Some of the Things to Consider Before Beginning Beer Line Cleaning

Beer line cleaning is one of those tasks that everyone who is serving draught beer has to undertake, and in most cases beer line cleaning procedures should be carried out on a weekly basis. It is probably the most hated part of being a pub landlord because it takes up time, and most of us don't have enough of that.

You should probably set aside at least two and a half to three hours a week to undertake your beer line cleaning procedures, and while there is nothing terribly technical about it, nonetheless it may be a bit confusing to someone who has never done it before. If you haven't got that much time to do it or you just don't want to, there are companies who will come in on a regular basis and undertake all the beer line cleaning procedures for you. However, it is vitally important that it is done regularly and done properly, because if not, your beers will not taste as good as they should: your customers probably won't say anything, but just move on to the next pub. 


Before you begin any beer line cleaning you should make certain that you have read the line cleaner manufacturer's instructions regarding the dilution of the cleaner and the amount of time it should be left for. It needs to be left to do its work for the appropriate amount of time, but not longer. You should also wear rubber gloves, a rubberised or PVC apron, and goggles, because you most certainly don't want to get line cleaner in your eye.

There are lots of different types of cleaning fluid on the market, but it is best to go for one that is recommended by one of the big brewers because then you will know that it has been tested. There may be cheaper types of fluid, but you could finish up using more of them, so buying cheap may be a false economy.

It is also a good idea to remove the sparklers and diffusers before cleaning, as the line cleaner doesn't dissolve yeasts as many people think, but merely loosens it from the walls of the pipe, so the sparklers and diffusers could become blocked.

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