How To Clean Brewing Equipment After Use?

When it comes to deep cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment, the first step is always choosing the right cleaning products. There has been a lot of debate about using other chemicals that are not specifically for brewing.

If a chemical isn’t used in the brewing process, I don’t use it. Here are some brewing equipment cleaner alternatives that I avoid:

• Bleach

• Oxygen cleaners

• Dishwashing liquid

How to clean your brewing equipment?

There are two main ways to brew: cleaning and sanitizing.

• Cleaning

Dirt, dirt, and visible stains. The same level of cleaning as dishwashing. Everything used in the brewing process should be spotless and free of dust or grease. When cleaning, be careful to avoid using anything that could scratch the surface; these tiny scratches are ideal hiding places for microorganisms.

• Sanitizing

Reduce any potential sources of microbial spoilage to a level that is insignificant. That is, you remove invisible bacteria, thereby reducing the possibility of anything spoiling the beer. This is an integral part of the brewing process.

How to Clean a Fermenter

To prevent biofilm and caked-on scum, you need to clean it. Start by emptying and rinsing the fermenter, then pouring in warm water and detergent. Wipe it clean with a soft cloth or sponge and soak for 20 minutes or overnight. Do not use abrasive pads or brushes to clean plastic tanks or buckets, as they may scratch and breed bacteria. Scrubbing is essential for most methods so that we can remove dirt. Scrub as much as you can, then scrub again. Biofilm and sediment are invisible to the naked eye.

How to Clean Brewing Equipment

For some hard-to-clean taps, stands, siphons, and even pipes, the only option is to rinse and soak. Disassemble and scrub as thoroughly as possible. Soaking with a strong detergent must be done immediately after use, otherwise it will leave deposits that cannot be removed. Improper cleaning affects hygiene and may cause beer to spoil or become infected.

• Use chemicals: The first step is to use chemicals! Apply the chemicals to the tools to be cleaned and add water according to the instructions.

• Soak the tools in water and detergent: Now let them soak. Different chemicals recommend different soaking times, and you can extend the soaking time if necessary.

• Scrub hard: Scrub now. Please scrub some grease! Scrubbing is an important step to remove surface dirt.

• Rinse: Rinse is a step that some people ignore for unknown reasons. You must rinse after cleaning. This is essential for a thorough deep cleaning of brewing equipment.

Do I need to clean before sanitizing?

I clean my brewing equipment before sanitizing. Regardless, I thoroughly scrub and rinse everything that has touched or will touch beer in the future before sanitizing my product.

Brewing Equipment Cleaning Summary

Over-cleaning and sanitizing brewing equipment can have a huge impact on beer brewing. Here are a few things to consider about proper cleaning and sanitizing:

• Use reputable cleaning and sanitizing products.

• Don’t skip the cleaning step before sanitizing.

• Always scrub and rinse when cleaning.

• If the equipment cannot be sanitized, always discard it.

If you follow the steps below, you can be confident that you have deeply cleaned and sanitized your brewing equipment.