Star San

[windy]

Hi All
Just a question, When make a solution of Star San to sanitize some buckets and bottles after sterilizing them, I put some in a 750ml spray bottle and use it approximatly for 3 weeks spraying small items as airlocks, wine thief and such like. Will the Star San still be active for that time?

 

[Herm brews]

Hi All
Just a question, When make a solution of Star San to sanitize some buckets and bottles after sterilizing them, I put some in a 750ml spray bottle and use it approximatly for 3 weeks spraying small items as airlocks, wine thief and such like. Will the Star San still be active for that time?

Yes. I keep a gallon glass carboy full of StarSan solution to sanitize bottles, fermenters, tubing, etc. I reuse this solution many times. When it starts to get murky, then I make a new solution.

 

[Nosybear]

Hi All
Just a question, When make a solution of Star San to sanitize some buckets and bottles after sterilizing them, I put some in a 750ml spray bottle and use it approximatly for 3 weeks spraying small items as airlocks, wine thief and such like. Will the Star San still be active for that time?

If you mix it with distilled or RO water, it lasts just about forever. It'll get much murkier than you want to use before it's pH has risen to the point it's no longer effective.

 

[Minbari]

If you mix it with distilled or RO water, it lasts just about forever. It'll get much murkier than you want to use before it's pH has risen to the point it's no longer effective.

Yup, murkey is not a good way to tell. My water is high in calcium, so it goes cloudy instantly.

Best way to tell is with ph meter if you have one. Less than ph of 4 and you are good

 

[The Brew Mentor]

Actually, Five Star, the maker of Star San, say a pH of 3 or lower and wet contact for 30 seconds

 

[Minbari]

Actually, Five Star, the maker of Star San, say a pH of 3 or lower and wet contact for 30 seconds

Ok, i thought it was 4. It is usually around 2.5 for me for alot longer than I keep it

 

[Yooper]

It lasts forever- I usually end up spilling it all long before the pH rises to above 3.

I mix up a gallon at a time, and after brewing for about 20 years, I'm on my second bottle.

 

[Nosybear]

Yup, murkey is not a good way to tell. My water is high in calcium, so it goes cloudy instantly.

Best way to tell is with ph meter if you have one. Less than ph of 4 and you are good

Yep. Calcium phosphate isn't very soluble.

 

[BarbarianBrewer]

Just listened to the Brulosophy podcast (episode 214; Dec 6) where they discuss Starsan and Iodaphor. Interesting how similar they are. They emphasize what's been said here many times, that cleaning out the crud first is mandatory, because you can't sanitize what's under the crud. They also define sanitization as killing 99.9% and sterilization as killing 100%.