Sanitation Procedures

[smurfe]

We have had a bit of talk around here recently about sanitation and the importance of such activities. From what I have read there is a chance I may not be doing it quite correct as the chemical I use may or may not be an actual sanitizer. Easy Clean One Step ?Sanitizer/Cleaner?


Since I am not 100% sure and haven't got a straight answer if I am indeed using a sanitizer or not, I am going to switch to a known sanitizing agent such as K-Meta. I read many use the K-Meta in a spray bottle to spray their stuff down. I figured I'd ask what your procedure is. Do you make up a sink full of K-Meta solution and soak stuff in it? Do you clean the stuff with a regular cleaner and then spray the surface with a K-Meta solution? Just what is your known effective procedures to sanitize.


I figured the "old" newbies like me as well as the new newbies can learn some sound practices and see what works for us. I figured I would continue to clean as usual and then spray some K-Meta solution on the items and go about my business. I know most everyone has their preferred practices down pat. What works for you?


Smurfe

 

[PolishWineP]

So glad you asked!

We just started using the spray bottle of K-meta. When we're doing a "day of wine" we use a plastic bus tub (Like they use in restaurants to clear tables) for sanitizing. We clean and the put the equipment into the tub with the sanitizer. We racked 3 batches of wine and started another batch on Sunday (that day of rest!) so you can see how nicely this works for us. Wash and back into the tub it goes.


When we're done was pour out the sanitizer and then use the tub to transport the equipment to where we say it's put away.

 

[pkcook]

Smurfe,


I made up a gallon of K Meta and use a dish pan to dip all my utensils in. I still use the Straight A, Easy Clean, One Step, but now I follow with a dip in theK Meta. I funnelthe K Meta in all the carboys and jugs for a quick slosh prior to racking or filling as well. When I'm done, I funnel the K Meta back in the 1 gallon jug and put a tight lid on it. As long as there is a pungent oder (your notice it! it will curl your nose hairs

) I continue to use it. I use the spray bottle on items too large for the pan, and as a quick shot on my hands before I pick up sanitized items.

 

[OilnH2O]

Smurfe -- I'm feeling horrible! (After all, Youdaman!)


Since I brought up your tutorial in that other posting--I just went back and looked again, and your picture (on the first page) clearly shows your "One Step Sanitizer"" -- $17.99 from Austin Home Brewing! My point to Georgewas only that the Logic brand with the same namewas a cleanser-- and I got confused-- MY bad!


(I gotta admit, though -- I've now got a gallon of k-meta in a one-gallon jug!)

 

[Joseph1]

Smurfe,<?amespace prefix = o ns = "urnchemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />

This is one of those areas in which the winemaker is presented with a great deal of conflicting information. Each winemaker will need to decide the level of risk they are willing to accept and develop their own process for cleaning and sanitizing.

First the risk; both the Winexpert and the R.J. Spagnols websites indicate that 90% of wine failures can be traced to lapses in cleaning and sanitizing. Note that this is not just kit failure rather it is wine failures.

I believe that because of EPA requirements, the manufacturers of Easy Clean and One Step do not advertise their product as sanitizers. From what I have seen, these claims appear to be made by product re-packagers and retailers. I have noted that these products re-packaged by L.D. Carlson no longer contain the indication that the product also sanitizes. I also recall that L.D. Carlson recently advised George that these were cleaners and not sanitizers. (George, please advise if my recollection is incorrect.)

While it is very likely that both Easy Clean and One Step are cleaners and sanitizers, I have so far read nothing that convinces me that this is fact. What I do know is that metabisulfite is an effective sanitizer. George’s tutorial recommends cleaning with Easy Clean or One Step then sanitizing with K-meta. Following this recommendation to clean and sanitize can potentially reduce 90% of the causes of wine failures.

My known effective procedure to sanitize; I rely on nothing but metabisulfite (either potassium or sodium) to sanitize my equipment. My process is essentially the same as pkcook's.

 

[djcoop]

Joseph,


I agree, I cleanse w/ easy clean, then sanatize w/ k-meta. Two seperate steps. Better to be safe than sorry........................ You know kinda like NASA, two is safer better than one???? Don't know where that one popped in my head from, but just go w/ it

 

[smurfe]

Thanks all, I am just looking for little tips that I might use to make the job easier. I know many of you have time saving procedures or have found an easier way. Heck, I would of never thought about a spray bottle to use. I make up tons of cleaner (or is it sanitizer?) in a big tub and dunk stuff. I am sure I waste a lot of it.


Smurfe

 

[pkcook]

Smurfe,


One thing that I have thought of that I have yet tofind is a container long enough tohold a racking cane,fizz x, or bottling wand, but narrow enoughso it wouldn't takegallons of sanitizer to fill. Wal- Mart sells shallow tub type containers with lids, but they are about as wide as they are long, so they require quite a bit of solution to fill deep enough to fully submerge the items.

 

[Dean]

I use both Idophor and K-meta. I use a spray bottle for both as well. For k-meta, I make a 1L batch that just fits in the spray bottle. I made sure I got another spray bottle that is 1L as well for the idophor. For the Idophor, I have to make a batch each time I use it since it only lasts 24 hours. HOWEVER, I got a 500ml bottle of it for $7! Sanitizing strength is 1ml per 1L, so that is 500 batches of it. Idophor is used mostly by beer makers since we need stronger bacterial killing action due to beer's higher PH. Idophor does stain plastic brown though over time.


For dunking things, I have taken a 4" PVC tube and end cap from Home Depot and sealed them together, then made a K-meta solution to hold my racking cane, spoons, etc in the tube! Works like a charm!

 

[Casper]

Every time I put a carboy away, I put a bit of K Meta with water (about 2 inches) and seal the carboy. So next time I use it I know the carboy did not get contaminated. I just remove the K Meta solution and rinse it.<?amespace prefix = o ns = "urnchemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />

Do not stick your nose in the carboy after you remove the plug. Trust me I did it. For the rest I use a spray bottle with K Meta solution.

 

[smurfe]

For dunking things, I have taken a 4" PVC tube and end cap from Home Depot and sealed them together, then made a K-meta solution to hold my racking cane, spoons, etc in the tube! Works like a charm!

Great idea, this is the kind of stuffI was looking for. Great tip!


Smurfe

 

[pkcook]

Thanks Dean,


What an Idea! I have PVC lying around in my garage waiting for my use

.


This is what makes this forum great! Innovative ideas to make winemaking easier.

 

[earl]

Well let me share mine with you to get your thoughts.


1 - I put two small tubs on my counter. One holds K-meta and the other Easy Clean. On the stove I boil water, and in that water I boil a glass measuring cup.


2- Everything, and I mean everything, gets a soak in Easy Clean then a soak in K-meta.


3 - Everything, and I mean everything, then gets a rinse with water that has been boiled.


I do this before and after whatever procedure I am doing. The last rinse with water is to get the K-meta and any residual Easy Clean off the tools. Maybe a bit of overkill but my first kit failed due to sanitation issues and it really torqued me off.


earl