I'm having a little bit of a dilemma. I have two batches of beer to bottle, I'm out of one-step sanitizer (I should have ordered some from you jeepguy when I ordered the other stuff), and I don't have a dish washer. I'm most likely going to sanitize the bottles with bleach using the big wash basin in the basement. Does anyone have thoughts on this? Yea or nea? If so, what percentage of bleach solution should I use? Has anyone done this before? Thanks a lot.


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Tags: sanitizing beer bottles, sanitize t-tower, how to sanitize beer bottles, sanitize beer bottles, bleach sanitizer homebrew, homebrew sanitizing with bleach, sanitizing with bleach homebrew, bleach beer bottles

I've used bleach for years before switching to either Iodophor or One-Step.

You should have no problems as long as you rinse everything well with hot water.

It is generally recommended that one should use 2 tablespoons of bleach per 5 gallons.

I had to look that information up on my Sanitizers and Sanitization webpage. I made that page just so that I could easily find this sort of information. Here's the URL if you are interested - http://www.mosquitobytes.com/Den/Beer/Hmbrewing/Sanitization.html

Good luck with your bottling!

- Scott

It will work. I just like the ease of a no rinse sanitiser!! My wife thought i was crazy when we started bottling some kahlua right after we sanitised the bottles & bottle filler.
I told here all my kegs & stuff still have a bit in them so its all good!! Plus it was about 80 proof!!

Good luck matt!!
Cool sight stihler!!

Although I have never tried it, I have heard (and read) that some folks will bake their well rinsed bottles to sanitize. If memory serves correctly, it was at 350 for an hour, allow to cool, and cover with aluminum foil until use. If anyone gives this a shot, let me know the results! I assume it would work pretty well, I just haven't run out of pbw & starsan yet.

Bleach will work fine.. I used to use it. I think one or two tablespoons for five gallons is what I used. The only problem is you have to go through the extra step of rinsing all the bottles but it gets the job done.

Thanks for the tips guys. I was going to do the bottling yesterday but now I'm actually not going to do it until tomorrow. I'll do the bleach thing. That baking technique sounds pretty crazy and I'd love to hear if anyone's actually tried it. Have a great weekend.
Matt

I've never baked my bottles but many home brewers swear by this method. I'm guessing the foil is wrapped over the opening of each bottle and then removed right before filling. ?? The key to success with this method is supposedly to heat and cool the bottles slowly.

Yeah, the foil helps keep it nice and clean until filling. I usually keep a few cases of cleaned, foil capped bottles in the cellar so there's one less thing to do once bottling day comes. The baking method usually calls for heating them to 350 and then letting them cool overnight. I may try it soon. My usual method of choice is the dishwasher, but I'll often get six or eight bottles that don't dry completely. It hasn't been an issue yet, but the OCD tendencies I have may force me to let 'em bake to dryness.