Cleaning home brewing equipment is essential to ensure the quality, safety, and consistency of your beer. Any residue, dirt, or bacteria left on the equipment can contaminate the brew, leading to off-flavors, unwanted fermentation issues, or even spoilage. Properly cleaned equipment helps maintain the integrity of the brewing process, allowing the yeast to ferment without interference from harmful microorganisms. Additionally, regular cleaning prolongs the lifespan of your equipment and reduces the risk of corrosion or buildup over time. By prioritizing cleanliness, home brewers can produce great-tasting beer while maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety.
What do you need
- Soft non-abrasive sponges
- NOTE: scratches, especially in plastic, make perfect homes for microorganisms
- Cleaning brushes (for stainless steel only)
- Microfiber towels for cleaning and drying
- Cleaning chemicals
- PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) or dye-free, fragrance-free OxyClean are recommended
- Chlorine bleach can be used, but be careful with this as chlorine can corrode stainless steel over time, and can lead to off-flavors in your beer
- If using bleach, you must rinse the surfaces thoroughly, and multiple times
- Bar Keeper’s Friend (for stainless steel only)
- Sanitizer
- Buckets for mixing cleaners and sanitizers, and for clean water
- Chemical resistant gloves
- Spray bottle
- Utility sink (not required, but definitely makes the job easier)
Cleaning process – after use
- Mix cleaner of choice in a bucket (or in the boil kettle), per package directions
- Soak all equipment for at least 20 minutes
- Note: be careful not to soak stainless steel equipment for more than 1 hour, as some of the cleaners can cause corrosion if left in contact for too long
- Scrub any tough areas to make sure all brewing or fermentation residues are fully removed
- As a reminder, do not use any abrasive products or brushes on plastic, as scratches will create nucleation sites for bacteria and other microorganisms
- Thoroughly rinse all equipment and surfaces with clean water (preferably hot water if possible) to ensure all cleaner residue is washed away
- Dry equipment (with microfiber towels or air dry) and store appropriately
Cleaning process – before use
- For all equipment that has not been recently cleaned, and especially for “cold-side” equipment, follow the processes above
- Note: “Cold-side” equipment is anything that will touch the wort/beer after the boil
Sanitizing
- All equipment and surfaces should be sanitized after cleaning, and before each use
- Re-sanitization of certain items may be required during the brewing process, if they come in contact with non-sanitized surfaces or items (including your hands!)
- You cannot “over sanitize” – so if you are ever unsure if something should be sanitized, SANITIZE IT!
- Mix sanitizer in a clean container, according to the package directions
- Make sure to dilute the sanitizer properly, for best results
- If using acid-based sanitizer that has been stored for a while, check the pH – should be 3.0 or less
- Add some sanitizer to a clean spray bottle and label properly
- Soak everything that you can in the bucket or container of sanitizer, for at least 1 minute
- Be careful not to soak items too long, especially items with plastic or rubber (o-rings, hoses, etc.) as the sanitizer can break down these materials and cause them to become brittle
- For items that cannot be soaked in the sanitizer container, use the spray bottle to thoroughly apply sanitizer to all surfaces
- Sanitizers designed for brewing do not require rinsing, and SHOULD NOT be rinsed with water, as this will defeat the purpose of sanitization
- It is OK, and actually preferred, to use equipment and tools that are wet with sanitizer, as this will ensure the best protection against infection
- Finally, “Don’t Fear the Foam!” – residual foam from StarSan, etc. is perfectly harmless and will not affect the flavor or quality of your beer. Don’t contaminate your equipment or tools by trying to remove the foam
These are the basic processes and practices for cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment. If you have additional questions about how or when to clean and sanitize, feel free to reach out to me.