About
Clean and sanitized equipment is the foundation of successful winemaking and brewing. Our collection of winemaking and brewing cleaning supplies includes cleaners, sanitizers, bottle rinsers, brushes, drying racks, spray bottles, and maintenance tools for preparing bottles, carboys, fermenters, tubing, barrels, and other equipment before use.
Shop no-rinse sanitizer, brewery cleaner, oxygen cleaner, PBW cleaner, sodium metabisulphite, potassium metabisulphite, bottle washers, carboy brushes, bottle drying trees, bottle rinsers, spray wands, drying racks, barrel cleaners, sulphur strips, and cleaning accessories for home wineries, breweries, cider makers, and other fermentation projects.
Cleaning and Sanitizing Supplies for Winemaking & Brewing
Equipment Cleaners
Remove residue, buildup, stains, and organic material from fermenters, bottles, carboys, kettles, tubing, and tools using brewery cleaners, oxygen cleaners, PBW, and specialized washing products.
No-Rinse Sanitizers
Prepare clean equipment immediately before use with high-foaming or low-foaming sanitizers designed for winemaking and brewing applications.
Bottle Washing & Rinsing
Clean bottles efficiently with faucet-mounted bottle washers, pressure rinsers, vinators, spray wands, bottle brushes, and other rinsing equipment.
Carboy & Fermenter Cleaning
Reach the inside of glass and PET carboys, demijohns, buckets, and large vessels using long brushes, drill-powered cleaners, spray rinsers, and soaking solutions.
Drying & Storage
Drain washed bottles and carboys upside down using bottle drying trees, rotating bottle racks, drip trays, carboy dryers, and stackable storage supports.
Barrel Maintenance
Prepare and maintain barrels using barrel cleaners, sulphur strips, metabisulphite products, citric acid, and other supplies used in barrel cleaning and storage routines.
Cleaning vs Sanitizing: What Is the Difference?
Cleaning removes visible residue, dried wine, yeast deposits, fruit solids, beer stone, and other material from equipment surfaces. Sanitizing is performed after cleaning to reduce unwanted microorganisms before the equipment contacts your wine, beer, cider, or must.
A sanitizer cannot work properly through heavy dirt or buildup, so equipment should always be thoroughly cleaned first. The usual order is:
- Rinse equipment soon after use.
- Wash or soak it with a suitable equipment cleaner.
- Scrub difficult areas when necessary.
- Rinse according to the product directions.
- Apply sanitizer immediately before use.
Choose the Right Cleaning Product
PBW and Brewery Cleaners
Powdered brewery cleaners are useful for soaking fermenters, bottles, carboys, kettles, fittings, and other washable equipment. They help loosen stubborn residue that may be difficult to remove with water alone.
Oxygen Cleaners
Oxygen-based cleaners are popular for routine cleaning because they dissolve easily and can be used to soak bottles, tubing, fermenters, and brewing accessories. Follow the product label regarding concentration, contact time, and whether rinsing is required.
High-Foam Sanitizers
High-foaming sanitizers spread across equipment surfaces and are commonly used for bottles, fermenters, siphons, hoses, and small accessories. Foam is expected and should be handled according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Low-Foam Sanitizers
Low-foaming products are useful for pumps, filtration equipment, bottle fillers, and systems where excessive foam could interfere with operation.
Metabisulphite Solutions
Sodium and potassium metabisulphite are widely used in winemaking. Depending on concentration and application, they may be used as part of equipment preparation, wine protection, and barrel storage procedures. Always measure carefully and follow the product directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to clean equipment before sanitizing it?
Yes. Sanitizing does not replace cleaning. Dirt, residue, dried yeast, and organic buildup can prevent sanitizer from reaching the equipment surface, so visibly dirty equipment should be washed first.
What equipment should be sanitized?
Any clean surface that will contact your wine, beer, cider, must, wort, or finished beverage should be sanitized. This includes fermenters, carboys, lids, airlocks, bungs, siphons, tubing, spoons, hydrometers, bottle fillers, corkers, caps, and bottles.
Do brand-new bottles need to be cleaned and sanitized?
New bottles may contain dust, packaging debris, or residue from manufacturing and storage. Inspect and rinse them as needed, then sanitize them before filling.
What is the best way to wash wine bottles?
Rinse bottles promptly after use before residue dries. For heavier deposits, soak them in a suitable bottle or brewery cleaner, scrub with a bottle brush if necessary, rinse according to the cleaner instructions, and sanitize before refilling.
How do I dry sanitized bottles?
Bottles can be placed upside down on a clean bottle drying tree or drainer. This allows excess liquid to drain without placing the bottle opening directly on a countertop or towel.
How do I clean a carboy?
Rinse the carboy immediately after emptying it, then soak it with an appropriate cleaner. Use a carboy brush, spray wand, or drill-powered cleaning brush for stubborn deposits while taking care not to scratch plastic fermenters.
Can I use regular dish soap on brewing equipment?
Unscented dish soap may clean some items, but it can leave fragrance, residue, or persistent foam if not rinsed thoroughly. Products formulated for wineries and breweries are generally easier to rinse and better suited to fermentation equipment.
Related Cleaning & Fermentation Guides
Learn how proper equipment preparation protects your batch and supports clean, reliable fermentation from start to finish.
Why Shop at V&A Craft?
- Wide selection of winery and brewery cleaning products
- No-rinse, high-foam, and low-foam sanitizing options
- Bottle washers, brushes, rinsers, and drying trees
- Carboy, fermenter, bottle, barrel, and equipment cleaning supplies
- Products for winemaking, brewing, cider, mead, and fruit wine
- Fast shipping across Canada
- Free delivery on qualifying orders over $30
- Local pickup available in the Greater Toronto Area
Whether you're washing a single one-gallon jug, sanitizing bottles before bottling day, cleaning a heavily used fermenter, or maintaining a complete home winery or brewery, V&A Craft has dependable winemaking and brewing sanitization supplies in Canada for every stage of the process.
