[johnnyb]

How do you guys clean these things when they are coated with stubborn smegma? The 1st 2 times I used them they cleaned up fairly easy with a soak in PBW, a bit of swishing and swirling, then a soak in StarSan and a rinse.

This time I have stubborn smegma that I cannot seem to get off. I've done 2 three hour PBW soaks followed by swirling and swishing then an overnight StarSan soak -- and still can't get it clean.

   

[Stevie]

I soak for about an hour with hot oxiclean. After that I drain out all but a quart or two and stuff in a cotton wash cloth. Give it a bunch of swirls and shakes to get the gunk off and rinse well.

[Steve Ruch]

I've never had thus exact problem but have had to deal with cook pots with burned on gunk.
Let it soak for a week with plain water, give it a good wipe; repeat as necessary. A long enough soak in water will loosen most anything.

[johnnyb]

I soak for about an hour with hot oxiclean. After that I drain out all but a quart or two and stuff in a cotton wash cloth. Give it a bunch of swirls and shakes to get the gunk off and rinse well.

I don't have oxiclean but I think PBW is essentially the same? I do the same thing but haven't tried the additional step of using the wash cloth. I'll give that a try too.

Right now I'm trying a soak with an ounce of C-Brite since I have some old packs hanging around with my cleaning supplies.

[denny]

Craftmeister alkaline cleaner.  It cleans better in cold water than PBW does in hot water.

[Stevie]

Oxiclean and pbw have the same active ingredient. PBW had some additional stuff that makes it rinse easier, but oxiclean is 80% cheaper.

[yso191]

Smegma?!

"noun: smegma: a sebaceous secretion in the folds of the skin, especially under a man's foreskin."

Using full bio-hazard gear, deposit it in the trash.  The out-of-doors trash.

[HoosierBrew]

Smegma?!

"noun: smegma: a sebaceous secretion in the folds of the skin, especially under a man's foreskin."

Using full bio-hazard gear, deposit it in the trash.  The out-of-doors trash.

Awesome. I was thinking similar.   

[johnnyb]

Gross.

I always though smegma was just generic for gunk or grime.

[narvin]

Stop sticking your @#$% in them!

[toby]

Gross.

I always though smegma was just generic for gunk or grime.

Nope. I always do a 24 hour soak with Oxiclean Free in the garage.  After that, I've never seen anything a swish and swirl with a microfiber wash cloth wouldn't get out.  Maybe you're not soaking long enough.

[johnnyb]

Gross.

I always though smegma was just generic for gunk or grime.

Nope. I always do a 24 hour soak with Oxiclean Free in the garage.  After that, I've never seen anything a swish and swirl with a microfiber wash cloth wouldn't get out.  Maybe you're not soaking long enough.

I do that with glass.

But I'm pretty sure the better bottle website says not to soak them for long periods of time in caustic cleaners. I think they specifically mention PBW.

[4swan]

I often swish and swirl a washcloth inside before I soak it with a cleanser.  It seems to remove more gunk than just rinsing and sloshing.  I figure it means less gunk for the cleanser to remove.

[erockrph]

I often swish and swirl a washcloth inside before I soak it with a cleanser.  It seems to remove more gunk than just rinsing and sloshing.  I figure it means less gunk for the cleanser to remove.

To the same effect, I've been using these lately in my 1-gallon jugs that I use for starters and test batches. I don't know if they're too small for a full-sized better bottle, but they certainly work as advertised in smaller bottles.

http://www.containerstore.com/s/need-it/kitchen/bean-bottle-cleaning-sponges/12d?productId=10035726

[klickitat jim]

Hot oxy and a bottle brush for me, regardless of how clean they seem prior. Then thorough rinse and starsan dip.