Cheaper PBW replacement...?

[ohdukes]

So I've been afraid of using oxyclean on my brewing parts because I didn't want it to impart any off-flavors in my beer. However, I just found this stuff called Oxyclean "Free" at my local Target store which doesn't have any fragrances in it. I used it to clean some carboys and it worked great. I put in the same measurements that I would with PBW. The great thing is that this stuff is about an 1/8 of the cost. I'm not one to jepordize my beer to save a few bucks, but so far this seems to be a pretty good deal. Has anyone else used this stuff?

[TheDarkSide]

It's what I use and never have a problem!

[beltbuckle]

The main difference is that PBW has stuff in it to deal with hard water. If I use oxyclean mixed with RO water it works fine for long soaks, if I use it with my tap water I get a hard to remove calcium scale build up. PBW works with my tap water and doesn't leave a scale. So I use Oxyclean free for most "quick" cleaning, and anything that requires a long soak in hot water I use PBW.

[Wutz]

The one thing you have to be concerned with when using Oxyclean is that you shouldn't use it with aluminum. It'll pull the oxidized layer (which you want) off the aluminum.

I've used it on everything else (and loved it). It doesn't seem to do as good a job as PBW but it works fairly well.

[ajdelange]

The one thing you have to be concerned with when using Oxyclean is that you shouldn't use it with aluminum. It'll pull the oxidized layer (which you want) off the aluminum.
well.

Oxyclean is simply sodium percarbonate - an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. It's the peroxide that does the work by oxidizing dirt leaving sodium carbonate which is very basic. Sodium carbonate solutions do attack aluminum metal (giving off hydrogen bubbles) so it doesn't really pull the oxidized layer off so much as it undermines the metal beneath it not that that matters much what the mechanism of removal is. It's gone and where aluminum is cleaned with alkalai it is usally repassivated. It will, of course, repassivate immediately upon exposure to air but the surface will have been eroded to some extent by the action of the hydroxyl ions. Aluminum and (OH)- are not a good mix (except in Drano).

Naturally, if there is calcium present, calcium carbonate will be formed which would be the film people report with hard water. This could be eliminated by adding a sequestrant (such as EDTA) to the Oxyclean but I'm not sure where you would get cheap EDTA ($15 for 100 grams from B&H Photo - enough to chelate 27 grams of calcium).

[Evan B]

I use the 14lb box of oxyclean from Costco. Works juuuuuuust fine

[Bugeater]

I'm a notorious cheapskate. I used to use Oxyclean until they put in those stupid scent crystals. I switched to a generic equivalent (Oxi-Magic from Clorox) that didn't have them. I stay with the stuff now because it works just as good and costs about 1/2 of what Oxyclean does.

Wayne

[gruversm]

+1 with the Oxyclean Free. Great results, especially with warm water.

I have a fellow homebrewer friend that uses TSP-phosphate free. Any thoughts about using TSP?