How to Sanitize Stainless Steel and Glassware

The two bottles of hydrosol has been seating on my book shelf for over 2 years. That is more than 48 months. Hydrosol has very good shelf life and most of them can be longer than 1 year. However, one key factor for the long shelf life is good sanitization of its container. Every time when you save your hydrosol do a good sanitization on your container.

For a small volume of hydrosol glass bottle works well, but for large volume stainless steel container is a better choice because of its robustness for transportation.

FIVE SANITIZATION METHODS

Now I will talk about the five possible ways to sanitize glassware and stainless steel.  

1, Alcohol

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source recommends an alcohol concentration of between 60 and 90 percent for disinfection purposes.

At the required concentrations, alcohol can kill a broad range of germs, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

However, alcohol isn’t effective against destroying the viruses that cause hepatitis A or polio.

2, Vinegar

Vinegar is NOT an EPA-registered disinfectant or sanitizer, which means it won’t kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses, a safe level by public health standards.

Vinegar is a cheap, effective, and non-toxic solution to breaking down grease and grime, but it’s not a disinfectant. 

3, Bleach

Chlorine compounds such as bleach are commonly used in the lab and home because of the relative ease in accessibility and low cost.

Chlorine (hypochlorite) compounds are effective in inactivating vegetative bacteria, fungi, lipid and non-lipid viruses, Coxiella burnetii and TB.

Chlorine compounds also have some effect in inactivating bacterial spores.

4, Iodophor

Diluted iodophor is often used by homebrewers and home wine makers to sanitize equipment and bottles.

Its major advantage over other sanitizers is that when used in proper proportions it sublimates directly from solution to gas, and hence leaves no residues. It is also non-toxic to humans and therefore especially suited to food processing applications.

Iodophor is cheap and effective, but it can leave unattractive orange-brown stains on plastic parts and equipment that it is left in contact with.

5, Boiling

Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing germs, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

When material can stand the boiling temperature, this is the most effective way for disinfection,

MYTHS

When we are doing disinfection, there is a myth. Many believes that disinfection can be done instantly. Truth is the process takes time. Different sanitization agents have its different sanitizing abilities. Besides the treatment time, the concentration is the other factor determines its outcome.

This table summarizes the five methods sanitization and its recommended concentration and reaction time.