Cleaning your area

[kennedyma]

Now that I've got the hang of my new Gater, I've been cooking a lot more.

I still have one problem though, I can't seem to find an efficient way to keep my work area clean. I know it sounds like a dumb question, but what do you guys do?

What products do you use to clean? Just water or do you use some type of pre-made cleaner.

 

[bigabyte]

One really handy thing to have around is a spray bottle of sanitizing solution, made of one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.

 

[PatioDaddio]

I've heard and seen a lot of good things about Greased Lightning, although
I've not tried it. Simple Green works well, and their heavy-duty BBQ/grill
cleaner is great for the really nasty stuff.

John

 

[nmayeux]

I like the Lysol wipes. The cans are convenient, and the sheets go a long way.

 

[big brother smoke]

Big Simple Green fan here too.

 

[AZScott]

Kwik Kovers to cover the tables. I also always keep a pail of hot water w/ bleach and a rag handy. I have tried the wipes and they are thin and not too durable.

 

[2ndchance]

I switched from bleach to 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. Bleach is toxic and doesn't sanitize as well as the Peroxide.

 

[bigabyte]

Peroxide? First I heard of using that for food surfaces. Interesting.

 

[Myrdhyn]

I use two things:

1) Simple Green or the ZEP version of it for the heavy duty cleaning.
2) Spray bottle of StarSan (I homebrew) for sanitizing....DON'T FEAR THE FOAM!

 

[kennedyma]

I use two things:

1) Simple Green or the ZEP version of it for the heavy duty cleaning.
2) Spray bottle of StarSan (I homebrew) for sanitizing....DON'T FEAR THE FOAM!

Hahaha I was thinking the same thing. I have a bottle of StarSan and when I'm done brewing I aways dump the mixed stuff down the drain. I know it can be saved so I guess I've found a new use for it.

 

[kennedyma]

Just did some looking at StarSan and it looks like because it's an acid it will start to eat though stuff over time. Thoughts??

What else are you guys using for Sanitation? I was thinking a bleach water solution, but I know that looses it's power over time. I would love to have one bottle of stuff to clean(Simple Green) and one to sanitize.

 

[Pappy]

I tried the Simple Green on the outside of a weber kettle. Cleaned it pretty well, except for the smoke stains around the vent on the lid.
It's about a 12 diameter patch of smoke grime that is stick to the black porcelain. I need to find something stronger. I don't care for the dull finish in that spot.

 

[JMSetzler]

The 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water is an excellent sanitizer, but not a great 'cleaner.' Use whatever you want to clean with... 409, Fantastic, etc. The shelf life of the bleach/water sanitizer (as well as Starsan) is not very good. Starsan's shelf life when mixed is better than the bleach, but mix the bleach/water on an as-needed basis. As someone mentioned earlier, homebrewers usually have the low-down on good sanitization practices. There are iodine based sanitizers out there as well that work great and have a longer shelf life.

Do whatever is easiest for you. If you use a bleach solution, you are still going to need a clean water rinse after the fact. Starsan will not require the rinse.

 

[PatioDaddio]

I tried the Simple Green on the outside of a weber kettle. Cleaned it pretty well, except for the smoke stains around the vent on the lid.
It's about a 12 diameter patch of smoke grime that is stick to the black porcelain. I need to find something stronger. I don't care for the dull finish in that spot.

I use oven cleaner on the really stubborn spots.

John

 

[JMSetzler]

Just did some looking at StarSan and it looks like because it's an acid it will start to eat though stuff over time. Thoughts??

I have been using Starsan for a long time. Its not corrosive when it's mixed to sanitizing strength, which is 1 oz per 5 gallons of water. That creates a pH based sanitizer of around 2.0 which is acidic. Acidity, however, does not always equal corrosive. I don't typically have to sanitize any metal parts in homebrewing though.

 

[Myrdhyn]

I've left starsan in stainless kegs for a few days with no problem. It wont' do anything to plastic (aka a spray bottle), and I also have a jug with a turkey baster that fits perfectly as a plug for it that I keep around for squirtin' it in airlocks.

As has been pointed out, mixed properly starsan is fine. It's actually a no-rinse sanitizer...you can even drink the stuff if you want though I don't know why you'd want to (for the curious it pretty much tastes like water with a slight offtaste). However, undiluted it is fairly thick and will etch glass and discolor formica.

 

[danparker77]

Peroxide? First I heard of using that for food surfaces. Interesting.

I wont link to any page, as there are literally hundreds of them. The wife and I have been using H2O2 (peroxide) for a while now around the house. It's the "new", greener bleach. Just 'google" it. Be careful though, some of the uses aren't exactly "proven".

 

[j20832]

another + for simple green

for sanitizing, I use a quaternary ammonium solution:

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=170468

 

[JMSetzler]

In reality, soap and water is an adequate sanitizer. 15 seconds of contact with soap and warm water will kill about any harmful bacteria or virus. So if your equipment is clean, it should be fine. I *do* like to wipe down clean table/counter surfaces with something else right before I start working just to provide an added layer of 'clean' to the process.

 

[The Cosmic Pig]

+ 1 on the Lysol wipes, and Greased Lightning will make the smoke drip off your grates if you use it full strength. My wife hid "her" Greased Lightning in a Formula 409 bottle so I wouldn't use it all up, and when I ran out of GL I accidentally used it. I thought I had found a great "new" cleaner and went out and bought two more bottles! She wasn't happy, and neither was I when I found out what happened! It was funny, though! :heh: