What liquid do people use for their airlocks?

I have been using water for a while but have recently seen people who think this isn’t best practice and is likely to get infected.

I have also found out that the sanitizer I use breaks down over time so likely wouldn’t be suitable. I have taken to using dish soap for now but don’t know if there is a problem with this practice.

I am currently avoiding vodka because of the alcohol duty in my country.

  • dcat@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    10 months ago

    the chances of it getting infected with plain water are very low. depends on what sanitizer you use, but basically none of them will break down in the time it takes for your wort to ferment and for you to refill it.

    i’ve been brewing for a long time, never had anything get infected, and i always use diluted phosphoric acid (starsan).

    think about it this way; would you rather have sanitizer (safe, food grade), or soap (possibly both emetic, and laxative) in your wort?

    • areyouevenreal@lemmy.antemeridiem.xyzOPEnglish
      2·
      10 months ago

      Thanks for the input. I don’t use starsan but something called chemipro oxy which contains sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate. I think this stuff breaks down faster than starsan but I am not sure.

        • areyouevenreal@lemmy.antemeridiem.xyzOPEnglish
          2·
          10 months ago

          Honestly lots of people are saying this and I am glad. I was told on the r/mead subreddit by a certain person that using water could lead to mold in the airlock. It’s reassuring to me that not everyone thinks this as I have personally never seen it so I think it’s quite rare.

          • dcat@lemmy.worldEnglish
            4·
            10 months ago

            everyone who brews anything at home starts out being very worried about infection, meticulously cleaning every surface, and thinking that you’ve fucked the whole batch cause of minor shit.

            as you go through this process a few times, you gain the experience of knowing what is a minor, or major screwup.

            chances are you just ran into someone who has seen a bunch of youtube videos, or at most have brewed once or twice, and is still in the “oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck”-mentality, projecting their stress on to you.

            brewing is supposed to be fun, i hope you have a good time brewing.

            • areyouevenreal@lemmy.antemeridiem.xyzOPEnglish
              2·
              10 months ago

              They had the advanced flair so I think they had been brewing for a while. Lots of people on that subreddit seem to be a bit obsessive or perfectionist.

          • neptune@dmv.socialEnglish
            2·
            10 months ago

            If this is going to be a long term airlock situation Def check for mold or evap

            Beer is usually a quick ferment.