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Author Topic: Stained Plastic Fermenters  (Read 6634 times)

Offline wamille

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Stained Plastic Fermenters
« on: October 06, 2012, 09:45:42 pm »
I have two plastic fermenters that seem to be permanently stained at the high krausen point in each.  I've tried using PBW a couple times and the stain won't come off.  I've also put the fermenters upside down on a boiling pot for over 30 minutes to let the steam remove the stain.  That wouldn't work.  There is no grit or surface dirt on either one... just that ring of stain that won't go away.  Will the stain cause a problem? If so, any word on how I can remove it?

Offline jlo

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Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2012, 10:05:20 pm »
Which kind of plastic fermenters?

Offline wamille

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Re: Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2012, 10:26:06 pm »
They are from William's Brewing.

Offline kuphish

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Re: Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2012, 11:34:50 pm »
If it's just discoloration it shouldn't be a problem. All of my buckets have a brownish hue to them. Just make sure they are clean and sanitized.

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Offline a10t2

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Re: Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2012, 11:24:35 am »
Bleach may take some of the stain out but as long as it's just discoloration I wouldn't worry about it. It's much more important to clean the buckets gently and avoid scratching (i.e. only use a soft rag or sponge, not a scouring pad). I don't store the buckets nested, for the same reason.
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Offline euge

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Re: Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2012, 11:56:52 am »
Bleach does it for me but for badly stained and "aromatic" buckets sodium hydroxide will make it sparkling new after an 8-10 hour soak.
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Offline DrewG

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Re: Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2012, 09:47:30 am »
Quote
sodium hydroxide will make it sparkling new after an 8-10 hour soak.

Would that work on a vinyl blow off hose?
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Offline davidgzach

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Re: Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2012, 10:25:17 am »
Sure, so will bleach.  A heavy dose of bleach, soak in hot water and be sure to rinse with hot water as well.  Good to go....


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Offline DrewG

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Re: Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2012, 01:42:47 pm »
Cool, PBW doesn't quite get the hop stains out no matter how long I soak.
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Offline euge

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Re: Stained Plastic Fermenters
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2012, 02:43:21 pm »
I rinse bleached items extremely well and let any fermenters that it's used on air out until there's no chlorine smell.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis