Sterilization

Hmm... wonder what you used? I use a few "glugs" of bleach in 5 gallons of water. The smell isn't too bad to me. However, there are lots of alternatives that you can get at your Homebrew Shop, based on acid, oxygen, or iodine and most are pretty much odor free I think. Find a good Homebrew Shop and ask them.

This is discussed a good bit. Nobody seems to know what temperature and for how long. Some also say that repeated heat/cooling cycles will weaken the glass... but I don't have any scientific proof for that, just hearsay.

I think it was sodium metabisulphate ­ I wonder if I did something wrong because I remember us all choking in a bad way. Will try the bleach method this time.

Maybe I'll just give it a try some time and see what happens.

Thanks, Julie

Julie Walker wrote in news:BF0BB750.1E4D% snipped-for-privacy@lineone.net:

I use that stuff and find that I smell of it for a fair while afterwards. I don't choke or anything, but it's not all that pleasant either.

Also, do you need to rinse after using it? I could have sworn the man at my local brew shop said not to, but I can see where it's dried on the outside of bottles and think I can taste it in the beer, so I guess I'll have to rinse next time. Doesn't appear to have actually killed me though so that's a bonus.

Yeah, sodium metabisulphate can be pretty bad. Apparently you have to be very careful if there are any asthmatics close by. It can bring on an attack (or so I've read).

I've successfully used unscented bleach to sterilise numerous batches. Much easier to use.

Phil

-- Pfft...English! Who needs that? I'm never going to England. Homer J. Simpson

Hey guys,

The cleaner I use is C-Brite. It is mainly sodium carbonate and sodium silicate. I googled it at it first popped up here:

Bill