Sanitizing Procedure

Andrew, I use B-Brite for cleaning (which is probably the same, but I don't know) then I rinse with water, then I sulfite with Sodium Metabisulfite. _no rinsing after that. Never had a problem. Then again, I never had a problem before using this routine, either. A lot depends on how long you expect you wine to last after you make it. IMO if you're going to drink it within 8 months anyway, you'll probably be ok w/o the SMS, but there are risks involved, and they'll change with the alcohol content and pH level of the wine. In short, sulfite, sulfite, sulfite.

Andrew wrote:

That's what I needed to know. I was unsure about the sulphite as the Sparkle bright smeels of chlorine and I thought it was good enough. Sounds like a little extra work for a safer end product. I'll buy some this week.

Thanks for the help.

Andrew

snipped-for-privacy@veriz> Andrew,

Suggestion; add a few grams of citric acid when you make up your KMS solution. For santizing, I usually make a 5% KMS solution, with about a 1% citric acid additive.

rinse out that sparkle brite well

Andrew wrote:

Oxiclean is much better and safer for wine and beermaking. I formally used chlorine but not anymore. Oxiclean actually cleans organic stains like that white film that forms on the destemmer great, where chlorine doesn't.

Bob

Andrew wrote:

Andrew-

I use Iodophor and NaMS / KMS. For unknown equipment I soak it in iodophor solution (2 caps / 5 gallons = 12.5 ppm). That's a sterilizer- 60 seconds of contact kills.

It's a no-rinse sanitizer so you *could* leave it in contact- I have waffled back and forth yet for wine (for beer it doesn't matter). Maybe this year I'll try a few bottles each way and rack them for a year and see if I can taste/smell a difference. Either way, drain it well or rinse it well.

Sometimes if I'm feeling particularly difficult I'll even rinse the bottles with NaMS/Citric, then rinse again.

No problems so far.

Jason

Andrew wrote:

What do you add the citric acid to the NaMS? Just curious!

NaMS is cheaper than KMS. So I use (Sodium Metabisulfite) for sanitizing and leave the KMS for additions.

The Citric Acid enhances the sanitization by shifting the pH.

Jas> What do you add the citric acid to the NaMS? Just curious!

Huh! I never thought of oxyclean. I use bleach on anything that I haven't used in a while, or anything will a visible stain or film. Then I rinse it 3 to 5 times with clear water, or until all bleach smell is gone.

Before using all equipment I rinse it in NaMS, and just shake off the excess -- no further rinsing.

I normally use 2 oz of NaMS in 1 gallon water -- I recently made up a batch of 4 oz in 1 gallon. Won't do that again -- the odor is so violent and rough on the sinuses that I have to have a fan running. On the bright side, I'm sure it kills everything it touches! :-)

Bryan