Cleaning 101

A clean setup is the secret to great-tasting beer. Whether you’re brewing, fermenting, or serving, proper cleaning and sanitizing prevents off-flavors, infections, and stuck equipment.

1. Why It Matters

Beer is sensitive. Even trace amounts of bacteria, wild yeast, or soap residue can spoil your batch.
Cleaning removes debris. Think malt sugars, hops, and proteins.
Sanitizing kills microbes. Invisible contaminants love moist, sugary environments like brewing gear.

Cleaning vs. Sanitizing: What’s the Difference?

Cleaning is the process of removing visible dirt, residue, and organic material from equipment. It deals with sugars, proteins, and other physical debris left behind after the brewing or fermentation process.

Sanitizing is the step that comes after cleaning. It’s about killing the invisible stuff—yeast, bacteria, and mold—that could spoil your beer. Sanitizing doesn’t work on dirty surfaces, so you must clean first.

Task	Goal	When to Do It
Cleaning	Remove dirt, residue, & buildup	After brewing or serving
Sanitizing	Kill microbes & prevent infection	Before contact with wort or beer

Pro Tip: You clean first, then sanitize.

What Needs to Be Cleaned and Sanitized?

Part	Clean?	Sanitize?
Smart Keg (inside & lid)	✅	✅
Hoses & tubing	✅	✅
Ball lock connectors (gas/beer)	✅	✅
Hop carousel	✅	✅
Glassware & serving taps	✅	✅
Base Station exterior	✅	❌

Basic Cleaning Steps

Rinse immediately before brewing
- Use warm water to flush out wort, hops, or yeast before they dry and harden.
Brush or scrub if needed
- For stubborn residues in the keg or carousel.
Rinse thoroughly
- No cleaner should remain before sanitizing—residues can affect flavor.

Basic Sanitizing Steps

Choose a no-rinse sanitizer
- Star San or a similar acid-based sanitizer is preferred.
- Mix according to instructions (usually 1 oz per 5 gallons / 30 ml per 19 L of water).
Soak or spray contact surfaces.
- Keg interior, hoses, lid, posts, and any components thatct with come into conta the beer.
Drain, but don’t rinse
- Leave wet with sanitizer foam—it’s safe and effective.

Tips for Success

Avoid dish soap—it leaves film that kills head retention and may harbor bacteria.
Use separate brushes for beer gear vs. household items.
Drying isn’t sanitizing. Sanitized parts should be used while still wet.
Label and store your cleaning/sanitizing tools separately.