Growler cleaning

Simplest solution is the moment it is drained of beer is that it gets rinsed thoroughly with hot water. if you can manage that. Nothing else is really required beyond an occasional rinse with something stronger like bleach, or sani.

 

I've had issues with my growlers smelling after they've been washed and dried but I've found that filling them almost completely full with water and then topping them off with white vinegar and allowing to soak works amazingly well. While I was initially concerned that it would leave my growlers smelling like vinegar, a simple rinse with water after soaking and they're good as new.

 

I just rinse with water. After a while some buildup can occur on the bottom and I give it a PBW soak. Star San will sanitize but not clean.

 

White vinegar is very effective for mildew issues. I usually hot water air dry, and white vinegar when the occasional mildew issue occurs.

 

Really?

 

Amazed how many people are using a dishwasher to wash a growler. Seems like a colossal waste of water/energy

 

anyone use an iodine based sanitizer? I had some, worked well, but now I am out of it. Looking to buy more, but was wondering if other sanitizers, like star san, is better. thoughts?

 

No...many places don't...it is very annoying.

 

Guys Star San is a sanitizer, not a cleaner. Hot water, a touch of soap, and rinse until the suds are out. Also, most breweries will (quickly) rinse and sanitize your growler before filling it anyway... They don't want someones 1st time trying their product to be spoiled by lack of cleanliness.

 

I have a 3" circular crocheted nylon scrubby that is flat and flexible and easy to insert in the growler. I put this in the growler when I am shaking it with the hot water and it cleans completely. This works even with built up residue. Scrubbie can be cleaned in dishwasher.

 

As has been stated, and I guess needs repeating is that star san, iodophor, and other sanitizers are just that...sanitizers. Not cleaners, they will not clean your glass. After sanitizing if you air dry it, guess what...after a few minutes it is no longer sanitary anymore, and is just as clean as it was before you sanitized anything. So you are wasting your money sanitizing unless you are about to use it for a purpose that requires sanitization (yeast starter, etc).
Clean your growler out with hot water if its been recently emptied. If you have one that has been sitting around and has gotten funky and has sticky residue you can use a beer-friendly cleaner on it (oxyclean, PBW etc) and use a stiff bristled brush like this: http://www.morebeer.com/products/beer-bottle-brush.html?site_id=7 after you clean it with that leave it upside down in a rack to air dry, and always leave the top off or open, otherwise the remaining water will grow mold and you'll have to start over.

 

I use dissolved NaOH pellets

 

I clean mine like I would homebrew equipment:

• Hot water and PBW, soak until the water is room temp.
• Dump, rinse multiple times.
• couple ounces of StarSan, leave in until ready to use.
• Shake, dump StarSan, fill with beer.

I know it's totally overkill, but there's also zero chance of having a problem. Besides, I have a TON of PBW and StarSan and very rarely can I actually brew these days, so it's making use of those products that would otherwise just sit.

 

These are newish.

Growler tabs.

 

Cut off the metal loop on the end, insert into cordless drill...Presto, super clean.

 

I've started leaving mine full of soapy (or even star-san) water after I finish. The next time I want to fill it, I just pour it out and give it a quick rinse. It works great.

 

Cool, how do you get it out, just stick your finger in there? I know someone that crochets, maybe I can get her to do me a couple.

 

I think it's hilarious that there is a 2 page post about cleaning a growler. It's just beer. You fill it up with some water and shake it up a bit and repeat until it seems clean.