Oxiclean free vs PBW

kjball · Post by **kjball** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:55 am

Is there a difference? I've used oxiclean free in the past with decent results. However, my new setup is going to be CIP as much as possible. Is there an advantage to using PBW over oxiclean?

JimF · Post by **JimF** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:01 am

I use both and haven't noticed any difference. Since I have both, I usually alternate but will probably just use oxiclean once I run out of PBW.
On Jan 23, 2012 8:55 AM, "kjball" <brew-tech@crbeernuts.org (brew-tech@crbeernuts.org)> wrote:

Is there a difference? I've used oxiclean free in the past with decent results. However, my new setup is going to be CIP as much as possible. Is there an advantage to using PBW over oxiclean?

Bad people drink bad beer. You don't usually see an empty bottle of Rochefort tossed onto the side of the road

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Post by **JimPotts** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:21 am

PBW is oxiclean plus one other chemical that I can't think of (it's a "lye alternative").
I did a lot of reading on this a few months back. The general consensus was that PBW was better, but plain oxiclean was still quite effective.
-Jim

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hoboscratch · Post by **hoboscratch** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:26 am

FWIW, I tried out a generic version of Oxyclean a couple years back. it worked just as well but was a bit "filmy." I have both PBW and Oxyclean on hand right now and use them interchangeably.

On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 9:23 AM, JimPotts <brew-tech@crbeernuts.org (brew-tech@crbeernuts.org)> wrote:

PBW is oxiclean plus one other chemical that I can't think of (it's a "lye alternative").
I did a lot of reading on this a few months back. The general consensus was that PBW was better, but plain oxiclean was still quite effective.
-Jim

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carrisr · Post by **carrisr** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:14 am

This has been my experience as well. The oxyclean is cheaper but the PBW works a bit better. Worth the extra cost, hard to tell. My rectangular fermenters can be a bit harder to clean since they are plastic and have corners. So for me it's worth it.

On 01/23/2012 09:23 AM, JimPotts wrote:

PBW is oxiclean plus one other chemical that I can't think of (it's a "lye alternative").
I did a lot of reading on this a few months back. The general consensus was that PBW was better, but plain oxiclean was still quite effective.
-Jim

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Matt F · Post by **Matt F** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:17 pm

I also have used both and Oxiclean works fine and is much cheaper than PBW. This link will take you to a Brew Strong podcast that discussed the differences between the two during part of the show. I am currently using PBW as I received a big jug of it for Christmas last year.
http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/Brew ... 8-Cleaning

bf514921 · Post by **bf514921** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:51 pm

Have both, just started using both. For my bk and cleaning my electric element i use the pbw, for alot of other things i use the oxyclean free. I also jedge on the soil, or if its dried on etc, i tend to use the pbw for the harder to clean stuff so far. Like them both use them both.

DrPaulsen · Post by **DrPaulsen** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:14 pm

I really like PBW & Craft Meister Alkaline Wash for my carboys, since they foam up a lot less than Oxiclean (i.e. it's easier to fill them up in one shot). Since I switched to mostly using buckets for primary fermenters, this has become a non-issue. Now they all seem equal to me.

FYI, I learned the other day that it's important to not boil any of these cleaners with a CIP system. I tried that a couple of batches ago and ended up scrubbing out a bunch of crud from inside my boil kettle. Apparently the upper temp limit is 180F for Oxiclean.

brownbeard · Post by **brownbeard** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:43 pm

DrPaulsen wrote:I really like PBW & Craft Meister Alkaline Wash for my carboys, since they foam up a lot less than Oxiclean (i.e. it's easier to fill them up in one shot). Since I switched to mostly using buckets for primary fermenters, this has become a non-issue. Now they all seem equal to me.

FYI, I learned the other day that it's important to not boil any of these cleaners with a CIP system. I tried that a couple of batches ago and ended up scrubbing out a bunch of crud from inside my boil kettle. Apparently the upper temp limit is 180F for Oxiclean.

If you want to boil something in your kettle, to clean it, go with baking soda.

kjball · Post by **kjball** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:28 am

DrPaulsen wrote:FYI, I learned the other day that it's important to not boil any of these cleaners with a CIP system. I tried that a couple of batches ago and ended up scrubbing out a bunch of crud from inside my boil kettle. Apparently the upper temp limit is 180F for Oxiclean.

Thanks, Lee, I totally would've done that.

tompb · Post by **tompb** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:12 pm

Here's a link to the subject on the NB forum.
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtop ... =1&t=80940
I use PBW and Star-San. I like what 5 Star does. Without some support there won't be as much inovation.

carrisr · Post by **carrisr** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:30 am

That's a good point Tom. One thing that always amuses me is that many people will not pay a penny more for something like a cleanser or sanitizer, then buy crazy expensive kit, or won't bat an eye at using $10 or more worth of hops per batch. Then they go on and on about how important cleaning and sanitizing is. I'm not saying any of this is wrong, but it is kind of funny how their spending priorities are often out of sync with what they say is important.

Another interesting point from the NB forums and other discussions I've seen: they always say that PBW is "just" Oxyclean with more surfactants. Like those surfactants don't do anything to help clean.

On 01/24/2012 07:12 PM, tompb wrote:

Here's a link to the subject on the NB forum.
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80940
I use PBW and Star-San. I like what 5 Star does. Without some support there won't be as much inovation.

Runamok Brewing

Jesus must have been a yeast. Who else could turn water into wine?

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brownbeard · Post by **brownbeard** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:32 am

I use oxyclean, because I can run right down the street and buy it. Sadly, PBW requires mail order, and shipping costs.

kjball · Post by **kjball** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:18 am

Yeah, working in research, I fully understand the importance of supporting companies that have ideas and then execute them well. My concern is the availability. Like Tim said, I can stop at a local shop and pick up oxyclean and tsp. I plan to buy some pbw on the next order I make, but would like to have a backup plan. The cost/use really can't be that much more than the generic alternative.

Matt F · Post by **Matt F** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:10 am

I function much the same. I get a huge jug of PBW whenever I run out with the next brew order. Flat rate shipping helps with that one. If I run out, I have Oxiclean for back up.