I'm sure this has been asked before but a very quick search didn't show anything. I'm ready to bottle all my beer but am having trouble sanitizing all the bottles. My beer kit came with a LD Carlson Easy Clean solution that I used when first fermenting everything and was planning on using it on my bottles. However, I recently read that this stuff only stays good for a little while and my wort has been fermenting for over two weeks. Also, if I was to use some of the other solutions I've read about (Star san, Straight A), what do you use to put it in? Do you just fill up your bathtub and let all the bottles soak in them, or do you put your bottles in a bucket just a couple at a time? In another words, where do you fit the 50+ bottles that a 5 gallon batch requires?

Thanks in advance.

I don't know anything about Easy Clean, but it sounds more like a cleaning agent than a sanitizer. Make sure it'll serve the intended purpose.

I use Star San and have been happy with it. You basically use something like an ounce of Star San per five gallons water. I make this solution in a large cooler. I can fit a little over a case of bottles in it at a time, so it takes two batches to complete the sanitization. It goes pretty quick because sanitizing takes less than a minute with Star San. I then place the bottles upside down in a clean dishwasher rack to drain a bit, then I bottle.

Edit: Paul answers the question eloquently, before I got done typing.


with StarSan, you only need a few seconds contact. One method is to fill the bottle, drain and place upside down until filling. They make a tool called a 'bottle tree' that some use to put the bottles on. There are also pumps that you put the mouth of the bottle on and push down. The pump sprays StarSan inside. Some pumps actually mount on the top of the bottle tree.
A much simpler way is to put a few bottles in a bucket at a time. Like I said, StarSan only needs a few seconds contact. Don't rinse the StarSan, it's harmless to beer.

I load up my dishwasher with as many bottles as are needed for a 5 gallon batch making sure they are free of any yeast or debris. I usually put less than an oz of Star San in the detergent holder and run a short wash. I can usually fit other things that need to be sanitized in as well. So far I have had great results with very little effort

I also just fill the dishwasher on the heated dry and run a full wash cycle

Thanks guys. I think I'll go pick up some Star san today and try that. What is the difference between Star san and Straight A?

I may try the dishwasher method too. Our dishwasher has the 'sanitize' option but the trouble is I'm currently living with the inlaws so it's hard to have the dishwasher all to myself. So until I have my own dishwasher I'll probably go with the large cooler method.

This leads me to my next question: I will be in the market for a dishwasher soon; have any of you used a dishwasher with a sanitize function? I'm wondering if it is worth it to buy a dishwasher that has this function.

Just for variety, I take a slightly different approach. Buy a cheap 2+ gallon garden sprayer and mix up the star san with distilled water. Line up the bottles and give them a nice wide spray.
I got the idea from here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDZ6ZM9Hngo

Just my 2 cents here. I use that Easy clean solution ( 1 tablespoon per gallon) and fill my 5 gallon bottling bucket with warm/hot water. I then fill all bottles with that solution from the bottling bucket. I leave them while I boil my corn sugar and siphon the beer from my carboy. Then, I dump the bottles with the solution, give em a shake, and fill them. It has never affected carbination, nor have I experienced any off flavors from doing this. I am currently on my 10th batch and have done this each time. I have heard that the Easy Clean does sanitize, it's just that Carlson hasn't gotten it certified as such because it costs a lot to do that or something. Not sure if that's true though.

I should've mentioned: Star San is an acid. It will etch things...particularly laminate counter tops. Wipe up all drips quickly. I can confirm that solid surface countertops (e.g., meganite or corian) seem impervious to acid, and I've heard from others that granite does OK too. Fair warning!

Thanks for the warning, I don't want to piss off the in-laws. Though it is interesting that it can etch counter tops but you don't have to rinse before using.

Actually that's _the_ great thing about star san, once the pH lower itself to a certain point it becomes inert.

I use brewers iodine or idoaphore at 25 ppm works great and no rinse..i haven't noticed it etch anything but if you spill it full strength you should wipe it up asap or it MAY leave a mark.....

"Though it is interesting that it can etch counter tops but you don't have to rinse before using."

Dilution is the solution to....acid.

Well, I used the Star San in a cooler and used the dish washer as a drying rack. Appeared to work pretty well (besides the mess I made), can't wait to try it. If only beer didn't have to be clean I'd brew every night....Thanks everyone!

This beer I brewed was a Belgium Wheat. Does anyone know how long that should stay in the bottles? I was assuming about 3 weeks?

never open a beer too soon, that beer should stay in the bottle until you are ready to drink it

So tonight?