[Andor]

I got a sample of this with my new spike kettle. It worked good and after reading up on it I like the idea of it compared to oxy type cleaners. But at their dose of 1 oz per gallon, its way too expensive. I see craftmeisters products are getting love but at 2-3 $ to clean a 5 gallon keg I don't think I'm sold. Am I missing something?

[Stevie]

I use oxyclean for everyday cleaning and PBW for kegs. As my water is crazy hard and I want the extra assurance of a clean rinse. PBW is expensive as well, but I only make it 1-2 gallons at a time and clean multiple kegs using a pump. $1 to clean 2-4 kegs is fine with me.

[denny]

I use nothing but Craftmeister.  The alkaline cleaner works better with cold water than PBW works with hot water.  Here's a comparison we did, complete with pics...https://www.experimentalbrew.com/blogs/drew/craftmeister-cleaners-picturing-carboy-test .  Not only does it clean better, but it rinses more easily than PBW or Oxiclean.

[narcout]

That stuff is awesome, but I use way less than 1 oz. per gallon.

[denny]

That stuff is awesome, but I use way less than 1 oz. per gallon.

So do I

[69franx]

I use nothing but Craftmeister.  The alkaline cleaner works better with cold water than PBW works with hot water.  Here's a comparison we did, complete with pics...https://www.experimentalbrew.com/blogs/drew/craftmeister-cleaners-picturing-carboy-test .  Not only does it clean better, but it rinses more easily than PBW or Oxiclean.

Denny, Having seen that comparison before, I now have a question for you. Is this how you normally clean your equipment, with just an extended soak, or do you use some kind of agitation or scrubbing? If scrubbing, I'm sure even the most frugal of us could use lees cleaner in a smaller volume of water to get the job done

[narvin]

Have you used it on stainless?  I tried the samples I got a NHC but was honestly less than impressed... I feel like I did something wrong.  It wasn't worse than pbw but seemed to have trouble dissolving in lukewarm water and left the same amount of crust on my stainless fermenter.

[Steve Ruch]

How do the two different Craftmeister products compare?

[denny]

I use nothing but Craftmeister.  The alkaline cleaner works better with cold water than PBW works with hot water.  Here's a comparison we did, complete with pics...https://www.experimentalbrew.com/blogs/drew/craftmeister-cleaners-picturing-carboy-test .  Not only does it clean better, but it rinses more easily than PBW or Oxiclean.

Denny, Having seen that comparison before, I now have a question for you. Is this how you normally clean your equipment, with just an extended soak, or do you use some kind of agitation or scrubbing? If scrubbing, I'm sure even the most frugal of us could use lees cleaner in a smaller volume of water to get the job done

Depends.  Fermenters I wipe lightly sponge (advantage of buckets!) to get heavy build up off before I fill them with water and let them soak.  The only reason I do that is so all that crap I wipe off isn't floating in the water (icky!).  My kettle will get an overnight soak with the alkaline, then wiped lightly with sponge or paper towels.  But I never do any heavy scrubbing.

[denny]

Have you used it on stainless?  I tried the samples I got a NHC but was honestly less than impressed... I feel like I did something wrong.  It wasn't worse than pbw but seemed to have trouble dissolving in lukewarm water and left the same amount of crust on my stainless fermenter.

Yep, many times.  Worked great for me.

[denny]

How do the two different Craftmeister products compare?

The Oxygen is pretty much like PBW or Oxiclean, but it dissolves better than either.  The alkaline is really strong and works great even with cold water.  In hot water it's amazing.

[69franx]

Between buckets and kettles, do you use over the other for either, or are they essentially interchangeable?

[denny]

Between buckets and kettles, do you use over the other for either, or are they essentially interchangeable?

I generally use the Oxy for fermenters because they don't need as much oomph.  I use the alkaline for my converted keg kettle, or for the corny I use to boil in with my Zymatic.  Heavy grime.

[Andor]

That stuff is awesome, but I use way less than 1 oz. per gallon.

So do I

How much are you guys using?

[denny]

That stuff is awesome, but I use way less than 1 oz. per gallon.

So do I

How much are you guys using?

1/2-3/4 as much as recommended.  Although I up that when I haven't cleaned my kettle in a year!