Jul 2019
Cleanliness next to Godliness
July, 2019 Filed in: Wine making
Now that we are able to offer Ferment on Premise, providing the service of assisting customers in making wine in our store, we are noticing some issues around keeping wine bottles clean. Bottles are being brought into the stores that have black mould in the bottom of the bottles. Not a problem we can clean them before they are filled. But there is a very simple solution to this.
We recommend after you finish drinking your wine, take about a ¼ teaspoon of chlorinated cleaner and drop it into the wine bottle. Fill it with hot water and shake the bottle by placing your hand on the top of the bottle. Let the bottle sit over night and then drain the bottle overnight. Now here is the key, place the bottle upside down in a box allowing the water to fully drain, and not allowing any pesky spiders from finding a new home. Your bottles will be mould free! A good thing to do is park a tub of chlorinated cleaner (pink stuff) under the kitchen sink for easy access.
If you are making wine at home we also suggest using the chlorinated cleaner to clean your carboys after each use. Simply add a ¼ cup of the cleaner and fill the carboy with cold or lukewarm water, never use hot water. Wine contains a small amount of protein that will stick to the inside carboy surfaces. The chlorinated cleaner will remove this protein from the carboy walls. If you notice that particles are sticking to the walls of your carboy that is because you have a protein buildup. Many customers who try this after we recommend using cleaner, tell us they are almost sick to see the brown “crud” that comes off the wall.
We recommend after you finish drinking your wine, take about a ¼ teaspoon of chlorinated cleaner and drop it into the wine bottle. Fill it with hot water and shake the bottle by placing your hand on the top of the bottle. Let the bottle sit over night and then drain the bottle overnight. Now here is the key, place the bottle upside down in a box allowing the water to fully drain, and not allowing any pesky spiders from finding a new home. Your bottles will be mould free! A good thing to do is park a tub of chlorinated cleaner (pink stuff) under the kitchen sink for easy access.
If you are making wine at home we also suggest using the chlorinated cleaner to clean your carboys after each use. Simply add a ¼ cup of the cleaner and fill the carboy with cold or lukewarm water, never use hot water. Wine contains a small amount of protein that will stick to the inside carboy surfaces. The chlorinated cleaner will remove this protein from the carboy walls. If you notice that particles are sticking to the walls of your carboy that is because you have a protein buildup. Many customers who try this after we recommend using cleaner, tell us they are almost sick to see the brown “crud” that comes off the wall.