Cleaning used 55 gal drums for potable water
Posted by My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 46 comments
Hi all. I was given three, 55 gallon, blue plastic food grade drums. I want to use then to store potable water. The problem is that capsaican was shipped in them. What would be some good ways to clean the inside of these, or would it not really feasable. Some sort of liner, maybe?
Novel-Turnip9965@reddit
I have 2 that had jalapeño past I power washed them then filled them with water and pool shock let set 2 weeks shocked again then let set for 2 weeks power washed them again let air dry filled with water and tried it mine was fine but a buddy had to do this proses with his 4 or 5 times
My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit (OP)
I'll probably toss them out. The tops don't come off. Washing them would be a PITA.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
Capsaicin is just the hot stuff in chili powder, totally cleanable. What kind of lid does it have? I cleaned 55 gallon drums by taking off the top, rinsing, filling with hot soapy water and scrubbing out. Then disinfecting with a some water with bleach.
They are a lot harder to clean when the top doesn't come off and they only have the small holes. In that case I'd probably just keep rinsing them out, but it would be really hard to get them throughly clean.
I would be cautious when first cleaning containers that held capsaicin - that stuff will really burn like hell if it gets in your eyes/nose. If there was residue left (which likely there is), I'd literally use gloves, goggles and a mask until they were well rinsed out, and keep pets away too.
Consistent-Slice-893@reddit
I clean drums with a cup of Dawn dish detergent and 2 cups of baking soda. In drums with just a bung, I drop in a small water pump with a short piece of pipe on it and let it run for a week. Keeps the water circulating. Then unscented bleach and some more pump time with a rinse between. I had some barrels that had some sort of South Asian sauce in them and it could not be detected by my wife's sensitive nose after the treatment.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
The circulating water is a great idea. I love the ingenuity.
Consistent-Slice-893@reddit
I do aquaponics and this has worked great with IBC totes and drums. It's good for cleaning non food grade stuff to make it fish safe too, although I wouldn't store drinking water in it.
My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately, the tops do not come off. Only two, 2" caps that thread in.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
That would be a pain... but I'm stubborn... I'd probably try to get a flexible brush in there or something, although it may not be worth the time and water. They also make good containers for rain water collection, or cut in half (and with a few holes drilled in the bottom) for container gardening. Good luck!
Cornflake294@reddit
Bleach is key. It neutralizes the capsaicin by turning it into a salt which is more easily washed away by soap and water. Therefore, bleach first.
My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit (OP)
That is awesome knowledge. Thank you. How much bleach per....let's say, per gallon.
Cornflake294@reddit
I’d just spray the inside with undiluted bleach, give it a scrub and let sit for an hour, rinse, scrub with soap and warm water.
Greywolfuu@reddit
Up!
roberttheiii@reddit
Hot soapy water for sure but also consider using some ethanol to give them all a rinse. Capsaicin binds to ethanol. Might help pull out any residual.
IlliniWarrior6@reddit
seriously doubt you get that kind of taint out of a poly container - it would be worse than pickle brine >>> your drinking water would be compromised - perhaps if you were desperate you'd be able to use it .....
OnTheEdgeOfFreedom@reddit
Well, capsaican won't kill you. Trace amounts are actually healthy. Leave them in the sun for a week, bleach them (bleach or hydrogen peroxide) if the smell bothers you, rinse well and go.
If and only if you are completely certain it was only food grade capsaican in there. Capsaican in that quantity... I'd wonder if it was being used for manufacturing pepper spray or something, and then maybe it wasn't food grade.
My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit (OP)
It was being used at a composting facility. I do not know in what capacity, but I know the people. I will ask and I will let you know, if you're curious.
OnTheEdgeOfFreedom@reddit
Yeah, I dunno. I don't know what goes on at composting facilities. And note I edited my response to remove the reference to hydrogen peroxide, which apparently isn't very effective here. Even bleach needs to stay in contact for an hour or so.
I would only post back if you get the container, try to clean it, use it, and it goes wrong. Recording cautionary tales for other people to learn from is an important art of prepping (and too few people post their educational failures.)
My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit (OP)
The composting facility gets them used from McCormicks, the spice making people. Why are they getting used barrels from someone and selling them, giving them away, I do not know. I stopped asking questions.
My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit (OP)
Fair enough. I will report back.
Mechbear2000@reddit
Lol, no, stats from national institute of health. I know you hate government but they do go work.
