Keeping Your Homebrewing Equipment Clean

There are currently more than 1.2 million homebrewers in the USA, according to the American Homebrewers Association.  While most people take up homebrewing as a fun pastime, there are a number of serious considerations that cannot be neglected. As a homebrewer you have more than likely heard just how important it is to keep your equipment clean. While cleaning is without a doubt the most tedious part of brewing, it is also one of the most essential. Apart from indicating that you take pride in what you do, keeping your equipment and brewing environment clean at all times can also make setting up your work area on brew day both faster and easier.  

Start by looking at your surroundings

Before you even start cleaning your equipment, take a good look at your surroundings. Wipe down all the surfaces in the brewing room and wash the floor on a regular basis. You also want to make sure that your air vents are clean to prevent any contaminants from getting into your brew. Also, be sure to check for any sign of mold or mildew in your brewing room. The presence of Stachybotrys (black mold) is particularly concerning as it carries a multitude of health risks. While regular mold can be cleaned using a store-bought mold remover it is recommended that a professional is called in to test for black mold and then remove it.

Keep your equipment clean at all costs

There is a multitude of reasons why it is important that you clean your brewing equipment regularly.  One of your main tasks as a homebrewer is to create a healthy environment for the yeast. This becomes increasingly difficult when your equipment is dirty as it can harbor a range of germs and bacteria. This can have a very undesirable effect on your beer. Contaminants can render the yeast ineffective and can also alter the taste of your brew. The last thing you want is for your highly-anticipated pale ale or porter to be rendered unpalatable. It is not only your brewing pots, spoons, and mash ladles that need to be cleaned but the wort chillers, airlocks, tubes, fermenters, and siphons as well.

There is a difference between cleaning and sanitizing

When attending to your brewing equipment it’s important to note that there is a considerable difference between ‘cleaning’ and ‘sanitizing’. When nurturing the yeast you need to make sure that every piece of equipment is free of microbes. You will begin this process by stripping away any dirt and grime, including dry beer and wort, from the equipment. There are a number of reputable cleaning agents available on the market that will make this process significantly easier.  After a thorough clean and rinse you can commence with the sanitization process.  This part of the cleaning process will kill off any remaining germs and bacteria and leave your equipment ready for use.  If you want to save time, consider investing in a no-rinse sanitizer that will allow you to use your equipment without an additional rinse and dry.

Keeping your brewing equipment clean is very important. It will not only ensure that you don’t have to throw away batches of compromised yeast but help guarantee a great-tasting brew as well.