38 replies to this topic

[BarelyBrews]

I bought some PBW the other day,i do use the oxy cleaner a lot also. Most of the time i mix them at a 50/50 ratio.The dollar store(unscented ) stuff. I picked up a 3#tub for less than $3. Glad to see you here Hiller

[HerrHiller]

I bought some PBW the other day,i do use the oxy cleaner a lot also. Most of the time i mix them at a 50/50 ratio.The dollar store(unscented ) stuff. I picked up a 3#tub for less than $3. Glad to see you here Hiller

man that's mega cheap. im relatively new to the PBW scene. I use to just elbow grease and figure pbw was over-rated.. i then won a free 5#tub at a homebrew competition, used it once, and now i swear by it. I have been skeptical to downgrade to oxyclean.. but hell last time i brewed, I also lived with my parent still and had no expectations of a baby. I will try some cheap oxyclean when this PBW runs out, and see how I like it. It's time to get back on this wagon. I prolly wont brew much at all unless i get a better paying job, however my buddy sent me ingredient pack like 4-5months ago. I didn't crack into it because really was nowhere to brew at the old apt. I have a decent size concrete porch now though, and it's on!!!

[Mynameisluka]

it's on!!!

[CaptRon]

man that's mega cheap. im relatively new to the PBW scene. I use to just elbow grease and figure pbw was over-rated.. i then won a free 5#tub at a homebrew competition, used it once, and now i swear by it. I have been skeptical to downgrade to oxyclean.. but hell last time i brewed, I also lived with my parent still and had no expectations of a baby. I will try some cheap oxyclean when this PBW runs out, and see how I like it. It's time to get back on this wagon. I prolly wont brew much at all unless i get a better paying job, however my buddy sent me ingredient pack like 4-5months ago. I didn't crack into it because really was nowhere to brew at the old apt. I have a decent size concrete porch now though, and it's on!!!

Don't forget the dirty diaper in the kettle and fermenter!

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I find that oxiclean does the job on most stuff that isn't super caked on. If you are reconditioning kegs PBW is probably the way to go.

[HerrHiller]

got most of is clean. i see a lot of pure clean stainless. however there are still a bit of darkbrownish spots. (the whole inside of all 3 was caked in dark brown)do you guys know what this brownish stuff is? is it absolutely vital to get it all out? or is it not that important? just checkin. I was gonna wait til i get paid pick up some BFK and finish the job. I just wondered if i should be super thurough.. or if i should RDWHAHB.Oh and a lot of those brown spots I rub the keg and it feels stainless smooth, so I think some of that may be permanently stained on there?

[CaptRon]

got most of is clean. i see a lot of pure clean stainless. however there are still a bit of darkbrownish spots. (the whole inside of all 3 was caked in dark brown)do you guys know what this brownish stuff is? is it absolutely vital to get it all out? or is it not that important? just checkin. I was gonna wait til i get paid pick up some BFK and finish the job. I just wondered if i should be super thurough.. or if i should RDWHAHB.Oh and a lot of those brown spots I rub the keg and it feels stainless smooth, so I think some of that may be permanently stained on there?

Not much will survive a boil. I'd boil the shit outta it with water then be content. But bkf would be a good idea to clean it off

[zymot]

Every time I have used PBW per the instructions, I have had extra undissolved PBW in the bottom of the bucket or keg.A little goes a long way. To maximize your jar of PBW, use hot water and soak longer. Stainless steel kegs, You can soak them for days without any problem.Nothing scientific here, but give it a try. If you soak them and seal up the kegs air tight, it might last longer because the oxygen will not escape. This speculation is based on an email from 5 Star saying that the oxygen in PBW is what gives it the extra cleaning kick. It won't hurt anything.

[No Party JKor]

Unless you're using them as fermenters, they don't even really need to be clean.

[Rick]

Unless you're using them as fermenters, they don't even really need to be clean.

+1 get that IPA kit brewed and give them another soak when you are done using them.

[HerrHiller]

+1 get that IPA kit brewed and give them another soak when you are done using them.

hell ya, thursday when i get paid im gonna buy a couple packets of dry yeast, and get to it. since crutus isnt built yet, trying to decide if i wanna just use one of the keggles for now to break it in? or just use the good ol' blichmann? hmmmmm

[gnef]

I know this may be too late, but you can also consider caustic. You could create a 3% solution (I believe this is the needed concentration), and then you could use it for one, and reuse it for the others. Caustic is great for dissolving organic materials left behind, which is most likely what you are trying to clean.

[Sidney Porter]

+1 on the caustic

[Mya]

...or Sun Oxygen Cleaner at WALMART. Even cheaper.

+1

[Augie1991]

Sounds like you got a good place for cleaning/storage at your new pad. Miss ya on the public board. Blessings to you, wife, and kiddo! I've bought Oxy type cleaners at the dollar store too.

[jimdkc]

I usually use Sun Oxygen Cleaner for typical jobs, but PBW for the heavy jobs (dried caked-on stuff). I've researched this a lot on the web, but haven't tried it yet. I've nursed a pound of PBW for a long time, but... I'm nearly out of it, so I'll probably try this soon:PBW is basically 70% percarbonate, 30% sodium metasilicate.Percarbonate is OxyClean.Sodium metasilicate is TSP substitute.Big Lots near me has Sun Oxygen Cleaner for $2 for a 20 oz. tub. TSP substitute is around $3-5 a pound at any hardware store (Look for Red Devil TSP/90)2 tubs of Sun Oxygen Cleaner plus 1 lb. of TSP/90 makes 3.5 lb. of homemade PBW for about $9.Jim

[No Party JKor]

I usually use Sun Oxygen Cleaner for typical jobs, but PBW for the heavy jobs (dried caked-on stuff). I've researched this a lot on the web, but haven't tried it yet. I've nursed a pound of PBW for a long time, but... I'm nearly out of it, so I'll probably try this soon:PBW is basically 70% percarbonate, 30% sodium metasilicate.Percarbonate is OxyClean.Sodium metasilicate is TSP substitute.Big Lots near me has Sun Oxygen Cleaner for $2 for a 20 oz. tub. TSP substitute is around $3-5 a pound at any hardware store (Look for Red Devil TSP/90)2 tubs of Sun Oxygen Cleaner plus 1 lb. of TSP/90 makes 3.5 lb. of homemade PBW for about $9.Jim

...or you could buy a 50# bucket of PBW for about $2.50/lb.

[Deerslyr]

...or you could buy a 50# bucket of PBW for about $2.50/lb.

This is Hiller we are talking about... I doubt $125 is in the budget. Hell... I know I wouldn't spend that much at one time for a cleaning agent.

[zymot]

I use PBW only. I had a batch of bottles that soaked in Oxyclean overnight. The bottles had a white dusty film that to specific effort to scrub away, inside and outside of the bottle. PBW always rinsed clean and easy.Oxyclean and PBW are simelar, but PBW has proved to me time and again it is the product to use in my brewery. I am a right tool for the job kind of guy. I use Oxyclean belongs in the washer.On a per dose evaluation, PBW is not expensive. It might be 2-3 times as much as Oxyclean, but when you are looking at $.75 against $.25, you are saving $.50. My time, effort and ease of mind is worth fifty cents.