How to sanitize kegs?
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    The new kegs still have a smell of soda and I want to make sure they are completely sanitized before use. So I think these will be my steps:

    1. soak overnight in a bleach solution 3.5 oz bleach to 3 gallons of water. for 5 gallons I'll 6 oz. This based on this link I found on the interwebs http://www.allqa.com/ChlorineSanitizing.htm

    2. Rinse with hot water

    3. Sanitize again with a general brewing sanitizer

    Anything I am leaving out?

    Lothos
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    sounds fine to me. i just rinsed mine well and fill em with sanitizer.

    Lothos
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    I rinsed w/water, washed w/oxyclean, then sanitized. I soaked overnight w/ oxyclean w/all parts inside the keg to get rid of any soda scum. I don't know much about the effect of bleach of stainless steel, but I think it can be a bit corrisive at certain concentrations.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,582
    No bleach in stainless. It is likely to ruin it. not worth the risk.

    Oxyclean overnight
    Dissasemble
    Hot rinse
    Sanitize the bits and pieces with Star San or Idophor
    Reassemble (with new seals)
    Sanitize the assembled keg with Star San or Idophor.

    Lothos
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,972
    Disassemble
    Oxyclean overnight
    Hot rinse
    Sanitize the parts with Star San or Idophor
    Reassemble with all new rubbers
    Sanitize the whole package just prior to filling with Star San or Idophor

    This is what I do when I get *new* kegs form CL or something, bleach will pit stainless although it doesn't happen immediately.

    Lothos
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Cool. Thanks for the feedback.

    Lothos
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    and don't forget the keg lube!

    ThymLothos
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    lube and rubbers sounds like a normal Friday night in the tkt.
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    Would this work with sanke kegs too? ??
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,582
    ceannt said:

    Would this work with sanke kegs too? ??



    Yes, except the details about orings and stuff.

    You can dissasemble a sanke with a screwdriver if you are careful, but it usually results in some galling.

    Lothos
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    Seems like sanke kegs would be so much more bullet proof ...

    Lothos
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    i had read somewhere that often times the soda smell (which smells like root beer usually) is from the cleaner they used on the kegs before selling them.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,582
    ceannt said:

    Seems like sanke kegs would be so much more bullet proof ...



    They just arent really designed to be dissasembled and reassembled between each fill. But i can see it working.

    Lothos
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,582
    frydogbrews said:

    i had read somewhere that often times the soda smell (which smells like root beer usually) is from the cleaner they used on the kegs before selling them.



    That makes some sense. Although i have nothing to support that hypothesis.

    Lothos
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    Lakewood said:

    frydogbrews said:

    i had read somewhere that often times the soda smell (which smells like root beer usually) is from the cleaner they used on the kegs before selling them.



    That makes some sense. Although i have nothing to support that hypothesis.


    I can't be 100% sure, but from what I remember when I bought all my kegs, the smell was that of a caustic soda.

    Lothos
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    I think I will be purchasing "cleaned and refurbished" kegs.........

    Lothos
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • CurlyFatCurlyFat
    Posts: 71,629
    If I get a stubborn smell in a "new" keg, I find an overnight soak with hot water and baking soda takes care of it.

    Don't forget to disassemble your popits now and then. No one told me that at first, took me a while to track down a persistent house flavor...not a good one.

    Lothos


    I took a short one a couple hours ago. It was nice. --
    C_B

  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,582
    CurlyFat said:

    If I get a stubborn smell in a "new" keg, I find an overnight soak with hot water and baking soda takes care of it.

    Don't forget to disassemble your popits now and then. No one told me that at first, took me a while to track down a persistent house flavor...not a good one.


    did you have to buy new parts to get rid of the infection?

    Lothos
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,651
    take all the rubber bits off and hit it with this for 1.3 sec.
    image
    (about $40us plus tank and that stupid tank cart for sissies)

    Lothos
    image
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,582
    Dr_Jerryrigger said:

    take all the rubber bits off and hit it with this for 1.3 sec.
    image
    (about $40us plus tank and that stupid tank cart for sissies)



    dont think i havent considered getting one of these....

    Lothos
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    I soaked my kegs overnight in oxyclean. That worked on the smell. Although I found that one of my popits won't go back in straight to reattach. I also need new gaskets and seals etc

    Lothos
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,972
    Ok. Every post in this thread has been 'liked'. Who did it? Fess up now and this will hurt less than if I have to look it up myself...

    FuzzyjlwBenS
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    hmmmmm

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    Ain't that a Bitch
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,972
    Lothos said:

    hmmmmm


    So you can screen grab? Nice.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    yup
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    Ain't that a Bitch
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,972
    Your thousandth post was of my so. I'm touched.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • flyfisherwesflyfisherwes
    Posts: 1,053
    I got 4 kegs that have old (years old) beer in them. some nasty looking stuff. Should I do the same?
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,651
    flyfisherwes said:

    I got 4 kegs that have old (years old) beer in them. some nasty looking stuff. Should I do the same?



    Yeah, just toss a baby in it.
    image
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,972
    flyfisherwes said:

    I got 4 kegs that have old (years old) beer in them. some nasty looking stuff. Should I do the same?


    Yep. Tear em down, throw all the parts in it and fill 'er up with steamy oxi clean water.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
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