Any tips on cleaning a boiler after stripping rum?

[Steve Broady]

I looked, but all I could find was a short thread from 2010, so I decided to start my own instead of reviving that one.

The last time I stripped a batch of SBB rum wash, it left a residue on the boiler that I had to scrub off. I haven’t had that issue with other rum washes, but it left me feeling like I need to be able to scrub the boiler after running rum.

Pertinent info: this was a Vevor pot still being run on the kitchen stove, and I have no memory of how careful I was about clearing the wash or avoiding the lees. Probably not too careful, to be honest.

I’m considering either massively modifying or scrapping the Vevor, and am moving up to a keg boiler. I also have a small boiler which I’m building for running smaller batches. In all cases, I don’t and possibly won’t have any practical access to the inside of the boiler for scrubbing. The keg and Vevor will be run with an internal element, but the mini boiler will have to go on some kind of hot plate (unless I find a smaller element to fit it).

Does anyone have any advice on how to either clean the residue off the insides of a still without scrubbing, or how to avoid the problem in the first place? Yes, adding a 6” port for cleaning is tempting and not out of the question eventually, but only for the keg, and not at the moment. For the moment, cutting new holes isn’t practical.

[shadylane]

While draining a pot that's still warm, so the crud doesn't have time to stick.
A CIP "clean in place" spray head works good.
Plan B is a garden hose and a DIY long-handled brush that can be bent as needed.

It's aways a good idea to clean after a run.
And especially before a neutral spirit run.
But don't worry too much about the ring around the collar kind of discoloration.
On a SS keg you can fill it with water, bring it to boil to clean that off every so often.

[contrahead]

I've had yellow brown tarnishes build up in the inside surface of a stainless steel pot or boiler several times. I found that adding a tablespoon or two of baking soda during the spirit run, scours the pot out well. The leftover wash comes out looking like muddy tea, but the product is unaffected. Use this trick on a final spirit run; not stripping run.

[NZChris]

I don't clean between stripping runs, only before the spirit run. I don't have an apprentice and it's not set up for CIP, so I give it a hose out and a scrub myself.

It probably wouldn't make a lot of difference if it wasn't cleaned. The fusels get flushed down into the charge during heat up and out of the condenser with the heads. I give mine a quick scrub before the spirit run because the still head is off for filling and it's easy to do.

Cleaning is far more important if you are following it with a different product, especially neutral or gin.

[Steve Broady]

Well, I do have an apprentice of sorts..

He’s a little young to do much cleaning yet. But I’m sure he’d love to play with a hose and spray things!

I’m not so concerned with the vapor path. As you said, that more or less cleans itself. My only concern was that gunk that I cooked onto the boiler. I don’t know what it was, but it definitely didn’t come off under the (admittedly gentle) spray from the kitchen sink.

Now that I think about it, I think I can arrange to use my cooling water supply for a spray nozzle as well. I’m working in my laundry room and master bathroom (no idea why the house was built that way, but it is), so I have a nice shower right there which I’ve been using as a convenient place to drain the boiler and clean things up.

Yeah, I admit I’m showing off a little bit. It’s not finished yet, but I’m proud of how it’s turning out. And since it’s stone on a slab with the drain set underneath, I’m not too worried about the drain pipe softening. It makes a pretty handy floor drain.

[Yummyrum]

To be honest , if I remember , I’ll drag the keg outside and squirt the hose in it a few times and invert . Then the water comes out clear , I’m done .
Sometimes I get busy and forget and its only when I see the flies hanging around the keg do I remember .

Probably some big arse skanky ring of something in keg . Can’t see it … don’t care . Doesn’t make a scrap of difference to the next run .

[Wildcats]

I have one of those cheep pressure washer that plugs in the wall. Cost like 90 bucks. After a run I dump the keg and then insert the pressure washer wand and spray it out real quick. I assume it cleans it, as I can't see down in the keg. But I have shined a light down in there and it looks like it's clean. All I been running lately is SSS. So that's a pretty clean wash. And letting it clear real good before I run helps. I have noticed in the past some clear flakes in the bottom of the small boiler (after a run) I used to use all the time. So I assume they are present in the keg as well. So I just spray it out with my pressure washer and be done with it.

[Saltbush Bill]

I use the Yummy method.........a quick squirt with the hose, I think your fussing over nothing.
Suggest you change to a keg boiler with standard two in fertile, you won't be able to see inside that way............nothing to worry about then.

[EricTheRed]

Mine gets a rinse after the run set is completed.

- 4 x 26 L stripping runs
- 1 x 30 spirit run
If enough frints - 1 x feints run

Ta

[LWTCS]

To be honest , if I remember , I’ll drag the keg outside and squirt the hose in it a few times and invert . Then the water comes out clear , I’m done .
Sometimes I get busy and forget and its only when I see the flies hanging around the keg do I remember .


Probably some big arse skanky ring of something in keg . Can’t see it … don’t care . Doesn’t make a scrap of difference to the next run .

I use the Yummy method.........a quick squirt with the hose, I think your fussing over nothing.
Suggest you change to a keg boiler with standard two in fertile, you won't be able to see inside that way............nothing to worry about then.

No doubt rum washes can leave more residue than some of the other choices. But I am often mystified by the what I would consider an over emphasis on having surfaces brought back to a virgin state of brightness. Get questions like this all the time from the start up guys at the pro level.

Now dirty , filthy, finger prints, dust and liquid / water / beer splash marks all over the kettle are not to be tolerated lol.

[Steve Broady]

I am often mystified by the what I would consider an over emphasis on having surfaces brought back to a virgin state

I suppose I ought to clarify, I’m not too concerned with that level of spotless. I just don’t want to leave behind some kind of residue that either encourages even more to build up, or which flavors the next product. I like rum, I like whiskey, but I don’t really want one tasting like the other. At least, not unless it was intentional on my part.

