[Stevie]

BKF works amazingly well, but requires some elbow grease and should be rinsed quickly per the label. I'm interested in an easier method.

[denny]

Denny, did you heat the water up, or just did a cold soak?

Overnight warm soak  (used chiller outflow water), then heated for a few minutes before I brushed it off, drained and rinsed.

[denny]

I was looking at it for soaking my BK, so I wouldn't be touching the stuff.

Have you ever tried Barkeeper's Friend?  I cleaned my boil kettle with it yesterday, and it seriously looks brand new.  I wish I had taken before and after pictures.

+1 to BKF. Does wonders on a kettle.

Agreed...it certainly does.  But the alkaline cleaner works even better with less effort.

[HoosierBrew]

I was looking at it for soaking my BK, so I wouldn't be touching the stuff.

Have you ever tried Barkeeper's Friend?  I cleaned my boil kettle with it yesterday, and it seriously looks brand new.  I wish I had taken before and after pictures.

+1 to BKF. Does wonders on a kettle.

Agreed...it certainly does.  But the alkaline cleaner works even better with less effort.

I'm close to running out of PBW.  You have me sold on the Craftmeister alkaline, Denny.

[Whiskers]

It looks like the alk cleaner is mostly a 50/50 blend of washing soda and tsp substitute.  5% Sodium Sesquicarbonate.  Don't know a common name for that but a quick search revealed that it is a pretty benign chemical and quite cheap. 

[pete b]

I have always used One Step because it was what I was first introduced to. It works great for me but I'll probably try the alkaline cleaner sometime.

[Joel5000]

You count me as another fan of the Craftmeister Alkaline Brewery Wash.  I run it in my fermentors for about 20 minutes using a keg and carboy washer, and they come out sparkling.  I also let it sit in my tap lines for about 20 minutes after a keg kicks, and it really cleans them up nice.  I always follow-up with a clean water, then Saniclean rinse.

The ABW is REALLY harsh on the hands, though.  I now make sure that I am wearing gloves when I use it.

[yugamrap]

I see that the Alkaline Brewery Wash is not recommended for use on soft metals like aluminum or zinc.  Does anyone know if it's okay on brass or copper?  I have a copper dip tubes in my kettles, and some brass valves and QDs,

[Wort-H.O.G.]

i use just oxy soak overnight and kettle shines.

[Whiskers]

I see that the Alkaline Brewery Wash is not recommended for use on soft metals like aluminum or zinc.  Does anyone know if it's okay on brass or copper?  I have a copper dip tubes in my kettles, and some brass valves and QDs,

Copper OK, brass no. 

[Whiskers]

I think they add the sesquicarbonate is washing soda bound to baking soda.  It is more soluble in cold water than washing soda.  Perhaps a homemade mix could be made simply and effectively. 

[denny]

I see that the Alkaline Brewery Wash is not recommended for use on soft metals like aluminum or zinc.  Does anyone know if it's okay on brass or copper?  I have a copper dip tubes in my kettles, and some brass valves and QDs,

Neither is the Oxygen wash, PBW, or Oxiclean.  I've had no problems with copper.

[denny]

I think they add the sesquicarbonate is washing soda bound to baking soda.  It is more soluble in cold water than washing soda.  Perhaps a homemade mix could be made simply and effectively.

I think you should ask them rather than speculate.

[Whiskers]

I think they add the sesquicarbonate is washing soda bound to baking soda.  It is more soluble in cold water than washing soda.  Perhaps a homemade mix could be made simply and effectively.

I think you should ask them rather than speculate.

I didn't speculate - I did some research on the chemical and its use in cleaning products.  Regardless of why that company in particular includes it, the cold water solubility is a property and a motivation for it's inclusion in general.  The mds makes the ratios of the other chemicals fairly transparent. 

[Craft Meister]

Nope, you're not.  The alkaline kicks butt.  It works better mixed with cold water than PBW does in hot water.   When you put the alkaline in hot water it's truly remarkable.  But not everyone wants to use an alkaline cleaner.  The Oxygen cleaner still works better than PBW.  They source their percarbonate from the chemical industry, not the laundry industry, and it dissolves at a lower temp than PBW.

Denny has it right!

Any questions regarding Craft Meister, private message me.  Better yet, try it for yourself.