Just wondering what everyone uses for cleaning kettles, mash tuns, lines, etc. Specifically the type of abbrasive used, if any, meaning a cloth, sponge (I know super gross but I know people that do), steam only, CIP Chemical? I primarly do a rinse after use with a high pressure hose and then a CIP followed by a StarSan soak.
I soak anything that needs to be cleaned in Oxyclean and then rinse well before sanitizing. I'll leave a little water and Oxyclean in my kettle for a soak, if there is anything sticking to the bottom and I soak all hoses, siphon, funnel and fittings for kegs in OC if there is anything gunked on or if it just needs a good cleaning. I use Oxyclean for cleaning carboys as well...really takes off the caked on yeast better than anything else I've tried and it removes the odors sometimes left behind by a heavily hopped wort. If its needed, I dont use anything more than a super soft rag to wipe most equipment, trying to avoid creating scratches that bacteria could inhabit, but I will use the kitchen scrub brush on the kettle if something is being stubborn.
After a brew session I just rinse everything very well and store it. When it's time to brew again I wash everything with dishwasher detergent and rinse well. I then soak everything in iodophor for 3-4 minutes and then rinse with another soaking in a powdered sanitizer solution (except that I don't do this with the boil kettle since it's going to get sterilized during the boil). I follow this same procedure with my bottles.
I only wash hot side items with hot water. That includes my mash paddle, mash tun, fittings, and kettle. The only thing I ever use detergent (like palmolive dish soap) on is my brew kettle (after a brew session) and occasionally a very trace amount in hot water to clean fermentation buckets after bottling. Other than that I just use starsan to sanitize everything cold side (already clean) that touches the wort or beer. Generally if things are clean visually, that is no stains, particulates, or the like, all it needs is sanitizing prior to use.
I'm new to HB so take it for what it is worth. It worked the first time and I will likely keep doing the same thing. I rinse thoroughly with hot water. If there is anything visible I clean with PBW. Otherwise I use scent-free dish soap to clean everything. After it dries I put everything in clean closed containers. Then I only need to starsan the cold side stuff prior to the next brew.
I lightly hand wash every item with odorless clear Liquid Dish washing let it dry, no cleansing or sanitation needed.
I slightly rinse and scrub everything after brew day but don't sanitize> I'll scrub again and sanitize on brew day. I use a two part process: 1) Scrub junk off with PBW 2) Sanitize with Star-San Cheers, Derek
I run a CIP on the brew system after brewing using PBW and a little elbow grease on the kettles w/ a scotch brite pad. Then I store the kettles upside down on stand ensuring they dry out and get exposed to oxygen to keep the passivation barrier intact. Hoses, stainless pump heads, pump ball valves, and other parts get a soak in a bucket of pbw for a day or two and then hung on my bottle rack / placed on bar mats to dry. Occassionally the kettles also get cleaned with Bar Keepers Friend which shines them up nicely, removes beer stone, and really helps with the passivation.
