How To Clean Bottles For Your Homebrew

[Turisops]

Has anybody tried to bake your bottles like John Palmer suggest??

[BrickBrewHaus]

Has anybody tried to bake your bottles like John Palmer suggest??

I think mike was speaking specifically about peeling labels but to answer your question, I bake to sanitize before bottling. Right after emptying a bottle I rinse the inside with hot water. Usually I fill half way, put my thumb over it and shake like hell and repeat two more times. I always feel this is good enough to get everthing out, especially since I didn't allow anything to dry in the first place. I'll store the bottles upside down. The night before bottling I'll wrap a small piece of Al foil over the mouth of the bottle and put them in a cold oven. I find that two cases of bottles fit nicely on two cookie sheets; makes putting them in and taking them out much easier. Turn the oven to 375degF and leave for ~1hr after its preheated then turn off and cool overnight and bottle the next day. I think the temp and time is overkill compared to what Palmer suggests, but I figure it can't hurt.

[mikebiewer]

Have you ever had a bottle explode? Someone mentioned on my blog that bottle have little air bubbles in them and if you get the temp to high it could cause the air in the bubbles to expand and explode.

Just curious if anyone has actually had that happen?

[BrickBrewHaus]

Have you ever had a bottle explode? Someone mentioned on my blog that bottle have little air bubbles in them and if you get the temp to high it could cause the air in the bubbles to expand and explode.

Just curious if anyone has actually had that happen?

I personally haven't had that happen but I've only bottled 3 batches to date. Even though 375 is hot to us and the little nasties it's meant to kill, 375degF is relatively cool for glass. With that said, I took a ceramics class in high school (who woulda thought that anything from there would be useful) and lots of pieces exploded when they were kiln fired but that took place at ~1700degF, or something like that, when air bubbles were present. So I'm not saying its not possible, but I feel that 375 isn't high enough for that to happen. Lower temps can always be used, just need longer times.

[mikebiewer]

LOL Good point.

I took ceramics in high school to. I never had anything explode though. My stuff always got damaged because the guy next to me always had air bubbles...

[Cliff]

Have you ever had a bottle explode?

Does it count as an explosion if I filled it with Gas, jammed a tampon in, light it and hurled it?

Ahh childhood.

[BrickBrewHaus]

Have you ever had a bottle explode?

Does it count as an explosion if I filled it with Gas, jammed a tampon in, light it and hurled it?

Ahh childhood.

For sure and a very fun explosion!! I loved doing that as a kid. Come to think of it, I would probably love it just as much today...

[mikebiewer]

How come I'm imagining a sweet T-Shirt with that very idea on it...