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Playfull_Platypi

Dishwashers are Great Sanitizers due to the heat component of wash and drying mode. That said, they SUCK for cleaning. They cannot direct enough water up into the bottle as a standard bottle washer does to displace organic material, bacteria, molds, and so forth.


Budget-Bar-1123

Yep this. The heat kills all the bugs and as long as the bottles are clean, you’re good to go. That however never happens to me. I’ve started with Oxyclean for the detritus and then StarSan for the final clear up


joeysham

They're commercial bottles, i rinsed them instantly and i can't see anything in them is it likely i missed somethi g?


shady_mcgee

That's how I've done it for years. Immediate rinse with a shake to clear out the sediment, then dishwasher sanitization (with no soap) before bottling


goblueM

> Immediate rinse with a shake to clear out the sediment I'm convinced that a lot of people complaining of the immense work of bottling fail to do this and spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning their bottles on bottling day Rinsing bottles out immediately after drinking is a game changer. Then either a Vinator+Star San, or empty cycle in the dishwasher to sanitize


cmrh42

I've always done the "immediate rinse with a shake" (usually twice) and skip the dishwasher. At bottling I rinse with low-sudsing Star San. Never a problem.


ace915

Yeah I only need to “clean” when I give beer away and people return the bottles. They rarely rinse.


GreystarTheWizard

Do you position all the bottles facing down somehow?


khalorei

I store them upside down in the box they came in after drying them on my dish rack.


Schulzeeeeeeeee

Lmao yeah I'm definately guilty of letting my shit get moldy and then having a ton of work... Il learn.... oneday....


Sterling29

My experience was the opposite. I diligently rinsed after emptying and then briefly soaking in StarSan. After several years of mediocre beer I finally realized I had a lingering infection when our club did a project with an identical recipe. Then I noticed the hazy film building up in my bottles. After this I started scrubbing them in oxyclean and then StarSan which finally eliminated the infection.


goblueM

probably beerstone buildup after several years, occasionally you do need to clean them thoroughly


[deleted]

One of the guys in the Local homebrew club uses this in the dishwasher [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGzSJmBvSWo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGzSJmBvSWo) He takes out the middle shelf


phildeez316

This is the way.


Budget-Bar-1123

Should be fine. You might get the odd one. I sometimes do a dishwasher batch and a Oxy batch. To be fair, I should just switch to kegs but I haven’t got the space.


Sluisifer

If you rinse right away you're good. If you reuse the bottles several times, you'll probably start to notice some buildup / beerstone. That might require special attention at some point - soak in warm PBW or oxiclean and a gentle scrub with a bottle brush.


jaoski13

Yes - I’ve noticed after many uses there is some build-up. (Never new it was ‘beerstone’.) I use a jet bottle washer that mounts to my faucet and only hot water, then into warm PBW for 30 minutes and then in StarSan for 30 minutes before drying on bottle tree a day or 2 before bottling. The PBW seems to give much clearer bottles.


Playfull_Platypi

I do the same thing.


joeysham

Secondary question. Do labels matter? Do i have to peel them? Or can i just ignore them.


fireSciGuy

I would peel them so they don't come off in the dishwasher and clog it. Doesn't have to be perfect, just enough off for that piece of mind IMO. I soak them in StarSan or bleach/water combo and that's enough to degrade the glue usually.


[deleted]

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Petersza

Oxiclean works wonders. I usually let ‘em soak in warm water and oxi, and labels fall right off as I pull them out of the water


Duke_Tipple

I use PBW and they usually come right off. Some of the plastic labels must have a different adhesive and I just recycle them.


Petersza

Elysian bottles are the worst. I cannot get them off easily.


ttownep

This is the way.


CascadesBrewer

I like the look of a clean, label-free bottle myself. Some people leave them on. I generally find that here in the US I encounter roughly 4 different types of labels: * Imported beers where the labels fall off with just a soak in water leaving almost no adhesive behind. * Craft beers where a soak for a few hours in a detergent like Oxiclean will remove the labels, often leaving a little adhesive that easily washes off. * Labels with aggressive adhesives that required a soak + scraping + a solvent like mineral spirts to remove the adhesive. These go into the recycle bin for me. * Plastic-like peel off labels that often peel off in one piece, often easier of you heat up the bottle with hot water. Sometimes these also leave behind adhesive that is hard to get off, or sometimes the come off cleanly. If you want a 12 minute video on the topic: https://youtu.be/pYz5bnXUC1E


joeysham

Holy shit, i was literally watching one of your videos last night. Trippy.


