Starsan Question

I would just make a new batch, the old one might be good, or it might not be, do you really want to risk infecting your brew to save 3 oz of star san?

That's just me though other's may feel different about it

 

I don't see why the old batch would be bad. Unless you added something to neutralize the PH levels of your sanitized water, I don't see why you can't re-use it.

 

So here's a little tip.... Save your star san. I use a 5 gallon home depot bucket and keep a batch on hand at all times. I test the pH every now and again and have never had an issue with pH drops. I usually dump the batch every 6 months because of crud floating in the bucket, not because the star san has lost it's ability to sanitize.

 

Re-use. Starsan will work for a very very long time, and the only way to determine its continued effectiveness is through pH measurements. That whole thing about "as long as it's clear, it's usable" is bull-honky. Dependent on your water it can become cloudy almost immediately.

Anyway, if the only thing you've used that batch for is sanitizing bottles, it will be just as effective a day later.

 

I'm going to start reusing my star san, thanks for the advice

 

Check this thread here (foreign link, I hope that's OK) for someone who measured the pH vs cloudiness of StarSan.

Northern Brewer and StarSan state that as long as the pH is less than 3, the product is usable, so you might want to get some pH test strips.

 

Another way to stay on the cheap side is to buy some Home Sense Multi-Purpose Oxygen Cleaner (the unscented kind). I've done a ton of home brews using this stuff and have had great sanitation. You can use it very liberally as well, because it's super cheap – $4 for a 3.5 lb tub. Just throwing it out there!

 

What do you guys use to verify the PH of your used Starsan?

 

I think the directions on the bottle say if you do mix with distilled water , the solution is only good for a week.

 

I can't actually find anything specific on this product, but based on the name alone, this is a cleaner similar to oxi-clean. You're not actually sanitizing anything by using this. Even after cleaning, you'll still need a sanitizer.

 

...Which means you probably shouldn't use it...mix with RO to be sure (especially if you have stinky well water like me)

 

Well, hasn't failed me yet. Don't get me wrong though, I've used star san and similar sanitizers, but in a pinch I'll use oxygen cleaner, mixed with really hot water and soak the equipment before/after use, and no infections (so far).

 

I would say it's more that you should test it with pH strips, than not use it. Though, I do only use it with distilled...but that's mostly because it completely removes chlorine/chloramine from the mix.

 

My bottle says nothing of the sort. But I think you have that backwards. If you mix it with distilled or RO water, it will last months.

 

Am I the only one to think this is a waste of starsan? IMO, there's really no need for such a large quantity. You're only interested with the insides . . . dunking the bottles will certainly sanitize the outside but who cares? I suggest you could be equally effective with about ~1/2 gallon of sanitizer for 48 bottles and save some $$$. Fill a bottle and transfer to another bottle (via funnel), after about 6-8 cycles dump the solution and reload. When I bottle for a competition (say 9 bottles), I only mix 12 oz and cycle that through my bottles with good results. A thorough coating from a spray bottle also does well.

 

Obviously, ph is the definitive test since Starsan is an acid based sanitizer, but cloudy Starsan IS symtomatic of a problem that should not be pooh-poohed. It could indicate contaminents that will degrade (raise the ph) over time also.

 

I thought the same thing then I looked on the Star San site and it says use 1 oz per 5 gallons. I've been seriously underdiluting, but no problems so far (knock on wood!). He definitely only needs 5 gallons to clean bottles though. quick dunk in the bucket to fill each bottle, then pour liquid back into the bucket. Done. And saves 2 oz of Star San.