Storing cubes when not in use

[InterCooL]

Hi guys,

Sorry I did a search and couldn't find any info.

How do you store your cubes once you've used them? Sealed or unsealed?

I cleaned mine out by letting it soak in oxy clean for a few days and rinsed it out. But I'm afraid if I seal it with a lid that it will encourage some mould to grow in it.

Cheers

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Let them dry out in the sun fully, then screw the lid on to stop stuff getting into them

 

[MastersBrewery]

Or store upside down with the lid off, but as stu said let em dry out in the sun first.

 

[Bruer]

I store mine with about a litre or two of water and a capful of unscented bleach. Rinse thoroughly a few times before you use it on brew day.

 

[Dozer71]

I just leave mine full of the oxy/nappisan soak until required. Empty, starsan and fill.

 

[GalBrew]

I store mine cleaned and sanitised. Leave a little starsan in and seal.

 

[Blind Dog]

I store mine cleaned and sanitised. Leave a little starsan in and seal.

Ditto

 

[Bribie G]

+1
Too much sun exposure can degrade the plastic over a few years (three of my cubes are about six years old now).

 

[Smokomark]

I leave mine full of sodium perc solution.
On the day I want to use them ,once i've whirlpooled i'll empty them and rinse a couple of times and then starsan.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

+1
Too much sun exposure can degrade the plastic over a few years (three of my cubes are about six years old now).

Only if you leave them out in the sun.

I have found that if filled with bleach and left in the sun they degrade much quicker

There is no need to keep them filled, as long as they are dry

 

[MHB]

Generally cleaned with Perk, Rinsed, add a little hot water and some SO2 (sodium metabisulphite , Campden tablet...)
I would avoid too much sun or bleach, see Stu above, both will shorten the cubes life.
Mark

 

[Mozz]

+1 for leave a few litres of starsan in them an seal. This time I'm cleaning with percarbonate solution to give a good clean but usually I just triple rinse and then add the starsan. No problems yet.

 

[Judanero]

As soon as I've emptied the cube I give it a blast with the hose, keep shaking and spraying until the water is clear and nothing left in cube.

Empty a kettle full of boiling water into the cube and give it a good shake and swirl, tip the boiling water out and store upside down with the lid off.

 

[pist]

I just soak mine with some perc then drain and let air dry completely then just screw the cap back on to keep crap out of it. Quick hit with starsan on brew day and its ready to roll

 

[pist]

I just soak mine with some perc then drain and let air dry completely then just screw the cap back on to keep crap out of it. Quick hit with starsan on brew day and its ready to roll

 

[GABBA110360]

i clean with perc then rinse then flush with starsan leaving starsan slurry behind sealed up .
when needed just shake the slurry around and drain
cheers

 

[InterCooL]

Thanks guys

 

[MHB]

You have just seen the old "ask 3 brewers and get 4 opinions" in action. Clean them well, sterilise before use, if you want to store them for some time between uses take your pick from the above.
Mark

 

[Brewman_]

I think there is logic to the whole thing.
1) Clean cause they are dirty.
2) Rinse, cause you have to
3) Dry, it's just safer, not much can live in a dry environment.

Store. Job done

The next stage is using it and well that would be O/T.

Cheers Steve

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Clean is the most important bit. Make sure nothing is left in there. Soak and drain until it is dead cllean

And make sure they are sealed up when storing. Pro Tip : If they have been stored for a bit, wash around the lid before opening just in case you have had critters running across them