1. What have I been hearing about using bleach to primary clean
equipment??? Some kind of toxic build-up or something like that???
(diluted bleach, of course).... is this just on the plastic racking
equipment or the glass containers themselves??

2. If 'vinagar' wine was bottled, would you re-use those bottles
(that the contents were discared) or can they be cleaned and re-used???
sorta back to my first question.

tx

Norm

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> 1. What have I been hearing about using bleach to primary clean
> equipment??? Some kind of toxic build-up or something like that???
> (diluted bleach, of course).... is this just on the plastic racking
> equipment or the glass containers themselves??

Cloreen, even in phenominally small quantities, can cause serious problems
in wine. But many people use bleach to clean thier equipement. If you
rense well, then let your equipment dry comepetely it should be safe. That
said, I have stopped using it. Also, I would really discourage its use on
anything that is porous at all.
>
> 2. If 'vinagar' wine was bottled, would you re-use those bottles
> (that the contents were discared) or can they be cleaned and re-used???
> sorta back to my first question.
>
I would never let anything that has touched vinager near my wine. Just to
risky.

> tx
>
> Norm
>
>

There are other alternatives for bleach and vinegar.

Ray

"Ray Calvert" > wrote in message
. com...
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> 1. What have I been hearing about using bleach to primary clean
>> equipment??? Some kind of toxic build-up or something like that???
>> (diluted bleach, of course).... is this just on the plastic racking
>> equipment or the glass containers themselves??
>
> Cloreen, even in phenominally small quantities, can cause serious problems
> in wine. But many people use bleach to clean thier equipement. If you
> rense well, then let your equipment dry comepetely it should be safe.
> That said, I have stopped using it. Also, I would really discourage its
> use on anything that is porous at all.

Except for the spelling, I pretty much agree with all that. ;^)

Chlorine compounds (bleach, e.g.) are really effective sanitizers, but
thorough rinsing is imperative. Don't use bleach on wood or other porous
materials that will come into contact with the wine.

>> 2. If 'vinagar' wine was bottled, would you re-use those bottles
>> (that the contents were discared) or can they be cleaned and re-used???
>> sorta back to my first question.
>>
> I would never let anything that has touched vinager near my wine. Just to
> risky.

That I _don't_ agree with. Vinegar bottles can be completely and safely
sterilized with bleach. Thorough rinsing is mandatory though, as it is
after cleaning _anything_ in the winery that you sanitize with bleach.

BTW, don't re-use the corks. Those can't be sanitized effectively.

Tom S

"Ray Calvert" > wrote in message
. com...
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> 1. What have I been hearing about using bleach to primary clean
>> equipment??? Some kind of toxic build-up or something like that???
>> (diluted bleach, of course).... is this just on the plastic racking
>> equipment or the glass containers themselves??
>
> Cloreen, even in phenominally small quantities, can cause serious problems
> in wine. But many people use bleach to clean thier equipement. If you
> rense well, then let your equipment dry comepetely it should be safe.
> That said, I have stopped using it. Also, I would really discourage its
> use on anything that is porous at all.

Except for the spelling, I pretty much agree with all that. ;^)

Chlorine compounds (bleach, e.g.) are really effective sanitizers, but
thorough rinsing is imperative. Don't use bleach on wood or other porous
materials that will come into contact with the wine.

>> 2. If 'vinagar' wine was bottled, would you re-use those bottles
>> (that the contents were discared) or can they be cleaned and re-used???
>> sorta back to my first question.
>>
> I would never let anything that has touched vinager near my wine. Just to
> risky.

That I _don't_ agree with. Vinegar bottles can be completely and safely
sterilized with bleach. Thorough rinsing is mandatory though, as it is
after cleaning _anything_ in the winery that you sanitize with bleach.

BTW, don't re-use the corks. Those can't be sanitized effectively.

Tom S

I use a 10% household bleach solution once in a while on glassware and
have never had an issue, I do rinse well as Tom and Ray said. I have
reused vinegar bottles with no issues also.

Joe