How to clean out new Brute trash cans from HD?

Tetra84 · 01/11/2012, 01:14 PM

What's the best way to clean out the Brute Barrels you get from lowes/home depot to use for fresh RO and salt water? I know you shouldn't use soap, but would just a simple rinse with tap water work, or do you need to wash it down with RO water? I don't want it to be contaminated water from the start for my new setup..

aleonn · 01/11/2012, 01:24 PM

I blasted the Brute containers with my garden hose, allowed to air dry, and used it the next day. If you wanted to play it safer, you can also clean it with diluted vinegar solution.

fishgate · 01/11/2012, 01:29 PM

I bent mine over the kitchen sink and rinsed it very well with a new sponge and hot water. Did this for about 10 minutes, then dried it with paper towels. It immediately went into service.

I have always wondered if I could add a 1/2 cup of pure bleach once in awhile. I think the bleach should all dissipate right? If not, perhaps some pool chlorine which also dissipates.

tebstan · 01/11/2012, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishgate

I bent mine over the kitchen sink and rinsed it very well with a new sponge and hot water. Did this for about 10 minutes, then dried it with paper towels. It immediately went into service.

I have always wondered if I could add a 1/2 cup of pure bleach once in awhile. I think the bleach should all dissipate right? If not, perhaps some pool chlorine which also dissipates.

For the initial cleaning, sure bleach can't hurt. I use bleach to clean all kinds of stuff. I rinse thoroughly, then soak for a bit with some water conditioner.

Bleach won't do much to maintain that clean plastic look over time though. Every few months I fill the can with tap and half a gallon of vinegar, let it run for a day with the mix pump, and everything comes out sparkling.

1carpenter · 01/11/2012, 02:02 PM

+1 for the dilluted vineager on a used container and a 5% bleach solution would work just fine on the initial cleaning.

jerpa · 01/11/2012, 02:11 PM

Bleach is just chlorine gas dissolved in water. When exposed to air for a length of time, or allowed to dry, the gas escapes into the air and nothing is left behind. This is why a 5% bleach solution is a great sanitizer for your entire house. No rinsing and no residues to worry about.

One note: Scented bleached may leave something behind when it evaporates.

Tetra84 · 01/11/2012, 02:29 PM

cool thanks for all the advice guys!

disc1 · 01/11/2012, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerpa

Bleach is just chlorine gas dissolved in water. When exposed to air for a length of time, or allowed to dry, the gas escapes into the air and nothing is left behind. This is why a 5% bleach solution is a great sanitizer for your entire house. No rinsing and no residues to worry about.

One note: Scented bleached may leave something behind when it evaporates.

No, bleach is sodium hypochlorite dissolved in water which disproportionates into chlorate and chlorine gas. Since the chlorine gas goes away, the equilibrium shifts all the way that direction to eventually convert everything to chlorine gas.

Still, you're right that the unscented stuff won't leave any residue after the container air dries.

scarface70706 · 01/11/2012, 03:41 PM

i used tap water and vinegar whipped it down and started to fill with rodi water. works fine and my water is clean

01/11/2012, 01:14 PM	#1
Tetra84 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 321	How to clean out new Brute trash cans from HD? What's the best way to clean out the Brute Barrels you get from lowes/home depot to use for fresh RO and salt water? I know you shouldn't use soap, but would just a simple rinse with tap water work, or do you need to wash it down with RO water? I don't want it to be contaminated water from the start for my new setup.. __________________ Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. Current Tank Info: 57 Gal Rimless Reef

01/11/2012, 01:29 PM	#3
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	I bent mine over the kitchen sink and rinsed it very well with a new sponge and hot water. Did this for about 10 minutes, then dried it with paper towels. It immediately went into service. I have always wondered if I could add a 1/2 cup of pure bleach once in awhile. I think the bleach should all dissipate right? If not, perhaps some pool chlorine which also dissipates. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

01/11/2012, 02:29 PM	#7
Tetra84 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 321	cool thanks for all the advice guys! __________________ Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. Current Tank Info: 57 Gal Rimless Reef

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01/11/2012, 01:24 PM	#2
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	I blasted the Brute containers with my garden hose, allowed to air dry, and used it the next day. If you wanted to play it safer, you can also clean it with diluted vinegar solution.

01/11/2012, 02:02 PM	#5
1carpenter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sterling Heights, MI Posts: 51	+1 for the dilluted vineager on a used container and a 5% bleach solution would work just fine on the initial cleaning.

01/11/2012, 02:11 PM	#6
jerpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,174	Bleach is just chlorine gas dissolved in water. When exposed to air for a length of time, or allowed to dry, the gas escapes into the air and nothing is left behind. This is why a 5% bleach solution is a great sanitizer for your entire house. No rinsing and no residues to worry about. One note: Scented bleached may leave something behind when it evaporates.

01/11/2012, 03:41 PM	#9
scarface70706 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,364	i used tap water and vinegar whipped it down and started to fill with rodi water. works fine and my water is clean