I've heard a lot of people use cheesecloth when they rack to help reduce the amount of sediment that is siphoned out. I was wondering what the best way to do that is? I have an auto siphon and was thinking of just cutting a small piece of the cloth and using an elastic band to hold it on...is that way too crude? Obviously I would sanitize both the best I could, but I wasn't sure if there was a better way.
Racking and Sanitizing advice?
- Thread starter BlueBomber
- Start date
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I have used just the auto siphon every time I've racked (except once) with good success. The one other time I was racking JOAM off the fruit and yeast cake and did just as you suggested, covered the end of the siphon with some cheese cloth held in place by a rubber band, this worked out well for me.
I've done this a couple of times. I just boiled a square of cheesecloth and a rubber band for about 20 minutes, wrapped it around the end of the siphon, and racked. I boiled it because I didn't want the cheesecloth to absorb a ton of extra sanitizer that could get into my mead. I'm not really sure if it would make a difference, though.
Boiling is a bit of a pain, so I usually sterilize everything I can with vodka, it is flammable as Medsen has pointed out, but has the advantage of being neutral, while killing on contact any nasties. 20% alcohol will do the job so 40% alcohol vodka will definitely do it. IME YMMV
150 proof is the equivalent of hand sanitizer. 
If you just rack above the sediment, you usually don't need cheesecloth or anything else.
Sent from my THINGAMAJIG with WHATCHAMACALLIT
If you just rack above the sediment, you usually don't need cheesecloth or anything else.
Sent from my THINGAMAJIG with WHATCHAMACALLIT
Oh yeah, THAT kind of vodka, like Everclear. That'll fire up quick alrighty! And erode your liver in one fell gulp too!!!
