stubborn film on interior surface of carboy

[wyntheef]

Has anyone had a bluish or greyish film build up inside a carboy that won't come out by sanitizing and rinsing? when there is liquid in it, it looks clear but after drying the film shows up again. I'm thinking this is a result of repeated exposure to one-step, but not sure.
I've seen the video of the 'carboy cleaner' (like a drill degasser except it has long scrubbing pads instead of the plastic wings) and this might work, but I wanted to see if anyone has had luck cleaning this type of thing with something else.

Steve

 

[xanxer82]

What ype of cleaner do you use? I've noticed it a liitle bit with EZClean No Rinse. I've used that and a long handeled carboy brush and it seems to reduce it but not completely elimate it. I wont scrub too hard though because I don't want to scratch my carboys (both better bottles and glass.)

 

[Tom]

Have you tried Oxy Clean?

 

[wyntheef]

haven't tried oxy. My thinking on that was, that's what one-step is.?? it isn't?

Tom, are you saying you've successfuly used oxy-clean to clean carboy film?

I just wanted to be clear if this was a known remedy or just a suggestion. Thanks.

what has been tried is 2 cups of bleach in 6 gal water with no visible change.

 

[rawlus]

never had to scrub to clean a carboy or better bottle. the better bottles clean easier because they repel water and grime.
but either way, i soak with PBW and then rinse well and they always look brand new. PBW even makes the primary pails look brand new (no stains, no odor)

 

[Tom]

I dont use one-step so I have no idea. Like rawlus said maybe PBW..

 

[smurfe]

Oxy Clean, One Step, Easy Clean, PBW are all per-carbonate cleaners. I have never had an issue with any of them staining glass. Plastic hoses is a different story. I will say though that after I clean with these products, I do rinse them. If you don't rinse it will leave a film. I then let the item dry thoroughly before storing.

I regard to the carboy scrubber, are you referring to the one that has the steel shaft with the chamois strips on it I have one and it works great

 

[Wade E]

Ive seen it on wine bottles with the Oxy cleaners, You need to scrub with a bottle brush. Thats why I dont like those no rinse cleaners, they leave a slight build up and eventually it rears its ugly head. I only use them for cleaning and then I rinse them out.

 

[Runningwolf]

I clean with one step and then leave a half inch or so of k-meta sanitzing soultion in all carboys with a solid bung. Carboys are ready go then when I need one. No staining.

 

[wyntheef]

thanks for the input wmers!

 

[Boyd]

cleaning

I simply rinse with very hot water and then store with Kmeta in the bottle caped with a piece of plastic cut from a zip lock bag and secured with rubber band.

Seems if the bottles a rinsed with hot water right away the come clean without a cleaner.

When I buy a used bottle I will fill it with a weak muriatic acid solution for a week and the rinse a couple of times. Eats any organic deposits. Never tried it on plastic yet tho.

Also removes lime deposits nicely.

 

[Lurker]

Any kind of dishwasher soap. I just take some from my wifes supply. Splash it around inside the carboy then rinse 3 times. When needed, just sulfite it.

 

[Bailey]

If it's from hard water you could use DISTILLED vinegar. I use it in the dishwasher to remove hard water stains once in a while. A diluted solution 50/50 may remove it. Worth a try - Distilled vinegar vs. cider vinegar removes the chance of acetobacter contamination.

 

[NSwiner]

We used to clean our coffee pots at work with regular table salt with some icecubes add enough water to make a slush then slushed it it around until it came clean worked great and no extra chemicals to worry about . I work somewhere different now .I was thinking you could do that for stubborn stuff then clean with your regular cleaners .I plan on trying it if I have that problem .

 

[wyntheef]

thanks for all the suggestions peeps. you guys are the best!

I'll make sure to update later if and when success occurs.

steve

 

[wyntheef]

Update

The film was removed by a combination of PBW and the 'Carboy Cleaner'.


Thanks again everyone. (insert smilie here)

 

[NSwiner]

i forgot to tell you I used the salt ,ice cubes and cleaner plus a little water not only did it clean the stubborn part I was trying to get off but the whole carboy came out sparkling .

 

[sensableshoes]

carboy film

Well let's see, I've been making fruit wines for about 10 years, and about every two or three years I notice the film that you are talking about. I've tried bleach....looks good but I'm sure the film is still there. I don't like the idea of keeping it wet, that just means you can't see the film. My water is not hard or soft where I am right now ( best I've ever had ). I don't like the vinegar idea ( even distilled ) for obvious reasons, but what is carboy cleaner. I was thinking about using one of the denture cleaners, or maybe a hot water pressure wash, that will have to wait til spring! Keep the ideas coming...I'll probably try a few... Thanks

 

[djrockinsteve]

Could this be a "lime or calcium build up". I recently bought so
e used galln carboys that have this. Thought I'd try lime away then rinse the crP out of it.

 

[sensableshoes]

I think I've got it

I just started using Shaklee's "basic H" . That stuff is amazing in everything I've ever tried it on. Environmentally friendly and HIGHLY concentrated. So far I've used it on two carboys and I don't see a film on either.