Sanitising

[jay]

hi me again was reading up on making your own sterilising solution how much woulde you use to sterilies a demijohn and can it be re-used or woulde you throw it away after. i allways buy mine from a shop and keep running out so to make my own woulde be so much easyer. thanks

[lockwood1956]

I would clean the DJ thoroughly and then leave a little of the sulphite solution in the DJ with a bung or airlock in it.....when you need it, its good to go.

[Her Lushness]

What's the maximum time you could leave a DJ like this, and still be confident that it's still sterlised?

[fatbloke]

hi me again was reading up on making your own sterilising solution how much woulde you use to sterilies a demijohn and can it be re-used or woulde you throw it away after. i allways buy mine from a shop and keep running out so to make my own woulde be so much easyer. thanks

Dunno about home made sterilising solution, other than proprietary type ones from the HBS or even milton fluid type ones.

Either way, I seem to recall that they're "one time only" solutions for best effect.

Personally, the only home made type one I make/use is the recipe from CJJ's "First Steps" as a "sanitising solution".

Which is 6 campden tablets and a teaspoon of citric acid in a pint of water (hot to dissolve the campdens/acid crystals). It can be kept in a tightly closed bottle (possibly something like a new/uncontaminated concertina bottle for photographic chemicals to be able to reduce any air space and spoil the mix).

I put that in a hand spray. Spray what needs sanitising, and leave it for 5 minutes or so.

Thus far, I haven't had any problems with it, but for major league cleaning/sterilising, I use the powder stuff from Ritchies (kit needs to be well rinsed use as it's bleach based - apparently).

regards

JtFB

[lockwood1956]

What's the maximum time you could leave a DJ like this, and still be confident that it's still sterlised?

I have left them a year, and as long as they are sealed effectively, and its been still smelling strongly of sulphite, and i'm confident its still good.

[lockwood1956]

And of course you will (as I always do.....even after this time) sniff it and have your head snapped back by the sulphite fumes!!!!!

[lockwood1956]

I prefer the 10% solution described in the new winemaker series.....

and I don't add citric acid...it does make the solution slightly more effective....but it reduces its shelf life.

[lockwood1956]

See here for details

http://www.winesathome.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1561

[lockwood1956]

but for major league cleaning/sterilising, I use the powder stuff from Ritchies (kit needs to be well rinsed use as it's bleach based - apparently).

regards

JtFB

I don't like using bleach in my winemaking process......apart from anything else TCA is caused (in part) by chlorine based products

[Her Lushness]

And of course you will (as I always do.....even after this time) sniff it and have your head snapped back by the sulphite fumes!!!!!

YEUCK! just the thought of that smell makes me shudder!

[Her Lushness]

I prefer the 10% solution described in the new winemaker series.....

and I don't add citric acid...it does make the solution slightly more effective....but it reduces its shelf life.

... and thanks ...

[cpfan]

YEUCK! just the thought of that smell makes me shudder!

and thats why I use iodophor as my sanitizer.

Steve

[lockwood1956]

and thats why I use iodophor

Difficult to get in the UK, but we can get starsan which I love.

Also can get Chemipro oxi which i also love, but I still use sulphite solution when storing DJ's and I feel comforted by the solution still smelling strong when I un-bung the DJ. (maybe I'm just weird?)

[lockwood1956]

OOOOO

forgot to mention, star san and chemipro oxi are available from stockists of Brupaks stuff (you may need to order it)

http://www.brupaks.com/stockists.html

[lockwood1956]

Product descriptions

http://www.brupaks.com/sundries%20cleaning.htm