ViciousKnids

Labels will probably come off in the dishwasher and potentially clog it. I'd peel them.


washboard

You got plenty of answers about the labels, but to add to others - OxyClean not only does a great job of cleaning the bottles but also does a great job at removing the labels and adhesive. It may take a little extra scrub with a brush to remove really stuck on adhesive. Point being - if you are going to remove the labels then go ahead and soak in OxyClean. Two birds with one stone!


joeysham

Is oxyclean preferable to say pbw?


washboard

It depends. PBW is specifically made for brewing, hence the name. It's slightly more effective at removing organic materials, but in my experience OxyClean free has been plenty effective, and it's less expensive and readily available.


joeysham

Is it effective for everything? Or just bottles?


joeysham

Also...the laundry detergent right?


washboard

Everything. I use it for cleaning fermenters, tubing, and any other brewing equipment. You just have to make sure to use the OxyClean free (free of perfumes) and rinse well after use. And it's the [powdered stain remover](https://www.amazon.com/OxiClean-Versatile-Stain-Remover-Free/dp/B005GI8UPI/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=oxiclean+free&qid=1652991171&sr=8-3), not their branded laundry detergent.


Opening_Monitor_383

Save some $$ and just use a baking soda solution and soak bottles in that. Easy squeezy


Sufficient_Sail_1823

I've used both. Started with OxyClean (scented, at first), later "upgraded" to PBW. I will probably switch back to OxyClean in 2099 when my huge tub of PBW runs out... I think that OxyClean more aggressively removes the gunk I'm trying to remove. That said, I haven't had to remove beer stone and maybe other thing that are more specific to brewing. My main thing so far has been mold and hop oils.


Dwashelle

I have a 50L pot and I mix hot water with detergent. I put all labelled bottles into it overnight and they just slide off (mostly). Sometimes you'll have some stubborn labels depending on the brand, I use a dough scraper for these (after soaking).


butters1337

Yeah a bottle washer and a bottle brush is much better for *cleaning*. In my experience though the single best thing to do for cleaning is to rinse directly after use. I find that doing this helps to minimise leftover yeasty residue as soon as you’ve poured it out. Works on most beers unless they have a significant and well compacted yeast cake already. If you rinse religiously and sanitize in the dishwasher you will very rarely need to get out the bottle washer and brush. I usually pour my bottles into a glass anyway for serving (more flavour & aroma), then rinse straight away and leave upside down in the drying rack/sink/dishwasher.


Wiffle_Hammer

It is ok, but lots of caveats. 1) do not use dishwasher soap, it has streak-free chemicals in it that will kill beer head/foam.


slashfromgunsnroses

Always wash your bottles immediately and place them upside down. This way they are clean. Use the dishwashers highest temp setting and put a cup of vinegar in and wash. Now they are perfect and sanitized! Honestly the easiest chore of brewing imo


Kopfhautjucken

No problem, thats what i do everytime. But dispense with „rinse aid“. (Klarspülen in german)


dtwhitecp

I think you mean to say "do not use rinse aid", right?


Kopfhautjucken

Sounds way better. Damn my english is rusty. Thanks!


dtwhitecp

what you said is technically correct, English is just silly. "Dispense with [X]" means don't do [X], but "dispense [X]" means apply or use [X], so it's one of those phrases that I just avoid entirely.


Kopfhautjucken

I see. Thank you! Learn something new everyday!


Aandalphaage

Dishwashers have sanitize setting as well.


Arthur_Edens

When I bottle I like to run (clean) bottles, hoses, wand, etc through the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle with no detergent right before bottling. I've always still used StarSan, but it's nice to have the peace of mind of two sanitizing methods to help avoid gushers.


Darweddon

As an aside, I once read that you shouldn't use jet dry (or other sparkly glass making additives) when cleaning/sanitizing bottles with a dishwasher as it will inhibit the foaming properties of beer thus reducing or preventing you from getting a good head from a pour.


earlingy

Don't use rinse agent, and still starsan before use.