[zach]

Add a tri clamp for cleaning. I use a toilet brush with a 4" tri clamp and my arm fits just short of my elbow.
I wish installed a 6" tri clamp, when I stripped in the keg.

Now my keg is mostly a steam generator or spirit still so it doesn't matter.

[jonnys_spirit]

I’ll rinse and let air dry. I don’t typically scrub but I like to put my likker up dirty

-j

[Wildcats]

FB630384-17FD-4B66-ACAB-BEBB8786C89D.jpeg

I’ll rinse and let air dry. I don’t typically scrub but I like to put my likker up dirty

-j

That is a copper boiler right? Looks good to me if so. If I had a copper boiler I assume it would look exactly like yours.

[Saltbush Bill]

I like rum, I like whiskey, but I don’t really want one tasting like the other.

Its just not going to be an issue.

[LWTCS]

I am often mystified by the what I would consider an over emphasis on having surfaces brought back to a virgin state

I suppose I ought to clarify, I’m not too concerned with that level of spotless. I just don’t want to leave behind some kind of residue that either encourages even more to build up, or which flavors the next product. I like rum, I like whiskey, but I don’t really want one tasting like the other. At least, not unless it was intentional on my part.

Ah sure. Thanks for the clarification. And for sure I do see your point about having a clean still when switching from one program (rum for example) to the next (whiskey for example).

Also shame on me for not including enough context. There are a bunch of folks out there that think they have to scour their entire still after every run. Its just not necessary.

[Chauncey]

Hose and a carboy brush style brush.

[Stags]

I’m in the rinse and let air dry crowd. Builds character

But in all seriousness. I think there’s a method to that madness. My experience in the bbq world tells me the oldest ugliest smokers make the best meat

[Steve Broady]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions and comments. What I’m hearing is that I should be fine to close up the smaller pots and not have open lids and easy access.

To explain, the Vevor is an 8 gallon pot with a flat lid that’s clamped on top. Sealing the rum has been an ongoing problem, and I’m finally thinking of just soldering it to the pot and being done. The smaller boiler is a 3 gallon pot with a few modifications, and I’ve found a very sturdy skillet lid which fits it well. I have been trying to figure out the best way of attaching it, and figured that soldering it down would be the easiest and strongest. At least within my current tools and skills.

I’ve had some concerns about the fact that if I do that, I won’t have any boiler which I can access for heavy scrubbing if it scorches. But I’m also thinking that I’m in a position now where hopefully I won’t have to worry about that any more, by not being impatient and lazy.

[NZChris]

I love having the full width of the boiler open for cleaning and for a steamer basket that I found that can be jammed into it at any height I like, giving me a gin basket the full width of the boiler.

[Demy]

For organic residues, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) works very well as long as you handle it with caution...if mixed with hot water it is very powerful...rubber gloves and protective glasses are essential.

[shadylane]

Now dirty , filthy, finger prints, dust and liquid / water / beer splash marks all over the kettle are not to be tolerated lol.

You would be horrified by my dirty nasty rig.
Although I sometimes give it a clean just in case I ever get busted.
I don't want folks to see pictures in the newspaper that would look bad.

[jonnys_spirit]

I do keep a stainless scrubbie in the shed sink to clean up the heater element mildly every so often. Stuff does cake on and i certainly don’t want it burning.

I will never clean the outside. I have 20yr+ old copper cookware and i’m glad i’ve never made it shiny and I never will. The memories matter - even the not so great ones - let’s embrace them with fondness and a look towards the opportunities to continue developing the patina. Our kids will thank us when they’re doing the same and handing it off to their kids.

A hot citric acid bath is a good cleaner if you need to clean a newly made column or several freshly soldered parts and a boiler is my largest pot. It’s not the end of the world. Cleaning the outside is going to be a very big problem in my shed

-j

[shadylane]

I do keep a stainless scrubbie in the shed sink to clean up the heater element mildly every so often. Stuff does cake on and i certainly don’t want it burning.

-j

Plus, one on that.
Once crud starts building up on a heater is doesn't take long before it becomes a problem.
The same applies for the bottom and lower sides of a wood fired pot.

[Stump Lake]

What about Five Star P.B.W. (Powder Brewery Wash) ?

I have bought a 1 lb. jar of it. I haven't used it yet.

PBW is an environmentally friendly alkali cleaner. Safe for use on metals, rubber gaskets, tubing, plastic parts, and your skin.

Removes tough, caked-on debris and rinses clean.

PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) is a patented alkali cleaner originally developed for Coors, now widely used in commercial breweries across North America. Use 1 to 2 ounces per gallon for cleaning kettles, 3/4 ounce per gallon for fermenters, kegs, tanks, and other equipment. Soak equipment overnight in PBW solution; rinse the following morning - no scrubbing required! Will not damage rubber gaskets, soft metals, or your skin. PBW can effectively clean items that can not be reached with a brush or sponge, and is strong enough to remove thick, difficult, caked-on organic soils.

[GrumbleStill]

+1 on the rinse with a hose after a strip.

Having said that, also a +1 on the PBW. My boiler is used for beer as well as spirits, and I use it to get the hop residue out after a beer run. It will leave the boiler spotlessly clean with little or no scrubbing.

[welly]

I give my keg boiler a good hosing down, after removing the heating element which fits using a 2" triclamp.

Sometimes fill it up with water and let that boil for 15 minutes or so, and that's about it. It's got a 6" port at the top which makes it easy to give it a cursory scrub but try not to let it worry me too much.