Rinse and scrub all equipment thoroughly after use. Cleaners are not sanitizers and should not be used as a one step procedure. Always clean and then sanitize. Use a cleaner that doesn’t leave a residue such as;
Sodium Percarbonate (Proxycarb) is an alkaline cleaner and is a great all-purpose cleaner. It contains an oxygen based bleaching agent and is a common component of “color safe” laundry bleaches. The rate of use is typically 1/2 - 1 tablespoon per gallon for general cleaning. It is particularly useful in cleaning porous, raw wood materials such as wine barrels or wooden presses.
To prevent spoilage or contamination by bacteria or wild yeast, after cleaning you must sanitize all items that will come into direct contact with your beer, wine, cheese, etc. Equipment may be sanitized by boiling in water for a few minutes; this is a popular technique in cheesemaking. Boiling is not suitable for some glass or plastic items and is awkward for large objects. In those cases, a chemical sanitizer is preferred.
BTF® is an iodine based, no rinse sanitizer. It is non-foaming, making it good for use on bottles and other enclosed vessels where removal of foam can be an issue. Use BTF at a rate of 1 Tbs. per 5 gallons of water. Your water should turn orange in color, and smell like iodine. This is what you want. Submerge your equipment and bottles in the solution for two minutes. Remove items and drain any excess liquid. Once the solution is made, you can use it for a few days. Note: if the water begins to lighten in color and or no longer smells like iodine then you will want to make up a fresh solution, or add more BTF. Extended uses may stain soft plastics such as hose but this has no effect on sanitation.
STARSAN is an acid-based, no rinse sanitizer. It is an alternative to Iodine based sanitizers, providing a more stable and longer lasting sanitizing solution when diluted for use. It does not stain soft plastics in the way that occurs with Iodine-based sanitizers. It is high-foaming, making it ideal for sanitizing large vessels such as tanks which cannot practically be filled with a sanitizing solution. It is an effective sanitizer but needs to be handled with care because of its corrosive nature. Prepare a dilution of 1 oz Star San per 5 gallons of water. We recommend that you keep some of this solution in a spray bottle, as well, for convenient use. Keep surface area wet for at least one minute and then allow to air dry. Do not rinse after application.
SANICLEAN is also an acid-based, no rinse sanitize. Just like Starsan, it provides a stable and long lasting sanitizing solution when diluted for use, and does not stain soft plastics. It is low-foaming, making it good for use on bottles and other enclosed vessels where removal of foam can be an issue. Handle with care because of its corrosive nature. Prepare a dilution of 2 oz Saniclean per 5 gallons of water. We recommend that you keep some of this solution in a spray bottle, as well, for convenient use. Keep surface area wet for 2-3 minutes and then allow to air dry. Do not rinse after application.
