[gmac]

I was given 4 glass carboys. One has some algae growth in it, the others just need a darn good cleaning. What is the best to really get these sparkling clean. Normally, I'd wash them out with TSP and bleach the heck out of them but is there a better option?

[tumarkin]

PBW (powdered brewery wash) by five star chemicals. the stuff rocks, easy to use, very effective.

http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/PBWTech2.pdf

[denny]

I use Oxiclean most of the time and PBW for the critical cleaning (like fermenters).  Even the stuff I clean with Oxiclean gets PBW every 3-5 cleanings.

[Joe Sr.]

I, too, use a lot of Oxy Clean.  For stubborn gunk, though, I just use Cascade detergent, or whatever unscented brand I can get on sale.

I think I gave PBW a whirl some time ago and didn't find it to be much more effective than Cascade.

Anyway, I have a tub somewhere of some brewery wash I bought years ago.  I rarely, if ever, have used it in the last 5 or more years.

[bluesman]

+1 to PBW.

Aside from the expense, it is my "go to" cleaner. Oxiclean will do the same level of cleaning but it lacks the "wetting agent" that PBW utilizes.

[Pinski]

I've found that a nice variety of brushes; carboy, bottle, 1/2" and 1/4" long and short stem for corny tubes, makes my cleaning chores much easier.  PBW and StarSan are my cleaner and sanitizer of choice.

[nateo]

+1 to PBW. Remember to wear your goggles. Alkali cleaners can really mess up your eyes. I went to the ER for getting a non-brewing related solvent in my eye, and he told me the worst accidents he sees relate to alkali products. Drain-o is strongly basic, and will "turn your cornea into oatmeal," apparently.

[denny]

+1 to PBW. Remember to wear your goggles. Alkali cleaners can really mess up your eyes. I went to the ER for getting a non-brewing related solvent in my eye, and he told me the worst accidents he sees relate to alkali products. Drain-o is strongly basic, and will "turn your cornea into oatmeal," apparently.

PBW isn't an alkali, is it?   

[Slowbrew]

+1 to PBW. Remember to wear your goggles. Alkali cleaners can really mess up your eyes. I went to the ER for getting a non-brewing related solvent in my eye, and he told me the worst accidents he sees relate to alkali products. Drain-o is strongly basic, and will "turn your cornea into oatmeal," apparently.

PBW isn't an alkali, is it?   

According to the description on Northern Brewer it is.  "PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) is a patented alkali cleaner originally developed for Coors, ..."

Paul

[bluesman]

+1 to PBW. Remember to wear your goggles. Alkali cleaners can really mess up your eyes. I went to the ER for getting a non-brewing related solvent in my eye, and he told me the worst accidents he sees relate to alkali products. Drain-o is strongly basic, and will "turn your cornea into oatmeal," apparently.

PBW isn't an alkali, is it?   

Yes it's considered a "buffered alkaline detergent". So it uses active oxygen to penetrate carbon and protein soils.

One of the best cleaners on the market IMO.

[denny]

Thanks....here's the info from 5 Star if anyone is interested....

http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/PBWTech2.pdf

[bluesman]

Thanks....here's the info from 5 Star if anyone is interested....

http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/PBWTech2.pdf

Great info Denny.

I got this info from a Brewstrong show sometime ago when they had a rep from fivestar chemical on the show.

[nateo]

Edit: Bluesman beat me to it. Here's the MSDS also:
http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/PBWMSDS2.pdf

The MSDS for PBW recommends rubber gloves and goggles or safety glasses, so it's probably a good idea. MSDS for Star-san requires safety goggles.

I use goggles whenever I handle PBW or Star-san. Probably overkill, and at the recommend dilutions it's probably not THAT big of a deal, but no one ever plans on getting chemicals in their eyes. The last time I went to the ER it cost me about $180 out-of-pocket, which is way more expensive than just wearing my $10 chemical goggles. I also couldn't see for a couple days out of one eye. That's pretty terrifying.

[gmac]

I'm reading on my phone so I can't open the MSDS sheets. What's the active ingredient?  I wonder if there is a suitable alternative in the dairy industry.

[nateo]

Sodium Metasilicate is the active ingredient.

5 star makes a lot of chemicals for the dairy industry too, so I wouldn't be surprised if they used the same compound. With a few simple precautions PBW is as safe as anything else. Definitely safer to use than an automobile.