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Author Topic: Big Mistake?  (Read 1979 times)

Offline cervesamark80

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Big Mistake?
« on: August 26, 2010, 11:40:27 PM »
Hi,
I did something really stupid. after brewing my first batch of beer, I got lazy and didn't clean my primary fermenter right away and left it for a few days.. and horrible bacitera and whatever else started growing and smells really bad.. I've cleaned it twice with bleach, but still can't get that smell out... should I just give up and buy a new fermenter??
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Offline svejk

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2010, 11:47:03 PM »
I assume this is a plastic bucket fermenter?  If so, then I would go ahead and replace it. If you ever decide to get into sour mashes or brewing lambics, you can use the stinky one.
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Offline cervesamark80

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2010, 11:51:17 PM »
yes, i did forget to mention it was plastic.. but thank you for the adivise.. I think I'll buy a new.
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Offline bluesman

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2010, 01:39:29 AM »
Quote from: cervesamark80 on August 26, 2010, 11:51:17 PM
yes, i did forget to mention it was plastic.. but thank you for the adivise.. I think I'll buy a new.

The risk vs. the cost to replace it is a no brainer in my mind.  Replace it and have peace of mind.
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Offline cervesamark80

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2010, 03:05:03 AM »
I know its a dumb question.. But I'm a beginer.. and I thought maybe it was still either able to be washed off, or that it wouldn't effect my next brew..
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Offline rep

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2010, 03:48:35 AM »
Your old bucket will work fine to mix sanitizer, rinse bottles and use as a slop bucket.  Welcome to the hobby.
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Offline euge

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2010, 05:29:32 AM »
I got buckets out the ying-yang. Yes- welcome to the hobby! ;)
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2010, 12:43:23 PM »
Quote from: euge on August 27, 2010, 05:29:32 AM
I got buckets out the ying-yang. Yes- welcome to the hobby! ;)

Wow! That's one hell of a trick! ;D Seriously, you will have a half dozen buckets or more floating around before long and you will always need one more.
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Offline edward

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2010, 12:52:59 PM »

When you buy another bucket go for the larger size (7.9g) that are usually sold for wine making.

Also,  I've had buckets that got bad infections that took a while to clean and sanitize.  After sanitizing with a couple of different chemicals for a long time it was okay.  But it is usually best to play it safe and get a new one.
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beveragebob

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #9 on: August 29, 2010, 07:10:46 AM »
Why not scrub it out, rinse and soak in bleach for a few days? After that rinse real good because most bleach these days contain chloramines. Then when you are ready to use it again soak it in iodaphor, rinse or not depending on your concentration and be confident that it ready to do it's job.
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Offline Malticulous

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2010, 03:27:25 AM »
IMO if you can't clean a dirty bucket you will get a contaminated batch eventually. Wash it with oxiclean and a terry cloth good and give it an over night soak full of water and a cup of bleach then let it air dry. Good as now if it's not scratched up.
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Offline lostralph

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2010, 03:57:53 AM »
If you still want to try an clean it you could try soaking it in a strong solution of PBW, I've had some good luck doing that with a mash tun I took a couple of days to empty :P.
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Offline Michael Thompson

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2010, 05:00:49 AM »
Buckets are cheap. Get a new one, and remember the lesson. And there are plenty of uses for such a bucket that don't care if it smells a bit. That stuff seeps into the plastic. That's why most of us move up to glass carboys pretty quickly.
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Offline MrNate

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2010, 05:52:45 AM »
I moved from carboys to buckets. They're cheap, easy to clean, and cheap.
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Offline chezteth

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Re: Big Mistake?
« Reply #14 on: August 30, 2010, 01:12:14 PM »
Definitely get a new bucket.  It's just not worth the risk of contaminating a batch of beer.  Like others have said, the smelly bucket can be used for other purposes so no sense in throwing it out.

Brandon
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