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Sanitizing Bottles--is it necessary?
Yes sanitize. As was mentioned, that alcohol level isn't high enough to kill the nasties. Also, depending on what cleaner you are using, some require a sanitizer. Even straight A says it is just a cleaner. Boiling bottles is risky. Since the water is at least 212F, unless the glass is tempered, it can shatter.
As for alcohol killing germs, that depends on the level. A typical beer might have 5% alcohol, whereas listerine has roughly 26%. So clearly there isn't enough alcohol in beer to kill much.
I use to just fill a bucket with 1 oz (or less) of star san, fill it with water, and once the bottles were cleaned, dunk a dozen (or so) in the bucket and leave them for about one minute.
Works just fine.
the heated drying cycle on the dishwasher has always worked for me with. doesn't take too much effort, just some planning.
ALWAYS satitize those bottles!
Whether it be the dishwasher method (I used this for a while), or a bucket filled with iodiphor, perecetic acid or Star San, you need to sanitize the bottles before filling. Period.
Just chiming in with the chorus : sanitize every time.
Regardless of which method you use, it is an absolutely necessary step!
Hi,
I'm interested in knowing more about the one that mentions the chlorine sanitizing. What is your process?
Also, could we sanitize with a fully delveloped alcohol like whiskey or vodka? And could you use listerine?
okay I think this bottle routine is going to drive me crazy.
I boiled bottles back in the early 80's for babies milk! Now if I could figure out how to seal those I'd be in business! Dange beer bottle holes are so small for trying to clean 
I just make sure my bottles are cleaned after use, whether it be a commercial bottle or a homebrew bottle. Then when it is time to bottle I just run some water through them to clear any dust. Then I fill up my bottling bucket with Star San, I fill up the bottle with star san and let them soak a bit. Then I just empty the sanitizer into another bucket. THis way I clean my bottling bucket and bottles in one step. Also, the star san doesn't not need to be rinsed and leaves a sanitized film so it helps to prevent contamination between sanitizing and bottling. I haven't had any problems so far.
star san and dishwasher.
Give them a good rinse and run them threw the dishwasher. I
would think that would do the trick.
Marv.
You leave a film of cleanser on your bottles before you put the beer into them? Doesnt that mess with the taste? Just the thought of it makes me not want to drink the brew.
Star San won't affect a thing. That's the beauty of it!
Yeah, I foam up some Star San in my fermenter right before I put the wort in, pour off the liquid and go right on top of the foam.