How do you clean 55g food grade containers?

[IsaaX]

So I acquired two 55g open lid food grade blue containers for water storage. The seller told me they were from a candy company. One of the containers cleaned out fine, but the other one has this dinner mint smell to it. So far I've filled both containers with a water/vinegar solution and let sit over night. Rinsed them out then air dried all day but that one bin still has the minty smell to it. Will this bin be safe to use for water storage or would I have to get rid of the minty smell before I use it? If so, what other methods of cleaning would you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[jdieck]

Most flavors extracts are sually diluted with some oil which might be difficutl to to remove as you can not use solvents or soaps but why don't you try ethanhol, (no methanhol nor Isopropylic) if you can't find it try using the cheapest Vodka you can find.

 

[IsaaX]

I was actualy thinking about vodka too but was unsure if it would be safe. I guess it is! But before I go that route, would a stronger water/vinegar solution be worth a shot? I only put in a quarter of a gallon of vinegar in each bin and filled it with water. Maybe try a gallon of vinegar or more?

 

[Charles99]

I have 2 from Coke. I used a bleach and water solution. Mine are closed top w/ 2 small openings (and caps) on top.

Filled mine with about a 1/2 gal of bleach then filled w/ water to about 1/3 the total volume. I just swished it around and rolled it across the yard for a while. I actually left it over night and repeated on the second day.

No coke smell what-so-ever.

Good Luck!

 

[jdieck]

Vinager is good to remove alkaline or basic substances qhich I doubt the flavoring is.
Vodka is safe, thry using it with no dilution on a rag and sweep the inside.
Bleach is also good to use as described above, once you are dne cleaning with the bleach, fill it with water and use a dechlorinator in it and let it sit for 24 hours, then rinse well.

 

[simon.007]

1 Gallon Vinegar with h2o to the brim for 24 hours then mix baking soda and let sit for another 24 hours. After 24 hours dump h2o clean thoroughly and then fill with normal h2o and sit for 24 hours at at of this dump all h2o clean with cloth and you should have clean 55G bin.

Simon

PS bleach and acids may do the trick faster but if not 100% cleaned it will have effect on your tank.


Simon

 

[july865]

as Charles99 stated. bleach is VERY good. junkies use it to clean there syringes. it can also be used in a pinch to detoxify water for drinking during emergancy situations. pure chlorinated bleach rinces clean with NO residue at all.

 

[SteveOhh]

Ditto Simons response..................I used that method & my tds on my ro/di that is stored in the barrell is 0...............


Steve

 

[IsaaX]

THanks guys, went to Smart and Final and bought a couple gallons of vinegar and 4 pounds of baking soda. I'll try this before I start getting into the bleach/vodka thing.