Can you use Milton or not?

1 year ago | Michael (Member)

Hi All,
I just wanted to find out if I can use Milton to sterilise my equipment.
Has any one tried it, does it work or not?

Cheers,
Mike.

Read responses...

Responses

Nath:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

Ive read that people do uuse it but I havn't, have a search for milton homebrew on google and Im sure it will throw up some tips!

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

saracen:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

I always use a 1% solution of Domestos (not a perfumed variety) for sterilising. It kills 99.9%..etc,etc. It works really well and doesn't leave a taste so long as you don't use it too strong or leave things in it too long. A 1% solution in a bucket with everything in it prior to brewing, then wash the utensils as you need them is a convenient way to go. A splash in a barrel followed by a thorough pressure washing works well, too.

If you're not living on the edge..... you're taking up too much space!!

Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!

E-mail: arnyfris@gmail.com

Nath:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

How long is the contact time with domestos?

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

saracen:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

Hi Nath. I don't think the contact time really matters but I usually reckon 15 to 30 minutes. If you wash everything you need and then put it all in a bucket of solution, taking out the utensils as you need them, some things will be in longer than others. A 1% solution is very unlikely to taint anything and it's all in GW's book under 'Cleaning and Disinfecting'. He reckons 5% for heavy duty cleaning and 1% for light duty. The active ingredient is Sodium Hypochlorite and Domestos is the only product which actually quotes the quantity (5%). I would think a contact time of 15 minutes in a 1% or 2% solution would kill just about everything. Wash out thoroughly to remove any smell of chlorine.

Michael:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Nath, thank you for your response. I have tried google (and many more) for an answer, with no real definitive answer.
Sarecen, the Domestos solution does sound very interesting.
I think with the lack of evidence I need to take the bull by the horns and say, “Milton does work” This I base on having made three barrels of wherry and one barrel of St. Peters ruby (wherry all drunk, started St. Peters last night). They all taste absolutely brilliant. Am now thinking about a Christmas beer but they all seem a little strong. Maybe I will just put a Santa’s hat on the barrel!!
Cheers……..

simonb_13:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

I used Milton's once and it was fine. I use Star San (other contact, no rinse sanitisers are available) now because there's no need to soak or rinse. Much quicker and that's the only reason I switched.

Planning: Something with Styrians, Discovery Clone
Fermenting:
Condtioning:
Drinking: Twibute Clone, PJ Clone

Michael:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Saracen, apologies I spelt you name wrong.
And that was before a brew, hmmm….. Maybe that’s the problem; think I will get a glass of liquid spell check!!!!!
Cheers, Mike.

Michael:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Simonb_13, not sure what Star San is but, I will check it out.
Thanks, Mike.

Nath:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

Star san is used by a fair few people, like simon says its a no rinse soloution so it will make things a lot easier. I use Videne ( see here - http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/vidine#post-1391 ) made into a no rinse soloution but would love to get my hands on some star san.

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

1brew2:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

I use bleach all the time, it is the cheapest readily available oxidizing agent. Hydrogen peroxide,sodium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, are all other common oxidizing agents. Oxidization agents will destroy all organic matter which is the aim when sterilising brewing equipment. Bleach is a sodium hypochlorite solution at I think about 33%. Miltons fluid is a very dilute version (I think about 5% solution in water)so 95% of any purchase is for water, making it an extremely expensive sterilizer! If I'm sterilizing smallish containers say 15 litres or less I just wash out with water then put a good squirts of bleach in, say a couple of tablespoons, same of water and roll the container so all surface have some contact. I then rinse with clean water until any foam has gone. Larger containers I put about the same in, fill with water then leave to soak for some hours. When I store containers I fill them with water and add a squirt of bleach until I need them again. When I wash apples prior to scratting I have a open plastic box (about 50 litres) in which I put about 250ml of bleach and three quarters fill with water. I soak the apples for about 5 minutes then rinse off in a mesh basket with a garden spray nozzle on a hose pipe. The solution will last for an afternoons scratting at the rate I can do it.

saracen:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

The post from 1brew2 makes a lot of sense and sets it out well. Ultimately, you need to kill any bacteria that is likely to come into contact with your beer (wort, really) POST BOIL. The boil itself will kill everything but there's no harm in sanitizing the mash tun and boiler. The important thing is to wash everything afterwards until there is no smell left. I buy bleach from the Warehouse Clearance Store or any £1 shop where you can often find Domestos on offer. Domestos states on the bottle '4.9% Sodium Hypolchlorite', so you know where you are. Many supermarket own-brand bleaches are about 25% of that. Look at Graham Wheeler's book 'Brew your own British Real Ale', pages 69 - 70 and it's all there.

1brew2:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Saracen. I didn't realise Domestos was so weak now. I'm sure it was a lot higher in the eighties when I used to purchase full strength sodium hypochlorite for £5 per 50 litres with £5 deposit on the container; mind you, I'm sure Mars bars and McVities biscuits were bigger then too!

saracen:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

Yes. McVities Chocolate Digestive was bigger, thicker and had much more chocolate on. Seems they went the same way as my pension fund. Spent the day at Greene King's brewery today and if you saw some of the sterilizers they use. . Holy Moly! The stuff will dissolve Tarmac!

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