cleaning out plastic barrels

[lyvewire]

I picked up a few 30 gal barrels for RO water storage, which previously held soda syrup in them. What can or cant be used to clean the residual out of the containers?

 

[rjdudek]

I actually had very good luck with the following:
fresh water rinse with a few gallons of water
a gallon of vinegar with about 3 gallons hot water (roll it around to get it coated) I let mine sit afor a few days tipping it over morning and evening.
drain & rinse with freshwater and let air dry.

I used bleach on another and it worked well but I had to rinse it about 10 times to get every bit of the bleach rinsed out. You can put the bleach rinsed drum in the sun after the first rinse and the bleach will break down in a few days.

H. Peroxide would be fine also, but a bit more expensive, breakdown is almost instant during a rinse.

 

[Leroy]

Little bit of bleach and water could work well. Rinse real good till you no longer smell the bleach. I've found vinegar and water also works great too, again rinse real good.

 

[ReeferMedic]

If you have access to a pressure washer, it will make short work of what ever is in there.

 

[deuceb]

scolding hot water worked great hooked up hose out of my utility sink in garage

 

[lyvewire]

thanks guys. sounds like i have the after work work ready for the next few nights !

 

[JayM]

The 'dry in the sun' part was what worked best for me after the bleach/water/pressure washer cleaning. 2 years later I can still smell the mustard in one barrel, and the apple juice in the other. doesn't make the TDS go up though, and my fish have been fine

 

[lyvewire]

a couple of these had ginger ale and the other was cranberry juice . i figure a little grey goose and we'll have a party!

 

[Behrmon]

B-Brite, any brewers supply house.