How much oxy-clean to use?

[Kyle]

I picked up a thing of "concentrated oxy-clean versatile stain remover" yesterday, which is 40% more concentrated than the normal stuff for deep cleaning brewing stuff. The label says to use 4 scoops per gallon, but there is no scoop provided and no indication of scoop size. I put 3 tbsp in a keg and filled with hot water.

Apparently this stuff is killer for removing ick from brewing stuff.

How much do you use, and do you know the scoop size?

thanks

[Richard]

wtf? 4 scoops per gallon?

I use 1.5 scoops for *5* gallons and that cleans a carboy like you wouldn't believe. more than 2-3 and you'll get a white film left on any glass you soak in it, which you need vinegar (or star-san) to remove.

Ok so I have no idea what size their scoop is, but the one I had was round about 2-3tbsp per scoop. If your stuff is 40% more concentrated then I figure 3 tbsp will be about the right amount.

The water goes cloudy, deposits (like yeast trub) effervesce like when you put peroxide on a wound, and bubbles keep rising to the top... if it's not doing that you probably need more.

[Kyle]

I'd say I have the right amount

[Dave Savoie]

Stuff works wonders on sludge on the sides of carboy

[Kyle]

good, I am sick of scrubbing for 20minutes. Also, there was a scoop in it... right at the bottom, but it looks like about 3 or 4 tbsp, so I can't imagine putting the prescribed 20 of those in 5 gal. that was for stain removal on hard surfuces. the 3-4 tbsp TOTAL for 5g seems to work.

[Richard]

uh yeah I dunno how they figure that's the right amount... I've just used what I said and had it be fine (visually speaking).

In related news I think my competition IPA is also infected with the same FdhjsyhfKJDHFing thing that got two of my previous brews. Kyle, I'd like your $0.02 on this some time (taste it); it's a very faint aftertaste right now, but it seems all too familiar of late. Gonna break out some of that pink stuff on my glassware to ensure it's not the culprit.

I suspect if it is ick, it got in during the car-ride when shit fell off the top. This is beginning to seriously get on my goddamn nerves, as that'll be the third batch with the same funk in it. I think it may be time for some seriously over-zealous purging of my equipment. Anything not glass or metal = bye bye.

Now... to speed-brew an IPA in the three weeks before the competition... hoi JQ! Be needing some valves over here!

Yeah OT... just ranting

edit: yeah as this warmed up it's obvious. Game over man; game over. Time to take off and nuke the equipment from orbit... it's the only way to be sure.

[Dean]

damn that really sucks!  maybe time to break out the bleach and boiling water ...

[Kyle]

I am currently soaking my auto-syphon (which was used on beer infected with mother of vinegar) in a very strong oxy-clean solution in an otherwise clean keg. In a few hours I'll drain, rinse, and do a star-san bath.

I have camden tabs in the cupboard, maybe I should throw a pile them in for good measure, but probably not.

[Richard]

Kyle: I think even oxy-clean and sanitiser isn't enough for some infections in plastic. My theory switched a little bit to point the finger at a hose I've been using with my siphon: despite being oxy-cleaned and sanitised it's the only common factor left, as I had replaced other parts already. Time to go buy more hose; just about to soak all my glassware in that goddamn toxic pink chlorine stuff (it smells like it'll kill anything).

FWIW I tend to shy away from throwing multiple cleaning products into one vessel, at worse you could end up generating chlorine gas; not nice

Pretty major bummer, aye.

[Kyle]

yeah, I meant one cleaner at a time, with a rinse in between.

[DandyMason]

Pretty sure I just bought the exact same stuff... I will also go with 3-4 tbsp.

Also bought a much cheaper bigger container full of "great value" oxi stain remover... Think this would be just as effective?

[Kyle]

yep, I'll buy the non-brand name stuff next time too, just make sure its unscented.

[DandyMason]

Sounds good.... I currently dont have any starsan... After using the oxi clean, should I just rinse really really well?

[Richard]

nono... oxy-clean does not sanitise at all. If you're out of sanitiser, you'll need to get more.

If you're in a pinch I can give you a half-bottle of star-san for a few bucks; I have a bunch right now. Failing that most of the u-brew stores round here carry iodaphor. The pink stuff (some chlorinated thing) works too, but is a pain in the ass to work with.

[Kyle]

and you can't use the pink stuff (chlorine) with metal, as it eats through rather quickly.