When home brewers hear sanitation we usually start thinking about our fermenters. But let us not forget where our tasty brew spends most of its time…bottles. Proper sanitation of your bottles is crucial to crafting the perfect home brew.
Now conventional wisdom states that when cleaning or sanitizing something elbow grease and cleaning solution is the best route. However, when it comes to PET bottles elbow grease can actually do more harm than good. Rigorous cleaning of your bottles with a brush or sponge can lead to microscopic scratches, which in turn can become home to bacteria.
At this point you may be thinking if I can’t scrub the hell out of my bottles to get them clean, what can I do. The answer is simple! Next time you are sanitizing your fermenter in preparation for next brew throw the bottles in there too. We recommend soaking them for at least 10-15 minutes.
Brew Master Tips:
Tip 1: Rinse every bottle out as soon as you’re done drinking it. Just make sure not to leave any water in the bottom of the bottle to stagnate tell your next brew. Rinsing your bottles as soon as you empty them is a sure fire way to get prevent any sediment build up.
Tip 2: For people who didn't follow Tip 1 and find themselves with caked on sediment in the bottom of the bottle the dishwasher can help. Sanitize your bottles and then place them in dishwasher without soap. Make sure the heat dry option isn't on when you are washing your bottles.