to clean my carboys then Iodophore to sanitize. This carboy has never given me grief or given me contaminated beer. These marks just drive me nuts and I don't know how to get rid of them. A Carboy brush does not make it go away and that is even after being soaked in either Oxy or Iodophore. Anyone know what this could be or I could get rid of it?Appreciate the help!!

Might want to try a strong PBW solution - I think it's basically Oxy with a surfactant to help get underneath tough stains. I believe you can buy it in small doses.

[djinkc]

That's strange looking. If the glass isn't etched I would try a really strong bleach solution. You can put the carboy on its' side and turn it every few days if you don't want to fill the whole thing. Swagman has done that for cleaning. A campden tablet or any metabisuphite will knock out the chlorine fast after the first rinse or two.It looks rough enough to harbor some bad critters though.........

[davelew]

Could that be beerstone? If so, a soak in an acid is likely to get rid of it.

[zymot]

If you want to get it the first time and not mess around with it, hot water & PBW.PBW and Oxyclean have some common elements. but they are not the same. I have found, when I use PBW, I need to use much less than the recommended amount. When you factor in the time saved and knowing you can deal with some once andbe done with it, PBW is a very reasonably priced product.zymot

[ncbeerbrewer]

Thanks for the input and advice guys. I am pretty sure those marks have been there long before I started using Oxy about a year ago. Before Oxy is was BeerBrite. Anyways. I think I will go the bleach route as I know my wife has some here and if that does not work then I will try PBW and hot water. I will let you know how it turns out. My thought was beerstone but I have never seen it before too. Cheers.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Thanks for the input and advice guys. I am pretty sure those marks have been there long before I started using Oxy about a year ago. Before Oxy is was BeerBrite. Anyways. I think I will go the bleach route as I know my wife has some here and if that does not work then I will try PBW and hot water. I will let you know how it turns out. My thought was beerstone but I have never seen it before too. Cheers.

maybe try the oxiclean + TSP trick?

[ncbeerbrewer]

maybe try the oxiclean + TSP trick?

I will even give that a try too. Where do you get TSP? I am not familiar with that cleaner.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I will even give that a try too. Where do you get TSP? I am not familiar with that cleaner.

home depot or lowes. I have some from lowes that is lowes brand and just says TSP on the box. It might be near the drain-o. The other place is near the paint and stuff b/c it is used to take wallpaper off. There are also TSP substitutes which might work (they are labeled as such) but I'm not sure which ones would be good to use.

[ncbeerbrewer]

home depot or lowes. I have some from lowes that is lowes brand and just says TSP on the box. It might be near the drain-o. The other place is near the paint and stuff b/c it is used to take wallpaper off. There are also TSP substitutes which might work (they are labeled as such) but I'm not sure which ones would be good to use.

Cool. I will stop in at Lowes this week after work and check it out. That store is about my second home so I should be able to find that. Thanks for the input!!

[siouxbrewer]

White vinegar will take off any hard water deposits. Had some on a flask that would not come off even with scrubbing. Quick soak with the vinegar made it squeaky clean.

[gnef]

if you go the 2oxy:1TSP (I believe that is the ratio used), the TSP is the TSP substitute, which should be pure sodium metasilicate, if I remember correctly. I would personally just use a hot solution of PBW, and soak overnight.That deposit does look like it could be beerstone to me. Do you have BLC(potassium hydroxide)? that should be able to get rid of it. Or you can try putting some bar keepers friend (oxalic acid) and a bit of water on your carboy brush to see if that can get at it.Like others have said, bleach should also be able to get rid of it if in strong enough concentration - just make sure to rinse extremely well. Definitely start with what you already have at home, and then go from there.

[SchwanzBrewer]

I left some oxyclean in my carboy for about a month and had tons of little granule deposits that wouldn't come off with with brush, took forever to clean and finally I gave up and rinsed it with starsan. They all came off after that. My best guess would be to get a high concentration acid wash like starsan, or vinegar like posted above.

[Sidney Porter]

If you want to get it the first time and not mess around with it, hot water & PBW.

For tough stains I think caustic is much better that PBW

[ncbeerbrewer]

Thanks for the continued advice you guys. I will start at home with what I have and go from there. Vinegar, Bleach, Oxy, TSP, PBW. Something along those lines. Results to follow but for now it will have to wait for 7-10 days since my English Pale Ale brewed last night is beginning to bubble away in it.