You’ve done it, boiled it, and transferred it.
You’ve made your first batch, tossed it in the fermenter… and now we wait.
NO!
After all that hard work—the labor, the grind, the craft—it’s time for the part nobody looks forward to: cleaning up everything you just dirtied.
Homebrewing is a messy hobby, and cleanup is the other side of the coin. After brewing dozens of batches, I can tell you this one universal truth:
Clean it before it turns to concrete.
Why Cleaning Matters (Immediately)
Wort is kind of like eggs—if you leave it sitting around for hours, it hardens and sticks like glue. Let that stuff dry on your equipment and you’re in for a long night of soaking, scrubbing, and maybe even regretting your life choices.
Here are my go-to tips for making cleanup way less miserable. Some of these I’ve shared before, but they’re worth repeating because they work.
My No-Nonsense Cleaning Tips
1. Empty Your Dishwasher & Fill As You Go
Before you start brewing, empty your dishwasher completely.
From that moment on, everything homebrew-related goes in there—no outside dishes, no distractions. Once you’re done brewing, hit “start” and forget it.
2. Hot Water + Oxyclean = Magic
A teaspoon of Oxyclean in 5 gallons of hot water works wonders—especially on stainless steel.
No PBW? No problem.
And if you need extra scrubbing power, good ol’ Dawn dish soap plus elbow grease gets the job done.
3. Disassemble Your Gear
Got a kettle with a ball valve or built-in thermometer?
Take it apart.
Stuff gets trapped in those little crevices and can mess with your next batch. Disassemble it now and thank yourself later when your beer actually tastes like beer.
4. When in Doubt, Wash It Again
If you find yourself asking: “Is this clean enough?” — just wash it again.
Some of the world’s top kitchens scrub their tools with toothbrushes and toothpicks after every shift. You don’t need to go that far, but the principle stands: clean gear makes better beer.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning isn’t the fun part—but it’s part of the process. And doing it right means fewer off-flavors, fewer headaches, and a smoother brew day next time.
Put in the effort now, and your future self (and your next pint) will thank you.
If you have any more tips and tricks to making cleaning up easier drop me a line!
Cheers!