Reddit reviews Five Star PBW - 1 lbs - Brew Cleaner Buffered Alkaline Detergent

Are any/all of the parts that smell able to be removed and soaked? If so, I recommend this amazing stuff called Five Star PBW. It's normally used to clean brewery equipment, in order to remove smells that may affect other batches of beer. BUT, it's not just good for that, it's great for nearly anything that smells or has tough dirt. It's inexpensive. It's environmentally friendly, too. I know I sound like a commercial, but I just think it's fantastic. Best kept cleaning secret around. https://www.amazon.com/Five-Star-PBW-Non-Caustic-Alkaline/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=pd_sbs_328_img_1/144-3510088-1487851?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0064O7XBA&pd_rd_r=c44ac320-e14d-449e-9dd9-3e90841419b6&pd_rd_w=lpgZB&pd_rd_wg=rsHJE&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=R8KZB8E640FJ5KM2QN9J&psc=1&refRID=R8KZB8E640FJ5KM2QN9J

Five Star's PBW
http://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star-1-lb/dp/B0064O7XBA
This stuff is truly amazing. I have used Isopropyl + salt, the 420 cleaner and many others. This stuff can't be beat. Just make sure to rinse with a small amount of iso to remove the chemicals afterwards.

PBW is professionals brewers wash.

This is what I bought to start and then bought, by accident, the 5lb case.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0064O7XBA/ref=pd_aw_sbs_328_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=29NKXXHC6AWMRNJH7169

Here is a great summary link that has more information.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vaporents/comments/50ktnh/alternative_to_shake_and_break/

You are going to want to look for 91% or higher isopropyl alcohol. You don't want any coloring or additives in it. Same 50/50 mixture for the vivant alternate, but it should work better.

The metal screens can be soaked in the 91% without diluting it with water.

/u/lookatmeglow introduced me to PBW, so thanks for that!

Pros

• More environmentally safe than iso
  
• Cheaper than iso
  
• No shaking required
  
• Easier to clean complex pieces
  
• Detergent rather than a solvent (as safe as soap and water)
  
• No toxic/flammable fumes like iso
  
  Cons
  
  
• Requires quite a bit of babysitting, soak for 5-10 min, rinse with non pbw water, if still dirty repeat
  
• Using too much pbw or soaking too long leaves a film that requires CLR to remove
  
• Will destroy anodized finishes
  
• Will destroy some logos/stickers
  
• Will make your piece slippery while wet
  
  Process I followed
  
  

1. Run your tap over your glass at the hottest setting to warm it up
   
2. While your piece is warming up get some of the hot water into a cup
   
3. Mix a teaspoon of PBW into the water in the cup. This is to make a concentrate
   
4. After your piece is warmed up empty it
   
5. Plug your joint
   
6. Pour the concentrate into your piece
   
7. Fill the piece to the max and do not let my concentrate drip out
   
8. Allow 10 minutes to pass
   
9. Rinse and inspect
   
10. If still dirty repeat.
    
    FAQ
    
    

• Where do I get it? - Amazon link
  
• Where can I learn more about PBW? - FC link
  
  Final Thoughts
  
  As you can see there is no ISO+Salt+Shake. It is just "passive" cleaning. The album I linked was a test of PBW on my fab egg. I know I didn't take enough pictures, but hopefully you can see that my glass was pretty cloudy and the joint was plenty dirty. Normally navigating salt+iso through the swiss perc takes a bit of attention and when rotating and flipping the piece, you could possibly drop it. The process was only done once to achieve the results I obtained. Based on my experience this will be my main method for complicated or expensive pieces.
  
  
  Hope this was somewhat informative or interesting. I know it's a bit more informal than my typical guides, but feel free to ask questions.

This is what I use: https://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star-1-lb/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=pbw+cleaner&qid=1554230938&s=gateway&sr=8-2

​

My use cases are for cleaning my kombucha brewing equipment, and deep cleaning stainless steel or glass.

Professional brewer and qualified chef, by trade.

What you are smelling in your manky facial interface is bacteria.

Running it under warm water and squeezing to air dry is not going to kill the bacteria. You need to soak in a Non-Caustic Alkaline Cleaner like 5 Star PBW, rinse thoroughly in the same temperature of water used in soak, and sanitise (soak) in a bath of Saniclean. It will both clean (kill the bacteria) and sanitise the interface.

I realise Steam support won't recommend this, but you're considering replacing it, in entirety anyway - worth a shot to potentially bring good as new. I recommend it, and thought of it, with your T-Shirt reference as I've used the cleaning regimen on many funky T-Shirts over the years to good-as-new result. Overall, it's gentle and would be surprised if it harmed the interface in any way.

Be sure to mix to manufacturer recommend.

