If you’ve ever brewed a great batch of beer, cider, or mead only for it to develop strange flavours later, there’s a good chance one of the small pieces of equipment was the culprit.
Image from reddit user: u/iamdestroyerofworlds
This guide is perfect for cleaning:
- Bubblers
- Bungs
- Taps
- Grommets
- Stirrers
- Clip Top Caps and Lids
These are the perfect hiding spots for bacteria, wild yeast, and residue. This is a problem but luckily here at hooleyhomebrew.ie we don’t do problems, only solutions! Cleaning and sanitising the small stuff can be quick, easy, and massively reduces your risk of contamination. Here’s the complete guide.
For a guide on sanitizing small glass wear like hydrometers, spirit meters Click Here
Why Small Parts Matter More Than You Think
Big equipment like fermenters and buckets often get most of the attention, but it’s the tiny parts that tend to cause the most infections. A sanitised airlock or bung is just as important as a clean fermenter.
Reasons why they can cause issue:
- Have narrow gaps or lips where residue can cling onto in cleaning
- Are often handled with bare hands
- Don’t always get rinsed properly
- Sit exposed during fermentation
Step 1: Clean First (Always)
Sanitiser only works on clean surfaces.
For cleaning:
- Use Chemiclean/PBW or sodium percarbonate (same active ingredient as OxiClean)
- Mix with warm water
- Soak small items for 10–20 minutes
- Scrub any residue off
After soaking, rinse with cold or warm water.
Just remember cleaning ≠ sanitising so now we sanitise.
Step 2: Sanitise Using a No-Rinse Sanitiser
This is the best method for fast and effective sterilising
Recommended:
- Chemsan (same thing as Star San, cheaper)
How to sanitise:
- Mix following label instructions (usually 1.5 ml per litre)
- Dunk your parts—airlock, bung, tap pieces, spoons, grommets
- Let sit 1–2 minutes
- Shake dry or drain
- Don’t rinse (the foam is harmless)
Alternative: Boiling Water (Easiest and Cheapest)
If you’re out of sanitiser, boiling water works very well.
Works best for:
- Silicone bungs
- Stainless steel fittings
Avoid for:
- Plastic airlocks (they can warp)
Pour boiling water over the parts or drop them into a bowl and let them sit for 2–3 minutes.
Why we Don’t Recommend Using Bleach
When sanitizing fermenters and mash tuns it is sometimes ok to use a very diluted bleach mix as they are easily rinsed out. We don’t recommend doing this with the smaller bits as they often have small nooks and crevices that can be difficult to rinse thoroughly enough to ensure no cross contamination with the bleach.
Quick Routine for Small Homebrew Parts
If you want a simple method that covers every situation:
- Clean with percarbonate
- Sanitise with Chemisan
- Let drip dry
- Use immediately or store in clean, sealed containers
Final Thoughts
Homebrewing problems often start with the little things, dirty bungs, mucky airlocks, un-sanitised taps. Keeping these bits clean and properly sanitised can eliminate 90% of infection issues.
With a few minutes of care and the right sanitiser, your small parts can stay spotless, and your beer (or cider or mead) can ferment exactly the way you intended.