cleaning auto syphon

[Zambi]

We got some irritating little insects here that like clogging up things.
Like gas pipes (recently) hose pipes and now my syphon pipe.
Easy way would be to buy a new one, but I can't. Not available here.
So I need to clean it and need some help. I got through the blockage by using a kebab skewer, but there is a little bit left.
Any good ideas?
It's hard plastic with a rubber stop at the end. Very narrow opening.
I got chlorine, dish washer, vinegar, star san, puro oxi, oxidet (powdered alkaline detergent) and mangrove jack "no rinse steriliser"

 

[Steve SPF]

Man, you face some funky problems don't you?

Chlorine is my go-to for all initial cleaning and sanitise after that if needed.

What about heat? Can you get hot water and an appropriate detergent into it?

 

[Zambi]

Yeah, there's some weird and wonderful forms of life here

Yes, I can get liquid inside, I just can't scrub it, and it's sort of caked on.

 

[Steve SPF]

I would soak that in a chlorine solution, that's how we clean beer lines and I guess it's a very similar problem

 

[The Brew Mentor]

If you have a thin piece of wire, you can make up a homemade tubing cleaner ( think gun cleaner)
Take a small piece of lint free cloth and fold the end of the wire over it to hold in place.
Then you can insert it into the hose or tube and push it through.
I made one up at the shop and if I remember, I'll post a picture.
We use it to clean all siphon hoses.

 

[Sunfire96]

Is puro oxi or oxidet similar to oxiclean? If so, then I would make a hot solution of that and let it soak overnight. Oxiclean does all the scrubbing for you.

If not then hot water and vinegar should work too. I'd be really careful using metal to poke around in there. You don't want to scratch the plastic and create a place for bacteria and mold to hide.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

my lbs carries a brush for tubes and hoses, works well with pbw

 

[HighVoltageMan!]

I would soak that in a chlorine solution, that's how we clean beer lines and I guess it's a very similar problem

This is my "go to" for plastic. Chlorine or household bleach is an awesome tool for such things. If you make a solution of water, bleach and white vinegar, you can not only kill any infection, but it will remove organic deposits. The vinegar lowers the pH of the solution, causing the chlorine to be more effective against infections.

Add the bleach and vinegar (in equal parts) to water separately. A 2% solution should be plenty strong to do the trick. So 20ml of bleach and 20ml of vinegar per liter of hot water (1/4 cup per gallon). Add the two to water (again do it separately) and give it an hour or so soak. This also works good for glass and is even known to remove beer stone. Do not use this method on stainless unless it is for a very short time. Chlorine is harmful to stainless in higher doses, so bleach is not generally used or recommended for stainless. I would also avoid using this on any other metals since it is so corrosive.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

This is my "go to" for plastic. Chlorine or household bleach is an awesome tool for such things. If you make a solution of water, bleach and white vinegar, you can not only kill any infection, but it will remove organic deposits. The vinegar lowers the pH of the solution, causing the chlorine to be more effective against infections.

Add the bleach and vinegar (in equal parts) to water separately. A 2% solution should be plenty strong to do the trick. So 20ml of bleach and 20ml of vinegar per liter of hot water (1/4 cup per gallon). Add the two to water (again do it separately) and give it an hour or so soak. This also works good for glass and is even known to remove beer stone. Do not use this method on stainless unless it is for a very short time. Chlorine is harmful to stainless in higher doses, so bleach is not generally used or recommended for stainless. I would also avoid using this on any other metals since it is so corrosive.

that solution also kills poison ivy plants, weeds and some tree fungus

 

[Steve SPF]

that solution also kills poison ivy plants, weeds and some tree fungus

I save a lot of my cleaning solutions for exactly that purpose. Weeds and moss don't like chlorine

 

[Zambi]

Awesome tips.
Thanks
I'll try soaking first.
Then I'll construct a little brush out of a piece if metal wire.
The "rubbish" in there is soil based. These little wasp things make something real solid out of it. Comparable in strength to what termites do

 

[The Brew Mentor]

 

[Donoroto]

Awesome tips.
Thanks
I'll try soaking first.
Then I'll construct a little brush out of a piece if metal wire.
The "rubbish" in there is soil based. These little wasp things make something real solid out of it. Comparable in strength to what termites do

Get a half teaspoon of dry sand, put it in the tube and shake vigorously.

 

[Ward Chillington]

Take a small piece of lint free cloth and fold the end of the wire over it to hold in place

I'm with Brian's idea...wire or some string will give a little scrubbing action to the pipes' inside...just be sure that rag is knotted real tight...don't need no rags blocking the pipe! Any micro abrasions where bugs might take up residence will get killed by that acid solution...You be living on the edge of civilization baby.....and I complain about the chipmunks!

 

[Zambi]

I let it soak in vinegar and bleach.
Then found a bottle cleaner thingy, that was just too big and gave it a hair cut. It now fits, but I wasn't able to dislodge all.
Rinsed the bottle thingy and put the pipe back in the solution.
[To be continued]

 

[Zambi]

Based on brewmentor's idea
Fish line, swivel and piece of cloth.
Managed to clean 1 pipe that I was actually going to throw away.
Trying the syphon a bit later. It would be easier if I were an octopus

 

[Daniel Parshley]

Based on brewmentor's idea
Fish line, swivel and piece of cloth.
Managed to clean 1 pipe that I was actually going to throw away.
Trying the syphon a bit later. It would be easier if I were an octopus
View attachment 20983

We have mud daubers and other wasps that fill tubes and pipes with nests and attach to the house with a substance harder than concrete. A pressure washer will not remove them. Your string idea looks like the best and maybe sacrifice a brush tip and pull it though after boiling/soaking overnight. I'd be interested in any solution you find.

 

[Zambi]

That sounds pretty similar @Daniel Parshley
I managed to get the siphon at least visually clean with the ragger and the soak in vinegar/chlorine
The tubes with my fish line contraption.
I've put all in paper bags so they can dry out completely and the little nasties can't get to them.
Before using, I'll probably soak in chlorine or vinegar/chlorine, rinse and squirt star san through it. Maybe overkill, but it will have to do till I can replace

 

[HighVoltageMan!]

I'll probably soak in chlorine or vinegar/chlorine, rinse and squirt star san through it. Maybe overkill, but it will have to do till I can replace

That's not over kill, I do that all the time with plastic tubing. No infections, please!

 

[NorthWest Small Batch Brewing]

Reminds me of my band days ...you can get pretty small brushes from brass instrument shops used to clean mouthpieces. They usually have a loop on the end so you could just tie a string to it use it to clean the bottle wand.