Sharing a recent experience with OxyClean vs BLC for beer lines

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by leedorham, Sep 3, 2013.

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  1. leedorham

    leedorham Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2006 Washington

    I know there is a lot of oxyclean/percarbonite advocacy in the homebrewing community and realize it's a great cleaner with a lot of uses, many people using it as a line cleaner in their kegerators, but here's why I'm not using it to clean my beer lines any more.

    Previously I had a practice of running Oxyclean through the lines on most cleanings, then sanitizing with iodophor as usual. About every 4-5 line cleanings, I'd use BLC instead of oxyclean. This was mostly due to the expense of line cleaner vs "sun oxygen cleaner" (generic oxyclean) and the fact that BLC is nasty stuff.

    Well, a few weeks ago I went on vacation and came back to a near blown keg. It blew and sat for a few days. I went to clean it and went the hot water/oxyclean solution route. Looking at the beer line, it had this wispy film in one spot that I could clearly see moving, but not busting loose. I let it soak and tried pushing the solution through hard, 50 psi, and still it stayed put. Tried this a couple times to no avail, was almost ready to replace the line.

    Then I ran BLC through it. It was a night and day difference. The pitcher I was collecting in was full of all sorts of chunks the oxyclean didn't pick up. I'm sold. BLC is made for cleaning beer lines and it shows.

    This may seem like a "duh" type of thing to figure out, but I hear all the time from other home brewers how they don't use line cleaner and just use Oxyclean or PBW instead. Thought I would share my observed difference in performance.
     
    #1 leedorham, Sep 3, 2013
    mikehartigan, Beerontwowheels and OddNotion like this.
  2. Beerontwowheels

    Beerontwowheels Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2009 Maryland

    I appreciate the observation as I plan to move into kegging later this month. Another item on my 'need to purchase' list.
     
    #2 Beerontwowheels, Sep 3, 2013
  3. mikehartigan

    mikehartigan Maven (1,421) Apr 9, 2007 Illinois

    Kind of makes you think maybe BLC was designed for specific purpose :wink:
     
    #3 mikehartigan, Sep 3, 2013
    NiceFly, jkane101 and leedorham like this.
  4. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    BLC is definitely a potent caustic...does anyone know if it is lye based?
    I follow a fairly similar routine of BLC every 2-3 kegs fulls with oxyclean between each keg. Has worked well so far...but know that oxyclean doesn't possess nearly the potency of BLC...i experienced this from cleaning out some nasty taps from a kegerator at my office.
     
    #4 telejunkie, Sep 4, 2013
  5. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Yes.
    http://www.micromatic.com/images/pr...08/Micro-MaticBeerLineCleaner MSDS 052206.pdf
     
    #5 hopfenunmaltz, Sep 4, 2013
  6. WickedSluggy

    WickedSluggy Savant (1,129) Nov 21, 2008 Texas

    If you don't like BLC then PBW is a better choice than OxyClean. Oxyclean is a low potency sodium percarbonate preparation (BTW - One Step is more potent). BLC and PBW are both buffered caustics - PBW uses sodium metasilicate instead of sodium hydroxide. Personally, I circulate strait lye at times. I'm just used to being around the stuff and it's very cheap per use.
     
    #6 WickedSluggy, Sep 4, 2013
  7. NiceFly

    NiceFly Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Tajikistan

    I want your job.

    Slightly off topic but still pertinent generic vs. brand name oxyclean is one of the few products I have found where the brand name is actually better. Generic always leaves a bit of a film but the brand name does not. However, that does not really pertain to your observations.
     
    #7 NiceFly, Sep 4, 2013
  8. leedorham

    leedorham Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2006 Washington

    Where do you buy Lye these days? Seems like a lot of places don't carry it anymore on account of the meth lab connection.
     
