Re: Sanitation in mead and wine

Leo et al I am surely not a sanitation expert but have a few thoughts about cleaning and sanitation. Hopefully these was raise a few other comments and even a few flames. That's ok too. If you are a mechanic, wash your hands like you were a doctor. If you are a doctor, wash your hands like you were a mechanic. Germs fall down - they don't jump Start a siphon by filling your serialized racking cane and tube with very hot water. Clamp the hose end closed with a hemostat while inserting the cane into the top vessel. Remove the clamp and allow some sludge to run down the drain. Divert the clean must, beer, mead, whatever into the lower vessel. Cover the open areas of both containers with plastic wrap. Turn up the temperature of your hot water heater when you are brewing or bottling. Time can be your ally when soaking dirty glass carboys. Filling glass carboys slightly above the top radius makes brush cleaning much easier. Use hot water to rinse out no rinse chemicals. The volume to surface area ratio of small tanks significantly increases the quantity of residual chemicals that can find their way into your favorite beverage. This is the same reason a elephant doesn't need much hair. Rinse and Disassemble your kegs every time they are empty. Don't forget the relief valve Disassemble and clean your picnic taps every 2 weeks. Throw them away if the rubber stinks. Disassemble and serialize your C02 system 2 times each year. Mix up a small batch of sanitizer and put it in a spray bottle for usage on corny fittings and connectors. Rinse your bottles with a bottle washer using the extra hot water from your cranked up hot water heater. Boil your bottle caps in RO water to prevent mineral deposits Boil your snap top gaskets in the same water. Bleach them first to restore color. Disassemble your valves and inspect their internal areas. Determine if you should do this regularly. Disconnect process hoses fittings, pumps, and all non CIP fittings when they are not being used. Hang all hoses with ends down so they dry. Don't reuse dusty yeast. Visually inspect every vessel, tank, or bottle BEFORE filling. Inspect every "gift bottle" for that nasty "ring around the collar!" Close your windows and turn off the fan when pitching yeast. Stay tuned - Don't touch that dial.