bottling sanitization

[RobDrechsler]

I know, I know, switch to kegs..

I'm looking for an easier way to sanitize my bottles.. the bottles are already clean so that's not a issue..

right now, I make about a 3gal solution of starsan in a bucket. I dip each bottle into the solution and let it fill up.. I do this until I can't fit any more bottles in the bucket. I drain each bottle back into the bucket and put it into a rack to dry..

when I bottle , I usually spray the tops of the bottles before racking..

is there an easier way? no keg talk, I'm warning you..

[BigWally]

Sounds about like the way I sanitize bottles. Except, that I soak them in the bucket of sanitizer, drain them and then cover them with a bit of foil. Of course, I am only sanitizing enough bottles to fill them from a keg for competition.

[jlavin]

That's pretty much the way I sanitize my bottles as well. I don't think you are going to find a more automated way. As for keeping the bottle clean I'd go with Big Wally's way of putting foil over the top of the bottle to keep the nasties out.

[kingsbrew]

Once I have mine washed I run them through a cycle in my dish washer without any detergent. Be sure to use the drying cycle. The heat will sanitize them. I can fit about 50 bottles in one cycle. When I bring them out I put them in a case box and cover the tops with plastic wrap. I store them that way for months until I am ready to use them.

When I go to fill the bottles I simply poke a hole in the plastic with the filler pipe. That helps keeps some pressure in the bottle and reduce over flow.

[Bill Lawrence]

I clean bottles the old school way, like we used to before the hobby got fancy and all. I clean out all the stuff from my bathtub, rubber ducky, Sponge Bob toy and some other stuff I don't want to mention and fill it up with bleach water (yeah, that's right Melinda, good old laundry bleach right from the super market). I then let the bottles sit around in that for a while while I get everything ready. I then just rinse out the bottles really well with water and fill 'em up. Of course, most of my t shirts have little holes in them from splashing bleach water around but hey, it's not a fashion contest. Generally speaking, I seem to avoid bottle infections but I have to admit, I would rather keg any day. The other benefit is that the bathtub gets a nice cleaning once in a while.

[BigWally]

If you use the bathtub, just be sure to dig the ball of hair out of the drain first.

[WoodBrew]

To save StarSan, I make a small batch and put it in a spray bottle. I then spray a fine mist into each bottle (3 or 4 squirts) and let drain into a small bucket (i.e., the malt extract buckets from HomebrewHQ). Then just let it air dry. Never had an infection.

[Bill Lawrence]

Of course Mr. Woodbrew, you have now severly screwed up your luck by boldly claiming that you don't get bottle infections. Hell, a little adversity once in a while is good for you, assuming naturally that it doesn't kill you.

[WoodBrew]

Of course Mr. Woodbrew, you have now severly screwed up your luck by boldly claiming that you don't get bottle infections. Hell, a little adversity once in a while is good for you, assuming naturally that it doesn't kill you.

I said that I've never had an infection (yet), not "I do not get infections"