Sodium metabisulphite and citric acid

[thefriarandme]

Hi, I have some 2L bottles I wish to sanitise and all I have at the moment is sodium metabisulphite and citric acid.

The instructions say to use 3 tsp. plus 1 tsp. of citric acid in a pint of water.

My problem is, do I use the pint and swish it around the inside os the bottles or do I have to use 12 tsp. of SM and 4 tsp. of citric acid and let it stand? I have 40pints of mild waiting to be primed and bottled and I get awfully thirsty so a quick answer would really be appreciated!

Cheers.

[glenniedragon]

You can re-use the solution several times, I use the fill and stand method of sterilizing (I don't trust swishing) So mix enough to do a quarter of the batch, allow to stand, tip into the next batch...and so on. I sterilize the tops separatley in a bowl of solution and cap the clean bottles as I go. Doing it this way also means the funnel gets a good rinsing too. That how I do it, I'm sure there are loads of other ways but it works for me!

Happy bottling
Kind thoughts
Deb

[thefriarandme]

Cheers Deb

[PaulDK]

I simply use bleach (watered down) in a spray bottle, spray the inside of the demijohn or beer bottles and leave for 12 hours...
wash out and fill with water and a little bleach solution and leave for another 12 hours.
Swill out with clean cold water thoroughly, and then a little boiled hot water from a kettle, swill and swish round.. tip out the hot water and turn upside down on clean kitchen paper towel to dry out..

In 10 mins theyre dry and ready for filling with beer, wine etc.

Don't forget ro sterilise corks or tops in the same way...bleach and boiled water method will do just fine...