Quick Sanitizing

[brahn]

I'm curious what everyone uses for quickly sanitizing stuff when you may not want to mix up a whole batch of sanitizer. I've used star san in a spray bottle, but that's ruined all the spray bottles I've done it with pretty quickly. From what I can tell, iodophor doesn't last more than a day or so in the spray bottle, so that doesn't help. At The Bruery they use rubbing alcohol, which I'm not really a fan of using at the smaller homebrew scale. I think Pete at one time said he used cheap vodka, which I think might be the best option. My concern would be that I've heard you need a 60% ethanol solution to work as a sanitizer and that rules out most vodkas. What do you guys think?

[Rezzin]

I like rubbing alcohol. I'm curious, why would you not want to use it?

[lexuschris]

I've been using Sani-Clean for my sanitizing, and at 5ml per half gallon of water, I'll mix up a little batch like that. Haven't really tried anything else... (other than vodka in the fermentation lock).
--lexuschris

[oc eric]

I use 70% isopropyl alcohol - same as commercial breweries. Just shake it dry and you're good to go.

[brahn]

I like rubbing alcohol. I'm curious, why would you not want to use it?

Even in small quantities it just bothers me to put something toxic in my beer...

[kevinham]

Star San lasts a long time in a bucket. I keep a bucket of it made and just check the pH before using it.

[maltbarley]

I agree, it does last well. I keep a keg with a cobra tap on it for refilling spray bottles (that still work great) and rinsing bottles/growlers before filling.

[JonGoku]

I agree, it does last well. I keep a keg with a cobra tap on it for refilling spray bottles (that still work great) and rinsing bottles/growlers before filling.

Nice idea, how's carbonated Star San work?

[maltbarley]

...how's carbonated Star San work?

Well since blowing CO2 into water lowers the pH, I don't think it can hurt.

[JonGoku]

Well since blowing CO2 into water lowers the pH, I don't think it can hurt.

Nice, I'm thinking I need to get some pH strips. Anyone know where the best place is to get these cheap, like pet shops etc?

[backyard brewer]

Well since blowing CO2 into water lowers the pH, I don't think it can hurt.

Nice, I'm thinking I need to get some pH strips. Anyone know where the best place is to get these cheap, like pet shops etc?

I bought a Hanna pH meter on eBay a while back for only like $35.

[JonGoku]

I bought a Hanna pH meter on eBay a while back for only like $35.

Which one did you get? There are a number in that price range.