55 gallon drum / cleaning advise needed

[basscyn]

I picked up a blue plastic 55 gallon drum this weekend for storing RO water. I may go back for another to mix salt water up in. These drums originally stored <u>denatured alcohol.</u> So I figure they would clean up pretty well for my purpose. I just ran the hose though it for a few hours and it seems really clean. No smell at all...and it tastes clean too.

Anyone have any tips/suggesions for making sure this baby is good to go?
Bleach? Vinager?

Thanks!

 

[lilrobb]

Denatured alcohol is usually alcohol with an artifical bitterant (sp?) in there - just a rinse with bleach will take care of that.
Probably one of the best cleaning things on earth - denatured alcohol!

 

[jeffh]

I'm with lilrobb...probably the cleanest used 55 gallon drum anyone has ever gotten. If you're worried, just a little bleach to kill anything living and then let it fully dry.

 

[ricksconnected]

remember, plastic is porous. you will need to fill the drum after the cleaning and use a big bottle of prime to make the bleach neutral.
use vinager, its easier.

 

[jbadd99]

BASSCYN;492134 wrote: I picked up a blue plastic 55 gallon drum this weekend for storing RO water. I may go back for another to mix salt water up in. These drums originally stored <u>denatured alcohol.</u> So I figure they would clean up pretty well for my purpose. I just ran the hose though it for a few hours and it seems really clean. No smell at all...and it tastes clean too.

Anyone have any tips/suggesions for making sure this baby is good to go?
Bleach? Vinager?

Thanks!

Three questions:
1. Where did you get it?
2. How much was it?
3. Do they have more?

 

[jeffh]

If you only used a small amount of bleach, and made sure to let it air dry completely, I doubt you would have any need for prime. Bleach is pretty unstable stuff.

ricksconnected;492157 wrote: remember, plastic is porous. you will need to fill the drum after the cleaning and use a big bottle of prime to make the bleach neutral.
use vinager, its easier.

 

[dakota9]

Bleach, let dry, reuse........

You're good.

 

[ricksconnected]

JeffH;492167 wrote: If you only used a small amount of bleach, and made sure to let it air dry completely, I doubt you would have any need for prime. Bleach is pretty unstable stuff.

i wouldnt make that gamble, but thats just me.
to much at risk if im wrong.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

as for the bleach....I think no more than 1/4 cup per gallon. Rinse with RO water and you should be good to go!

 

[basscyn]

Thanks guys!
I too thought that a drum filled with denatured alcohol was about as good as it gets!

I got the drum from a guy on Craigslist. I really went to get an "open top" drum. They had soap in them...and he only had one left ($30.00). Then he showed me the closed top ones which he has probably 10 or 12 of for 20 bucks each. The denatured alcohol sold me. Heck...I can cut the top.

His name is Lee.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/grd/1672822846.html">http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/grd/1672822846.html</a>


The only question I still have is I am not sure it is a "food grade" drum and I dont know how to tell...or if it really makes a difference. I have read that a food grade drum is made of a plastic that will not leach.

Any thoughts?

 

[lilrobb]

If it contained alcohol before it must be food grade or the alcohol would have washed out all the thinners etc...

 

[basscyn]

LilRobb;492217 wrote: If it contained alcohol before it must be food grade or the alcohol would have washed out all the thinners etc...

Cool. I have it soaking in a vinager solution now. I will give it a good rinse...let it dry out and give it a go.