Sanitizing equipment with Kmeta

[ericsp]

I clean all of my glass carboys with PBW and rinse thoroughly.

I typically use Kmeta to sanitize. The current bag of SO2 I have says:

• 1/4 tsp per 6 gallons as an antioxidant
• 2 oz per 1 gallon as a rinse

To sanitize carboys, I usually squish around Kmeta, but I'm not sure how much I should be using. I also sanitize my carboy caps and airlocks.

 

[cmason1957]

That 2 oz per 1 gallon doesn't sound nearly as strong as I mix it up, but I haven't measured exactly. I use 2 very full tablespoons plus 1 very full tablespoon of some acid (I have used tartaric, citric, and acid blend all without issue) in one gallon of water. Then to sanitize I pour about two or four cups into the carboy, slosh it around, put a bung without a hole on it and let it sit for some time. Is the sulfur being off-gassed that kills everything.

 

[ericsp]

That 2 oz per 1 gallon doesn't sound nearly as strong as I mix it up, but I haven't measured exactly. I use 2 very full tablespoons plus 1 very full tablespoon of some acid (I have used tartaric, citric, and acid blend all without issue) in one gallon of water. Then to sanitize I pour about two or four cups into the carboy, slosh it around, put a bung without a hole on it and let it sit for some time. Is the sulfur being off-gassed that kills everything.

And when it comes time to sanitize the bottles use the same thing? I’m just asking because I was sure if the citric acid would have an impact on flavor if some residue was left in them.

 

[cmason1957]

And when it comes time to sanitize the bottles use the same thing? I’m just asking because I was sure if the citric acid would have an impact on flavor if some residue was left in them.

There is such a little amount left after sanitizing the bottles that it will make no difference to the wine taste.

 

[mainshipfred]

Not sure where I heard it but if I remember correctly the pH of a K-meta solution should be around 2 to be the most affective. One of these days I'm going to actually measure and test the proportions. What I'm not sure of is what the SO2 level should be. FWIW I currently use 2 tablespoons of K-meta and 3 tablespoons of citric per gallon.

 

[VinesnBines]

Not trying to be a know it all but everyone is on the same page. Two full tablespoons of Kmeta weighs two ounces. I just checked with my digital scales. I was thinking four tablespoons to two ounces but that is a liquid conversation.

 

[wineview]

That 2 oz per 1 gallon doesn't sound nearly as strong as I mix it up, but I haven't measured exactly. I use 2 very full tablespoons plus 1 very full tablespoon of some acid (I have used tartaric, citric, and acid blend all without issue) in one gallon of water. Then to sanitize I pour about two or four cups into the carboy, slosh it around, put a bung without a hole on it and let it sit for some time. Is the sulfur being off-gassed that kills everything.

Do you rinse before use or just dump the solution and drip dry?

 

[wineview]

Not trying to be a know it all but everyone is on the same page. Two full tablespoons of Kmeta weighs two ounces. I just checked with my digital scales. I was thinking four tablespoons to two ounces but that is a liquid conversation.

I just checked on my scale and one tbls equals.70 ounce.

 

[wineview]

Not sure where I heard it but if I remember correctly the pH of a K-meta solution should be around 2 to be the most affective. One of these days I'm going to actually measure and test the proportions. What I'm not sure of is what the SO2 level should be. FWIW I currently use 2 tablespoons of K-meta and 3 tablespoons of citric per gallon.

I’m not familiar with taking a ph reading for kmeta effectiveness. I mixed 4 tbls into one gallon and the ph is 2.30. I do know that you want to keep StarSan below 3.0 to sanitize properly.

 

[cmason1957]

Do you rinse before use or just dump the solution and drip dry?

I don't rinse after sanitizing. I might be wrong, but that seems to me that it would introduce non-sanitized medium into a sanitized item.

 

[wineview]

Exactly my process

 

[BarrelMonkey]

Not sure where I heard it but if I remember correctly the pH of a K-meta solution should be around 2 to be the most affective.

Yes I think that's right though I don't measure that carefully. But if you do want to be a stickler, then use ~1lb tartaric acid per 8 (US) gallons of water to yield pH ~2. I guess it would be a bit less if you use citric acid.

 

[bstnh1]

Do you rinse before use or just dump the solution and drip dry?

Rinsing defeats the purpose of sanitizing as it can introduce contaminants from the rinse water.

 

[bstnh1]

I use 3 T K-meta plus 1 T critic acid as a sanitizing solution. Drip dry a few minutes, but not until completely dry.