[fat bob]

So I was cleaning out the garage and found an old glass carboy that must have gotten used and not cleaned out at some point. Not sure how that happened but it did.  It had what looked like mold inside it. It is currently sitting in PBW.

The question I have is would you still use this carboy to ferment beer? I was thinking one or two PBW washes and iodine might get it back up to working order.

I would feel better knowing how others feel about trying to recoup this vs just trashing it.

Thanks for your time! 

[HoosierBrew]

So I was cleaning out the garage and found an old glass carboy that must have gotten used and not cleaned out at some point. Not sure how that happened but it did.  It had what looked like mold inside it. It is currently sitting in PBW.

The question I have is would you still use this carboy to ferment beer? I was thinking one or two PBW washes and iodine might get it back up to working order.

I would feel better knowing how others feel about trying to recoup this vs just trashing it.

Thanks for your time! 

Since glass isn't porous, as long as you can get it soaked and scrubbed clean, then sanitized, I would use it again.  Sounds like a job, but as long as you don't see any crusted on mold/stains at the end of the process, I would use it.  It happened to me once too when I was using carboys, and I cleaned mine spotless and had no problems.

[fat bob]

Thank you HoosierBrew, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to ruin a batch of beer or make people sick!

And yes it will be a job! lol

[HoosierBrew]

Sure.  You wouldn't make anyone sick, but you could certainly make a batch of beer that smelled and tasted different than you had in mind, for sure.  Get it spotless and you'll be fine !

[gmac]

It will be fine. This is one area where I've used a strong bleach solution and then wash it out after. The glass won't hold any off flavours if you get it clean.

[fat bob]

Thank you GMAC, I will consider a strong bleach solution to make sure I get it good and clean.

[Slowbrew]

+1 to all that has been said so far.

It's glass.  If you can get it clean it is as good as new.

Paul

[knafrancis]

I've had friends give me glass carboys that were used 30+ years ago to hold darkroom chemicals.  One of them had an unidentified metal object rusted to the bottom.

+1 on strong bleach solutions, scrubbing with a carboy brush, and some patience.  I use both of the carboys he has given me on a regular basis, and have never had problems. 

And the third arm I grew comes in really useful on a brewday....

[Jimmy K]

I agree. If you get it to look and smell clean it will be fine.

[Slowbrew]

I've had friends give me glass carboys that were used 30+ years ago to hold darkroom chemicals.  One of them had an unidentified metal object rusted to the bottom.

+1 on strong bleach solutions, scrubbing with a carboy brush, and some patience.  I use both of the carboys he has given me on a regular basis, and have never had problems. 

And the third arm I grew comes in really useful on a brewday....

My overly Catholic friends (full disclosure - cradle Catholic, 3 kids in Catholic school as I type and one at ISU) turn white and start to fall down when I point out that if God really wanted make a design that works we would have at least 4 arms.  I don't know how many times I've been upside down in a machine that would really like to kill me and thought "WOW! What I'd give for one more hand".   

Paul

[knafrancis]

Slowbrew, I hear ya.  Although my brain can't think faster than the two I've got...