8
Sanitation:
Caution:
do
NOT
use any cleaner or sanitizer containing
chlorine
such as bleach. Over time, this
will pit and erode stainless steel.
Any other non-chlorine sanitizer is acceptable to use. IodophorTM or StarSanTM both work very well
and do not require rinsing.
Initial Cleaning:
Prior to the first use, and after each subsequent use, scour the lid and tank with ordinary dish
detergent (or any non chlorine based cleanser) such as PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) and a Scotch-
briteTM type green scouring pad. Do not use a steel wool scouring pad as the metal particles will rust
on the surface of the parts. Rinse well and allow to dry thoroughly. Drying thoroughly allows the
protective CrO2 layer to naturally re-form on the surface of the stainless steel. Scrub the fittings with a
nylon brush and detergent, or soak in a solution of hot PBW. It is also acceptable to boil fittings and
seals to sterilize them, however, remove the black vinyl grips from the valve handles and do not boil the
grips. If you are not going to immediately use the fermentor, dry the fittings and seals thoroughly, and
store them in a new plastic zip-lock bag (see storage section).
Before each use:
Fittings:
Soak all fittings, valves, o-rings and lid seal in a sanitizing solution or boil in water for 10 min if you
have not already done so after the last use (see storage section). Be sure to remove the black vinyl grips
from the valve handles and do not boil the grips. To ensure that the inside pocket of the ball valve seal
gets sanitized properly, fully close the valve, then open it until you see a small “cat’s-eye” opening as in
Fig. 20. Or, if you wish, you can easily disassemble the valve completely for cleaning and sanitizing
(Fig. 21). It is recommended that you completely disassemble the valves for a thorough cleaning after
approx every 6 uses to prevent any contamination issues. Complete disassembly takes only a few
minutes.
Fig. 19