Links no affil:

PBW https://www.amazon.com/Five-Star-PBW-Non-Caustic-Alkaline/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=pd_sbs_328_t_1/133-7549608-7179150?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0064O7XBA&pd_rd_r=1d8805b4-099a-455b-9297-f39c4abf70f4&pd_rd_w=ROSuU&pd_rd_wg=6Wn9T&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=JXDAMV7R1SNC3S6AJTKB&psc=1&refRID=JXDAMV7R1SNC3S6AJTKB

Saniclean: https://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Brewing-Winemaking-Supplies-8D-ESWW-S1HF/dp/B0064O809O/ref=sxin_0_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-c2FuaWNsZWFu-ac_d_rm&keywords=saniclean&pd_rd_i=B0064O809O&pd_rd_r=efa7773d-be23-479e-a194-b827a5d1aad8&pd_rd_w=EiIIU&pd_rd_wg=EJ6CQ&pf_rd_p=ed481207-4bea-4e19-bbad-73ed40fdc292&pf_rd_r=PQPVQ9GQHRZXHJ2F93NH&psc=

also try northernbrewer.com

Powdered brewery wash is good stuff and is sold in head shops for a much higher price with different packaging.

PBW by Five Star- 1 lb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5LjSCbY6MVBWS

Reviews even mention bong cleaning.

Don't get oxi-clean, get PBW - Powdered Brewery Wash. Homebrewers use PBW because it's actually known to be food safe. You have no clue what's actually in oxiclean. I use PBW to clean anything that's protein based and stuck on - growlers, casserole dishes, dutch ovens, grill grates.

It is fairly easy to get large equipment like vessels and burners locally in India but it's the little stuff that makes your brew day/bottling day easier like the bottle fillers and auto siphons which are kind of difficult/expensive to get hold off. Depending on which city you are in hops, malts and yeast can be easy to source especially if you have any brewpubs around. The selection of hops is again very limited so like like /u/chino_brews suggested you could get bulk hops from YCH. Dry brewing yeast is available (Fermentis, Lallemand) but it is mostly sold in 500g bricks so I would recommend picking up some 11g packets as well. You should definitely pick up a large 16/32 oz bottle of StarSan and a tub of PBW or something similar for cleaning and sanitizing. I would also pick up a hand held bottle capper, a racking cane, a couple of airlocks and a spigot for bottling. Almost everything else can be improvised or jugaad if you're a little handy :)

This is a proven method. Make sure to use Oxiclean Free. If you happen to be a homebrewer and have some PBW around, that also works great.


EDIT: Just realized you wanted to keep the labels. If you soak the bottles in Oxiclean Free or PBW for 10-12 hours this method will result in 50-75% of the labels falling off perfectly, but some will be completely ruined. I think it has to do with the type of glue some breweries use.

PBW by Five Star- 1 lb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xj3-ybY637JM4

http://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star--1-lb/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396827989&sr=8-1&keywords=pbw

Get you some of this stuff and it'll make quick work of cleaning those kegs.

Powdered Brewery Wash by Five Star. Named PBW. Popular cleanser in the homebrewing world

I would suggest a soak in PBW or Oxyclean. I use PBW for many things both brewing and non brewing related.

http://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star-1-lb/dp/B0064O7XBA

If it's not devitrification then PBW cleans carbon extremely well.

I think sanitary welding refers to TIG. I know that is what is used in professional breweries.

Also, PBW to clean
https://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star-1-lb/dp/B0064O7XBA

StarSan to sanitize
https://www.amazon.com/Star-San-B0064O7YFA-San-32/dp/B0064O7YFA

I agree with everyone above that suggests soap and a thorough rinse. I've never had a problem with dish soap residue on crystal, or most glass for that matter. Plastic, aluminum, ceramics and stoneware it can be a problem.

However if you really want to get crazy, buy some of this:

http://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star--1-lb/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420389897&sr=8-1&keywords=pbw

Your glasses will never be cleaner.

Just for reference, those out there spending lots of time and $$ using ISO and rock salt, or other brand name $14 a bottle cleaners, there is a better cheaper way.

Powdered Brewers Wash will take even the nastiest soaked on resin in the hardest to reach places with just a few soaks.

1 pound of it costs as much as 2 bottles of 99%ISO yet it will clean many more times the bongs.

This stuff is designed and used by the beer / wine brewing industry to scrub and clean areas that no brush can reach.



NOTE THIS IS GNARLY STRONG AND WILL EVEN EAT THE LABELS OFF YOUR GLASS! If you care about your $200 label on your super expensive glass then frankly you should not use this at all and take better care to not even let said expensive glass get highly resinated.

Sigh... Just gonna leave [this](PBW by Five Star- 1 lb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_HEv1BbYDSRFZ1) here. I feel like a company salesman at this point, but honestly am not at all afilliated. This stuff just cleans bongs very well. Give it a shot and you won't be disappointed.

Have you tried PBW?

I used PBW, which brewers use to clean their gear when making beer. It's non-toxic and works incredibly well. What I personally do is place a stopper in the downstem hole, and then place a TBSP of PBW into the bong. I then fill the bong with water as hot as I can get it and let it sit. After the water has cooled some I will shake the bong up a bit, and then do a salt and ISO wash. The glass always looks brand new, without any signs of resin. This has worked for completely cleaning my most complicated pieces and is completely non-toxic, and cheap, as a $10 tub of PBW lasts years:

http://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star--1-lb/dp/B0064O7XBA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407519502&sr=8-1&keywords=pbw