Ask a Question
8/27/2012 -- I am interested in recommendations for CLEANING a glass (5-gal) carboy. Overall, the carboy is in great shape (no films, build ups etc), it's in good enough condition I would consider it "new". I have SanStar for sanitizing it, but I haven't done an initial cleaning. What should i use? I read about 10:1 bleach cleaning (10 parts water) I've also read about using oxyclean (non-perfume based). Thanks for any suggestions you may have.
visited the store the other day and was amazed by the customer service, look forward to working with you all in the future!
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Both Super Grunge Remover and One-Step are great for cleaning glass carboys. See links below
I would NOT use bleach for that purpose. It's an effective sanitizer, but not that great of a cleaner. 10:1 ratio is also WAY too much bleach. We've smelled/tasted too many beers ruined by the use of bleach.
5/17/2010 -- what is your phone number?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We can be reached at (425) 355-8865
Our toll free order is (800) 850-2739
1/26/2008 -- I live about an hour (if traffic is good) from the address on your website. Do you have an actual store or is everything here based solely online?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we have an actual brick-and-mortar store in Everett, WA. People actually walk in and buy stuff!
Our address is:
Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204
Here is a video of our shop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI
Heck, you can actually call us on the phone, too! It's 425-355-8865. A person will actually answer as long as it's business hours!
2/27/2007 -- On the last question of this post dated 7/1/2003 you say to use 1 tsp. of grunge per gallon but the instructions I got says to add 1 tbsp.
Was the answer just a typo?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes. Use one tablespoon.
2/2/2007 -- I used the Super Grunge remover to remove the labels off the bottles I'm going to be using. I let them soak overnight and during the day when I was at work. I pulled the labels off, rinsed them with hot water and used a plain old dish brush to remove the residual glue. After letting them dry, there is still a white powdery residue on (and in) the bottles, so I ran them through a cycle in the dishwasher with no soap and heated dry. I open it up, and there is still a white residue on (and in) them. I still plan to use iodaphor on them, but will that take care of this residue?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Hard to say what you are seeing. There are so many labels, papers and glues out there on commercial bottles, that we can't say what it is. Iodophor is a sanitizer, not a cleaner, however, so I wouldn't expect it to remove any powdery residue.
I would soak the bottles again, in the Super Grunge. It's possible that some of the residual glue disolved, and then settled on the glass. Now that the water is clear of the glue, it make remove the powder. Again, not sure, but this is the probably the best move.
1/11/2006 -- Is this stuff safe to get on your skin. I have used PBW in the past and not really been very concerned with getting it on my hands, depite what the label says. Do you wear gloves when you use it?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It is essentially the same stuff as PBW. No more or less caustic.
8/25/2005 -- I have 7 cases of bottles available for use. They all have labels on them.Do you have blank labels to put over them or will the dishwasher take them off?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We have blank labels, and labeling software for creating your own, but we recommend removing the existing labels if you want to apply new ones.
Dishwashers typically don't do a very good job at that, but it may work. Try running them thru withOUT the drying cycle (maybe twice). Whether or not they come off depends on the type of label. Be sure to rinse well regardless.
We do sell a product called Super Grunge Remover that does a pretty good job too. To use that, fill a container with hot water, Super Grunge, and sink the bottles into the solution. Let them soak for a day or so, and rinse well. Usually the labels come off easily.
6/20/2005 -- Last week I brewed my second batch of beer and decided to try using the super grunge remover to clean up after. I filled my aluminum brew pot with a mix of super grunge remover and water as specified on the package and then placed other dirty utensils in to soak. About 30 minutes later I came back to find that my pot had turned black!! I later realized that the active ingredient is sodium carbonate which I found listed in Charlie Papazian's book "The Joy of Home Brewing". It says that sodium carbonate is also know as washing soda and is an alkaline cleanser that will corrode aluminum and release explosive hydrogen gas! Wow. I wish I would have know that. So now unfortunately I have to buy a new brewpot. You guys may want to put some type of warning on the description on the product or at least on your website so others don't have to learn the hard way also. Please let me know your thoughts on this. On the bright side I believe that you guys have the best homebrew site on the internet. Keep up the good work.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Sodium carbonate is the main component of LOTS of products, like laundry soap, dishwasher detergent and many more. It is a very good cleaner, but it is not very compatible with aluminum. It will oxidize the surface, certainly, and perhaps over the long term hasten pitting and corrosion of aluminum surfaces; but I wouldn't believe everything Charlie says about explosive hydrogen gas. I'm no chemist, but I find that quite unlikely under common usage. It is true that if the aluminum were red-hot, and if you put granular sodium carbonate on it, it could explode under just the right circumstances, but not very likely. No more so than if you put laudry soap on your red-hot aluminum.
You might find that your pot is still usable, too. The oxide layer is probably not very deep. A good scrubbing may very well put it back into service. Stainless steel is a better choice for brewing, however. It might be time to upgrade that brewpot!
5/2/2005 -- What is the difference between sanitizing and Cleaning?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: BIG difference. Cleaning is the removal of any grime, oils, residue etc. Sanitizing is the removal of bacteria, molds etc. that can affect your brewing.
It is possible to have a surface that is clean, but not sanitized, for instance (and visa versa).
3/7/2005 -- What are your thoughts on using bleach to sanitize things???
