How to clean out used keg?

[ToddInPerth]

Hi guys,
I just bought a second-hand keg.
The previous owner had aparently been making wine in it.
I've washed it with dishwashing liquid but it still has a stain on the inside.

What can i use to clean it out, but not poison myself afterwards?

 

[Kranky]

This isn't a bad start (4 in the series):

 

[DU99]

try unscented napisan or sodium percarbonate use hot water and leave overnight

 

[ToddInPerth]

Thanks Kranky.
Is Napisan the aussie version of Oxiclean?
It's a 50L keg, will I be able to get all the residue out?
A few rinses and sanitiser afterwards?

 

[Kranky]

I use either neo-pink or PBW. If it's had wine it I'd be inclined to give it a pretty long soak as in several days. I haven't had to clean a 50l keg before but I'd assume the basics are all the same.

 

[dougsbrew]

ive had stains in cornies that napisan wouldn't remove, starsan got what sodium perc didn't.
I think a combination of cleansers and time to get them into prime condition is whats needed.
and if your lucky enough to get your elbow past the openening, a scrub with a sponge does wonders.

 

[brewologist]

I like to hit mine with the pressure washer once the keg blows.

If they have been sitting around a while this usually blasts the gunk away.

 

[pk.sax]

Nappisan is mixed up sodium percarbonate. I think same as oxiclean. That's a mildly caustic wash for you, use with boiling water, put some into the keg, pour water and seal shut. Wiggle/shake. Leave it alone overnight. Can always use caustic soda instead of sodium perc for stronger stains.

In the morning, drain, rinse and hit with acidic sanitizer or even squeezed lemons or whatever acid you have. Get good surface contact. Rinse and inspect and repeat cycle as required.

Use PPE as necessary.

 

[QldKev]

I would hit it up in two parts,

First a good high pressure cleaner inside and out to get the majority off it.
Secondly a good dose of PBW in warm water and recirc it through the in and out disconnects for a while. I would leave it on my system for a couple of hours on each.

Then a starsan before putting it back into service.


My current keg cleaner is an old aquarium pump that just fits through the keg opening, with a disconnect on the end. fill the keg up with the PBW mix and switch it on. Once I've cleaned one return I just swap the disconnect over for the other and keep going. At times I've left it running over night. I tried having a T and both disconnects, but this pump didn't have the balls for both. I think the Brown Pumps would work for this.

I think a better design would be a bucket with a large pump, then you could have a decent center return rod, and both disconnects on at one time.

 

[woodwormm]

The OP states it's a 50L keg... I'm guessing it's a commercial, how do these get cleaned? rip out the spear and fitting, soak etc?

I use cornies - easy as with the big hole in the top, hose, pbw, starsan.