Stainless Steel fermentor - is this dirt or looks like dirt?

[trustyrusty]

Hi Guys

I was soaking to clean tap, and when I emptied noticed how clean it was where the fluid was, if it was not there I would have noticed I would have thought it was clean... but is this dirt or just looks like it. More a tarnished look than dirt I think..

The shiny area below tap is 'clean'
I have now done the whole tank.

Would this have any effect on brew?

cheers

 

[trustyrusty]

Bump - It is a weird thing I know. If you saw the fermentor before you would think that it was as clean as whistle, and it was - it is just the bi-carb made the SS look even cleaner, but I wonder if there are tiny tiny microbs on the metal surface that could effect any brew?

cheers

 

[malt junkie]

Photo isn't fabulous, but looks fine. Yes you can get it back to all shiny, but it will eventually return to that same finish. How pedantic you want to get is up to you. A hot caustic wash or hot PBW wash followed by an acid rinse will get you back to sparkling again.

I would.

Most don't bother.

 

[nosco]

If you dont know how to passivate stainless steel then look it up. it does wonders for your stainless. I think the above that malt junkie mentioned above is one way. This stuff from Bunnings also works really well.

Followed by an acid bath as mentioned. Citric acid from the super market works. I use Starsan but im not %100 sure if thats recommended.

Edit: Im not sure if bi carb is very good cleaner for a fermenter or anything beer related. Unscented Napi San (or similar) works better. PBW is even better but expensive.