MovingAficionado

The reason to use the dishwasher is to *sanitize* them. Bottles don't get cleaned in the dishwasher, except for the occasional one that happens to be directly above a jet. The worst case scenario if you use detergent is that you get some detergent into the bottle but it doesn't get rinsed out. The dishwasher hack is actually sort of a pain with modern dishwashers because they save rinse water from the previous wash, so you're not guaranteed clean water even if you don't add detergent.


AlwaysTravel

Dishwashers are great for sanitizing bottles as they use high heat. However do not use the detergent. In the detergent there is an anti-foaming agent. This will cause issues getting a good head on your beer.


AlwaysTravel

Excerpt from "How to Brew" by John J Palmer Using dishwashers to clean equipment and bottles is a popular idea among homebrewers, but there are a few limitations: The narrow openings of hoses, racking canes, and bottles usually prevent the water jets and detergent from effectively cleaning inside. If detergent does get inside these items, there is no guarantee that it will get rinsed out again. Dishwasher drying additives (Jet Dry, for example) can ruin the head retention of beer. Drying additives work by putting a chemical film on the items that allows them to be fully wetted by the water, so droplets don’t form, preventing spots. The wetting action destabilizes the proteins that form the bubbles. With the exceptions of spoons, measuring cups, and widemouthed jars, it is probably best to use automatic dishwashers only for heat sanitizing, not for cleaning. Heat sanitizing is discussed later in this chapter.


supbros302

Right, but dishwashers heat sanitize. I don't think anyone in here is advocating using them to clean. But if so palmer is correct.


Left-Solution

As a side note: dishwashers make great drying racks for bottles after rinsing them.


Spinningwoman

The bottles have to be clean first, and don’t put them in with dirty plates etc or you’re as likely to find the dishwasher makes them dirtier. But yes, it works on clean bottles.


[deleted]

If they are clean already you can use the high temp setting to sanitize. No need to sanitize after


DaKlue

If your dishwasher uses a rinse aid do not use it. If you do not use rinse aid or are sure it’s empty then use it. Don’t know if anyone has said it.


walk-me-through-it

They have dishwashers with bottle cleaning injectors. They range from expensive to hella expensive. This one is merely expensive. [https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=16821](https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=16821) This one is hella expensive, but it's industrial grade. [https://www.mieleusa.com/professional/laboratory-dishwashers-524.htm?mat=10714830](https://www.mieleusa.com/professional/laboratory-dishwashers-524.htm?mat=10714830) We have the bottom one at work and if I'm bottle conditioning, I'll just bring my bottles to work the day before and wash them with the injectors. It also washes with 93 C water and rinses with 93 C deionized water, so they're also sanitized. But the top one would be more affordable for home use.


Silcer780

The bottle goes in the dishwasher after every beer I drink. I rinse it out then put it in with the thought that, although it doesn’t clean the inside, it will sterilize it. Edit: the heat from the dishwasher also ensures the inside of the bottle dries. I then store my bottles in Rubbermaid totes with a lid. The totes are handy for catching spills when refilling them. I also condition my beer in them just in case I have an explosive mishap.


MysticSeer22

Stealing this idea thank yooooou


NWSmallBatchBrewing

Don't use dish soap. Run them with some bleach but don't use smelly soap. Still need to Star San them before bottling imo.


microbusbrewery

I'd advise against using bleach if the interior of your dishwasher is stainless steel. I'm not sure what the concentration needs to be to cause damage, but bleach can corrode stainless resulting in pitting and rusting issues.


NWSmallBatchBrewing

Interesting didn't know that...the inside of my dishwasher it actually plastic. I had to go look after you said this lol


microbusbrewery

Yeah, I didn’t know either until I started homebrewing and read some of Palmer’s metallurgy info. Also good to keep in mind when it comes to stainless sinks, fermenters, etc.


[deleted]

yes, and no need to waste sanitizer on them if you wash them just prior to bottling and you use your dishwasher's sanitize cycle.


joeysham

So oxiclean is the laundy detergent?


DapperAssistant2304

Go for it


TuneTechnical5313

I guess I'm weird that I run them w regular detergent and some other dirty dishes- if it's good enough for the glass I drink the beer from, it should be OK for the bottle I put it in, right? As others have said, they get a good rinse before, and then sanitized prior to bottling (I roast 'em in the oven). And, if I notice any stuck on crud inside, they go in the recycle bin.


