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Author Topic: Cleanser  (Read 1459 times)

Offline quest4watneys

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Cleanser
« on: January 18, 2011, 06:34:40 pm »
I've been using an eco-friendly odorless, colorless liquid soap to clean my equipment before sanitizing. I placed my first brew in the primary yesterday and I've got lots of action in the airlock. So far so good! I'm really paranoid about cleaning and sanitizing so is there something better I should be using?
Thanks again for the responses!
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Offline Hokerer

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Re: Cleanser
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2011, 06:44:27 pm »
What you're doing is probably fine as long as it's working for you.  Main thing is is it getting things clean and is it not leaving any residue.

If you're interested in trying something different, one cleanser that seems to be fairly popular is Oxyclean - get the "free" or "versatile" or whatever they call it that's the fragrance free version.
Joe

Offline cheba420

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Re: Cleanser
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2011, 08:47:31 pm »
+1 on the Oxyclean. Very effective and very affordable. Works great on stainless, glass and plastic. I've never tried using soap.
Matt
Mesa, AZ.
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Offline Kit B

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Re: Cleanser
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2011, 09:49:23 am »
+1...Oxyclean.

Soap is not recommended.

Offline denny

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Re: Cleanser
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2011, 10:26:33 am »
I think Oxiclean is a great cleaner and use Oxiclean Versatile often and have for years.  I recently ran some informal tests that make me think PBW works better and that's what I use for all my really critical cleaning.  I also will use Oxiclean maybe 3-4 times on something, and then hit it with PBW the next time.
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Offline richardt

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Re: Cleanser
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2011, 10:30:10 am »
I'll respectfully disagree with the others about soap.  Using a detergent is a good idea as it saponifies various fats into solution.
As long as you're using mild, unscented soap, I think it has its place, especially when cleaning plastic buckets.
I notice that mild soap and hot water removes various compounds (e.g., oils) that oxyclean might not remove as well.
Oxyclean is predominantly a cleanser, though it does contain non-ionic detergents.
I do wonder about its effectiveness in various water profiles (like mine which is high in sulfate and bicarbonates).
Regardless, rinse well after using soap or oxyclean and do not do prolonged soaks for days on end with oxyclean and water with high bicarbonate levels--you'll get a residue that cannot be easily removed from SS and impossible to remove from tubing or plastic.

Offline bluesman

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Re: Cleanser
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2011, 10:56:38 am »
I use Ivory soap in a very mild solution using a soft sponge to clean my plastic fermenters and have been doing so for years with excellent results. For my kegs I use PBW. I rinse with hot water to ensure a thorough rinsing of any detergents or cleaners. Of course, don't forget to sanitize everything before use.  ;)
Ron Price

Offline Kit B

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Re: Cleanser
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2011, 02:37:46 pm »
I stand, corrected.