Mechbear2000@reddit
Lol, is this a bad comedy routine?
Eredani@reddit
I don't understand the many posts regarding used containers for drinking water. I seriously don't get it. Frosting, pickles, now peppers?
For something as critical as drinking water please get new containers. Used containers are fine for grey water purposes, but that's all.
middleagerioter@reddit
People acquire used food grade containers for free or cheap, so that's why.
Mechbear2000@reddit
You can get a new 55 gal drum for $95 from u line. Dont risk it. Is your life worth $100?
vash469@reddit
shit that's mort then double what I paid for 2 barrels($41)
Mechbear2000@reddit
I guess your saying you life's only worth $41?
SteebGee@reddit
Dude i love spicy stuff. Some capsaicin in my water isn't going to kill me. Put a few extra hairs on my chest maybe. Stop shilling for big barrel and get outta here
Mechbear2000@reddit
Roflmao, now there's a "big barrel" conspiracy? Go ahead a take your ivermectin and shit yourself, just like when you get botulism from your unsanitary behaviors. Shigella results in about 165 million cases of diarrhea and 1.1 million deaths a year with nearly all cases in the developing world.[6]
SteebGee@reddit
Statistics direct from the ULine website no doubt! How much do they pay you for this account?!?
middleagerioter@reddit
I don't use them, but other people do. I was simply offering an explanation as to why some people use them since not everyone is able to afford buying new.
Eredani@reddit
I don't care how cheap your second hand containers are... what is you/your family's health worth?
Eredani@reddit
Love the downvotes for posting a common sense food safety perspective. I'm advocating for the health of you and your family. But, whatever.
Fit_Acanthisitta_475@reddit
When you last time drinking from those barrel? Food grade with food content is fine to reuse, as long as clean and bleach right.
Eredani@reddit
If the container is second hand, you don't know what it was actually used for.
I have some used food grade buckets from Firehouse Subs. I use one for birdseed... and it smells like pickles three years later. The birdseed smells like pickles. Even if the container has been disinfected and sanitized does not mean it's appropriate for some uses.
Just buy new containers... or use the water for cleaning, flushing, bathing, watering plants or whatever. This is not a contentious or divisive take on food/water safety.
SteebGee@reddit
I can guarantee none of those birds have filed a complaint in that entire 3 year span. Or do you not have a suggestion box?
Both-University3955@reddit
You can neutralize capsicin with bleach if you're worried about spicy water
My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit (OP)
That is perfect. I would add bleach anyway for the final fill and store.
nerdstim@reddit
In cleaning plastics, never clean a fluid container except for water ND even then...?
Dry goods, foods, clean with 1/4 ratio (bleach/water. Use wRm water ( do you can clean it easier with warm water on you honds) rinse, DRY in open air, even outside in the sun. Repeat 3x's
This what we did to save water at a hospital shutdown drill.
infinitum3d@reddit
Clorox
Sodium hypochlorite is Clorox bleach.
https://www.clorox.com/learn/water-purification-how-much-bleach-purify-water-for-drinking/
The thing to be aware of is concentration.
Normal, regular, unscented Clorox is about 6%
Splashless is only 1.5%
Pool Shock is about 12%
Clorox says one drop per cup. That’s 16 drops per gallon.
There are roughly 100 drops per teaspoon.
A five gallon container needs about a teaspoon. To drink it, just leave it open and the chlorine evaporates off.
A 55 gallon drum needs 880 drops, or roughly 9 teaspoons of normal, unscented, not splashless Clorox bleach.
Good luck!
MrHmuriy@reddit
Perhaps better to use them for gray water? After such content?
My_Brain_Hates_Me@reddit (OP)
It may have to be that way.
EverVigilant1@reddit
soap and water, fill up, rinse well, do that a couple times.
They're fine for water.
keithww@reddit
Use 55 Gallon barrel food grade bags.
lomlslomls@reddit
I got two 55gal drums that were previously used to ship pepperocini peppers, there were actually a few left in one of them. Strong smell for sure. I left them uncovered in the sun for a few weeks then washed them out with hot soapy water and a stiff brush on a pole. Disinfected and further deodorized them with some bleach water, rinsed again thoroughly. After filling with potable water, I treated with bleach to the CDC guidelines and bob's your uncle.
https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/index.html
Devoile_@reddit
If only capsaican soap and water and sanitize with bleach water
LowBarometer@reddit
capsaican - Google Search