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We are not enthusiastic about it, having tasted too many beers that were ruined by using too much bleach, or by insufficient rinsing. If it's all you HAVE, by all means use it temporarily, but Iodophor is a much better, and safer alternative.
12/25/2004 -- Super Grunge Remover is safe for glass i assume? How about stainless steel?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Absolutely safe for both!
9/22/2004 -- Okay, do you have to be able to perform magic in order to get the inside of a siphon hose dry? I know that if you don't keep your siphon hose clean it is the most likely to develop bacteria. Which in turn can do your body some damage, what my friends and I like to call, "screaming Apache butt piss." I clean my siphon hose exceptionally well, probably cleaner then most people would. Only one problem! I can't get all the water out of the siphon hose. Not even days later, while it's sitting in my kitchen at room temperature on my wife's dish drying rack. This makes for great morning conversation between my wife and I on a daily basis. So I ask you.................how is it done?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Well...the only time this hose has to be sanitary is just before you use it. A little moisture, as long as it's clean, shouldn't be an issue. Before use, however, it makes sense to run a little sanitizer thru the tubing so that it is clean AND sanitized.
After using, give it a rinse and forget it. Mornings with the wife should be reserved for well...other things.
4/3/2004 -- I keep reading about a product called "powdered brewery wash." Supposedly this product removes the invisible residue that builds up batch after batch, which regular cleaning cannot remove. Do you offer this product?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we call it Super Grunge Remover. Very much the same thing. Powdered brewery wash is just a brand name (PBW).
3/4/2004 -- Regarding cleaning bottles: is using a bottle washer a replacement for a bottle brush? We have been rinsing (after inital pour), soaking, scrubbing then sanitizing before bottling. Can we just bottle wash, sanitize then bottle?? Thanks for answering you've got a great supply website.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It sounds like you do way more than I do. Frankly, I have never had a problem with a bottle that was rinsed after being used, and then sanitized before filling.
As long as your bottles don't accumulate a lot of "crud" between uses, I see no reason for all that scrubbing.
I'm sure you will find people who disagree with my approach, but hey...why take it further than necessary?
Now if you are using bottles from a recyling center, where anything could be found in those bottles, then yes, a scrub is probably a good thing.
Thanks for the kind words about our website! We work hard on it.
12/22/2003 -- Will the grunge remover remove glued on labels and glue from store bought wine bottles without using a razorblade or scraper?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Typically yes. It works best if you soak the bottles in hot water, and allowing them to soak at least 12 hours. Longer is better. There are a few persistant labels labels that don't come off, but usually they just slide right off. Often they will be floating on top of the water the next day.
12/1/2003 -- Hello,
Just getting back into it after a few years off.
In any case I find being sanitary the largest pain in the arse during the process. I am so consumed about sanitation it bugs me. So I have the following questions. After sanitizing my equipment, like the funnel, siphon hoses, fermenter etc, how long can they sit in the open air before they are considered at risk again? Mind you i keep all bottles, carboys and fermenters upside down and siphon hoses under the upside down fermenter pails during the boil. OR should I be sanitizing the equipment just before the wort boil is about to end.
All the literature tels you to sanitize, cleanliness,sanitize, cleanliness, and more BUT never tell you the best way to implement the sanitization process.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Wow. You ARE consumed about sanitation. I believe you've taken it too far. Making beer is really no different than making soup, and common kitchen practices are usually sufficient for brewing. I have never had an infection, and after working in a brewship for 10 years, I have only "heard" of a few from customers.
Yes, things like fermenters and funnels need to be sanitized, but once done, I see no need to be concerned with airborne bacteria. The only thing that I am really careful with is the siphon hose, since it tends to trap moisture and crud.
Remember too, that there is only a short time when your wort is susceptable to infection...from just after cooling from the boil, to when active fermentation kicks in. The boil protects the wort, and so does the CO2 produced by the fermentation itself. After that, the alcohol and hops are working for YOU, and help to protect the beer.
In short, sometimes the available literature goes too far on this issue. If it seems excessive...it probably is.
11/19/2003 -- After a long hiatus (about 10 years), I am returning to the homebrewing world. Is it a good idea to replace my plastic equipment (fermenters, tubing, etc.) or will a good dose of sanitizer bring it back into safe, usable condition?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I would keep the fermenters. As long as they are not too crusty, and a good cleaning will restore them. Cleaning is different than sanitizing, of course, so after a thorough cleaning, use something like Iodophor to make sure it has been sanitized as well.
Siphon hose is known to harbor bacteria, however, and is inexpensive to replace. I would do that.
9/26/2003 -- I have a greenish, very gummy rubbery, residue ring left in my primary after removing the elderberry wine. I've tried everything that is safe for the food grade plastic with no results. Will Super Grunge cut and clean away this gooey stuff?
Thanks,
Jim Parks
Portville, NY
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Sorry, but I haven't experienced such a thing. Sounds nasty!
If the residue is organic, however, Super Grunge Remover will probably do the trick. It dissolve most any residue if you allow it to soak overnight.
7/1/2003 -- How much does this make; does it require any scrubbing?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You use 1 tsp. per gallon of water, so if makes quite a lot...maybe 20 gallons or so (?). Not sure exactly.
Super Grunge is an all purpose cleaner that is very effective on fermentation "crud". Usually, even dried-on gunk requires no scrubbing if you soak overnight. If you have rock hard "grunge", it will probably require a little scrubbing.
Ask a Question