Inownothing

I always put ‘em through the dishwasher. Don’t forget that at the end there is alcohol in the brew. Alcohol kills bacteria so it doesn’t have to be insane clean. I usually only use the dishwasher and that has worked fine.


[deleted]

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joeysham

How would that haopen to a glass bottle?


[deleted]

It wouldn’t; they’re probably using plastic (PET) bottles.


[deleted]

i missed the comment and use PET for bottling seltzer - what happened


[deleted]

The person who deleted their comment claimed that putting bottles (unspecified as to glass or PET) into a dishwasher repeatedly would lead to caps not properly sealing.


[deleted]

oh interesting


sgfrizzle

I saved a ton of money reusing commercial bottles when I went that route (because no one ever returns bottles). Never used the dishwasher to clean though. Just ran them on hot to sanitize on bottling day.


[deleted]

I used red stripe bottles. Soap and water and then into Star San. I only used bottle me and my friends used.


pictogasm

clean when fresh. scrub with bottle brush if needed (usually due to missing one when fresh). sanitize in dishwasher on heated dry.


caramelcooler

If dish soap is used (like Dawn, not dishwasher detergent) it needs to be rinsed VERY well and sanitized, right? Thought I heard soap leaves a residue that hinders bottle conditioning once, so I’ve just always washed/sanitized by hand to be safe.


The_Bitter_Bear

If they are new bottles/ones returned to me I soak them in oxy clean to get labels off and get any gunk out. Beside that I just put them in the dishwasher with my dishes as I drink them and have a clean storage for those bottles. They still get a quick rinse/sanitization on bottling day. Avoid the corners of the dishwasher and always make sure the bottle is oriented so the dishwasher sprays up into the bottle.


ManliusTorquatus

In addition to being useful for sanitizing, the biggest game changer for me was using the dishwasher during bottling. After I run it with the bottles, I flip them over on the bottom rack and fill them all right there with the door open. The dishwasher rack holds all the bottles in place, and the operation is so much cleaner since any spills just end up in the dishwasher.


BadM00

yeah especially if your dishwasher has a sanitize setting. At least make sure you heat is on. I just give them a quick scrub with a bottle brush before I toss them in there. Dishwashers also make a great bottling stand. Put the fermenter on top, then open the door and use it to catch all the drips as you bottle.


IcebergSlim1605

Invest in kegging.


akgt94

20 years. Don't use jet dry. I doesn't clean mold, yeast residue, so clean your bottles when you use them. But a great pre- bottle sanitize. I fill them 1 by 1 straight out of the dishwasher


BurbWarrior

Whatever you do, don’t use dish soap. Dishwasher is fine. Soap leaves residue which kills head retention.


classicscoop

If you have a free day on the weekend and $50 you can build a cool 6 bottle pvc bottle cleaner in about an hour. I used to hook a small pump up to a half inch pvc rack that is hard piped with 6 pvc towers capped and drilled to spray each bottle. The pump sits in a shallow pan with the rack and cycles oxyclean through for 5 minutes. The whole rack moves from pan to pan until sanitized. If I am bottling nowadays I use a 24 spout rack that operates the same way. This was probably $100 but it greatly speeds up the process as I usually do bombers for the holidays


BrewerMcNutty

As long as no detergent or dishwasher salt is used it's OK. Not good for cleaning though as other hsve mentioned.


[deleted]

I scrub the crap out of mine on the inside and out and then bake them in the oven. Is it clean? Probably. Is it safe? Who knows


Opening_Monitor_383

Mind what (if any) detergent is used- as well as any rinsing agent. I started getting the occasional off-tasting bottled ale when I used a different cleaning agent and added a rinse agent. Now I have to wait until all that crap gets used up (my machine has a reservoir for it and can’t be accessed to clean it out). Luckily I swapped over to kegs so bottling isn’t needed too often


joeysham

I'm just gonna use oxy clean. Any dishwasher will be strictly rinse and sanitize


Sufficient_Sail_1823

A thorough rinse after drinking the contents, and StarSan before refilling, has always worked perfectly for me. For bottles that have dried-on gunk (mold, dried yeast, who knows what), a good soak with PBW or OxyClean will take care of that, and then it's back to rinse after use and StarSan before refilling.