    #8 leedorham, Sep 4, 2013
  9. WickedSluggy

    WickedSluggy Savant (1,129) Nov 21, 2008 Texas

    #9 WickedSluggy, Sep 4, 2013
  10. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    BLC has an MSDS safety triangle health rating of 3 (Serious Hazard, major injury likely unless prompt action is taken and medical treatment is given, high level of toxicity ...)

    Oxy Clean has an MSDS safety health triangle of 1 (Slight Hazard, minor reversible injury may occur, slight to mildly irritating...)
    ratings range from 0 to 3.

    it is really important to remember that BLC is a serious hazard and not something anyone could buy at the supermarket. its shipped as a hazardous material. if you switch to BLC from oxyclean, you would not want to make the mistake of splashing it in your eyes.

    I use generic oxyclean and hot water rinse. works well if you don't neglect cleaning for too long.
    Cheers.
     
    #10 billandsuz, Sep 4, 2013
  11. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    #11 telejunkie, Sep 4, 2013
  12. leedorham

    leedorham Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2006 Washington

    Yeah, I'm not disputing that it's nasty stuff, but it is pretty easily obtained. A LHBS isn't any harder to buy from than a grocery store.

    FWIW I have splashed the diluted solution on myself more than once with no injury. Never in the eyes though. There is also a powdered version (PLC) which would probably be a little safer to handle than the liquid version.
     
    #12 leedorham, Sep 4, 2013
  13. sergeantstogie

    sergeantstogie Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2010 Washington

    I just want to know why "The Rent Is Too Damn High" guy gets two spots on your avatar.

    edit: 1 is understandable, but 2? That's just too damn high!
     
    #13 sergeantstogie, Sep 4, 2013
  14. leedorham

    leedorham Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2006 Washington

    There is no need to be upset...
     
    #14 leedorham, Sep 4, 2013
  15. WickedSluggy

    WickedSluggy Savant (1,129) Nov 21, 2008 Texas

    BLC is basically Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash/potassium lye) dissolved into a dispersing agent - It's drain cleaner. It's safe if handled by a reasonably competent adult.

    I use plain lye quite a bit because it's cheap, but BLC is actually safer than plain lye because it's easier to handle. The problem with lye is that it's hygroscopic. After a while it will pull enough water out of the air to form a "brick" it's container. The user is then tempted to dislodge enough for his intended use and flicks it into his eyes. Not good. I use goggles when you handle lye, and its good to have some vinegar and a source of fresh water nearby.
     
    #15 WickedSluggy, Sep 4, 2013
  16. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    its all relative. for reference, Clorox has a health rating of 1. everyone is familiar with the greasy feeling when skin dissolves after contact with undiluted bleach. and most of the world uses bleach while being capable of not being sent to the emergency room.

    but undiluted BLC is relatively toxic stuff that requires a fair amount of respect. a bit of undiluted Clorox up the nose will be a story. a bit of undiluted BLC in your face and you're probably visiting the ER.

    I believe that if a person can get beer from a keg to a glass they are probably competent enough to wear the safety tools required to use BLC.
    Cheers.
     
    #16 billandsuz, Sep 5, 2013
  17. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I've been using Sunclean on my lines and while I haven't noticed any problems, this thread does make me wonder if I should be doing a little more. It's not that I'm intimidated by the chemicals, just that the Sunclean is cheap, convenient, and, I assumed, working fine. I'm going to place an order for some kegging supplies and maybe I'll add BLC.
     
    #17 pweis909, Sep 5, 2013
  18. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,856) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Who has the best rates on BLC? Stuff is pretty steep and I'm almost out
     
    #18 jlordi12, Sep 30, 2015
  19. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    I bought it from Beverage Factory for maybe $10-$15 for a quart several years ago when buying new liquid & gas lines...still have the bottle since you only use a capful at a time and I try to line it up so that I can clean several lines at once.
     
    #19 telejunkie, Sep 30, 2015
    jlordi12 likes this.
  20. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,856) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Just to clarify you use the same cap full for all the lines ?
     
    #20 jlordi12, Sep 30, 2015
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