Quick answer
- Cleaning removes visible dirt, residue and stains. Sanitizing reduces the bacteria and wild yeast you can’t see.
- Clean first with an equipment cleaner, rinse well, then sanitize with a metabisulphite solution and rinse again.
- Sanitizing solution: 50 g of metabisulphite dissolved in 4 L (about 1 US gal) of cold water.
Most problems with homemade wine start with equipment that wasn’t cleaned or sanitized properly. The good news: it is easy to get right once you know that cleaning and sanitizing are two different jobs.
Cleaning: Remove What You Can See
Cleaning removes residue, stains and sediment, like the dried bentonite at the bottom of a primary pail. Use an equipment cleaner such as B-Brite 3 in 1 Cleaning Powder. Use about ½ cup (120 g) per 19 L (5 US gal) pail of warm water, and always follow the label directions.
- Soak equipment, then scrub with a soft brush. Avoid anything that scratches plastic.
- Rinse thoroughly, two or three times. Cleaner left behind will give your wine a bad taste.
- Don’t mix cleaners with other products, including vinegar.
- Wear gloves and eye protection.
Some older chlorine-based “pink” cleaners should not be used on stainless steel, because chlorine can pit it. Read the label of whatever cleaner you use.
Sanitizing: Kill What You Can’t See
Sanitizing treats clean equipment to reduce the bacteria, mould and wild yeast that can spoil wine. Home winemakers usually sanitize with potassium metabisulphite or sodium metabisulphite.
How to Make a Sanitizing Solution
- Dissolve 50 g of metabisulphite in 4 L (about 1 US gal) of cold water.
- Store it in a clearly labelled glass jug with a screw cap. A plastic jug works too, but label it well so nobody mistakes it for milk or water.
- Pour, swirl or spray it over every surface that will touch the wine. A spray bottle makes buckets and lids easy.
- Rinse with clean water.
Mixed sulphite solution can be reused for up to about 5 months. It gets stronger smelling as it ages. It has a sharp, ammonia-like smell, so mix it in a well-ventilated area. Anyone with asthma or breathing problems should avoid breathing the powder or the fumes.
What Needs Cleaning and Sanitizing
Everything that touches the wine: pails and lids, carboys, airlocks and stoppers, spoons, siphons and tubing, the hydrometer and test jar, the wine thief, bottles, corks and the bottle filler.
Handy Tools
- A jet carboy and bottle washer that connects to your tap.
- A bottle rinser to spray sanitizer into bottles.
- A bottle drainer to dry bottles upside down.
Avoid wooden spoons. Wood is porous and can’t be properly cleaned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is B-Brite a sanitizer?
Use B-Brite as a cleaner, rinse well, then sanitize with a metabisulphite solution.
Do I need to rinse after sanitizing with metabisulphite?
Yes. A quick rinse with clean water removes leftover solution, which can otherwise affect the wine.
Can I use household bleach?
We don’t recommend it. It is hard to rinse out completely and can leave off flavours.
Keep Reading
Shop cleaning and sanitizing supplies
Need a hand with your batch? Call us toll-free at 1-877-668-6160 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern) or send us a message.
This guide is adapted from the ABC Crafted Series booklet Wine From Kits: What the Instructions Don’t Always Tell You. Always follow the instructions that come with your kit.