Cube Containers

[riverside]

Hi Guys. Yesterday i scored 8 plastic containers (15 and 20ltrs) Be perfect for cubes. But i have just noticed that a few of them have had some type of oven cleaner in them, is it best to just ditch them or can they be cleaned for use ?

Cheers

 

[altone]

Hi Guys. Yesterday i scored 8 plastic containers (15 and 20ltrs) Be perfect for cubes. But i have just noticed that a few of them have had some type of oven cleaner in them, is it best to just ditch them or can they be cleaned for use ?

Cheers

I wouldn't risk it. - Oven cleaners are usually caustic aren't they?

If you're going to give them a go, I'd suggest washing with a strong detergent, soaking with bleach solution, then soak with Napisan or PBW.

If theres no residual smell after that then sanitise and use to see if they are ok.

I get cubes from my local Chinese takeaway that have had either Vinegar or Soy sauce in them.
(The Ones that I tried that had Chilli sauce or Fish sauce still smell after cleaning)

Just my 2c

 

[Rodolphe01]

I've used old detergent cubes for conditioning, not no chilling, and it worked out fine. of course i gave them a thorough clean and a few long soaks to remove any residual fragrance etc.

 

[Thirsty Boy]

Depends - do you know exactly what was in them?? If its just a caustic kitchen/oven cleaner.. then its similar to what you would use to clean them out with if they were dirty anyway, and you are probably OK - but if you don't know what was in them.. I wouldn't be too keen myself.

 

[QldKev]

Hi Guys. Yesterday i scored 8 plastic containers (15 and 20ltrs) Be perfect for cubes. But i have just noticed that a few of them have had some type of oven cleaner in them, is it best to just ditch them or can they be cleaned for use ?

Cheers

Depends if you like the caustic task of oven cleaner

QldKev

 

[Thirsty Boy]

well - a hell of a lot of breweries use caustic to clean all their equipment. So its not like caustic itself is a problem. If you had a dirty cube - a damn fine way to clean it out would be to fill it up with a caustic solution and give it a good long soak.

Making sure it is just a caustic cleaner is the thing.

 

[raven19]

Echoing comments above erring on the side of caution.

Cost of a new cube compared to the time and effort and cost of grains and hops in making an AG batch... I used a dodgy cube recently, and shall never do it again personally. I had to ditch a batch.

2c.

 

[riverside]

well - a hell of a lot of breweries use caustic to clean all their equipment. So its not like caustic itself is a problem. If you had a dirty cube - a damn fine way to clean it out would be to fill it up with a caustic solution and give it a good long soak.

Making sure it is just a caustic cleaner is the thing.

Hi Thirstboy its says on the label.. contains 30-60% Sodium hydroxide ?

 

[Thirsty Boy]

Yeah - the sodium hydroxide isn't an issue... the "what else" is an issue. If its nothing else, then I would have no issue using that cube. If you don't know.. then I wouldn't.

 

[Cocko]

I do not know if it safe to use them or not...

But we are talking about a 10-15 dollar container your could buy and use, with out worry, over and over again yeah?

2c.

 

[sama]

dont use the green one marked "agent orange"

 

[manticle]

well - a hell of a lot of breweries use caustic to clean all their equipment. So its not like caustic itself is a problem. If you had a dirty cube - a damn fine way to clean it out would be to fill it up with a caustic solution and give it a good long soak.

Making sure it is just a caustic cleaner is the thing.

Good point. Any doubt in my mind would lead to me ditching it though and I am a tightarse brewer through necessity.