Folks around here use oak barrels or half barrels for planters.
Cleaning wine barrels for furniture.
Shucks i was going to volunteer to babysit for ya.
Types of barrel spoilage problems.
Direct ground contact will shorten their life but they will last many years outside with nothing on them.
If the barrel has been stored with a holding solution drain the barrel and rinse it thoroughly with clean water before transferring wine into it.
Be sure to get all of the alkaline residue out of the barrel.
The rule of thumb i go by is when water stops beading up on the woods surface the wood starts to gray or when it feels dry to the touch then it is time for a fresh coat.
How do i clean my oak barrel.
A good barrel care kit will include.
Fill the barrel with a solution of cleaning tablets and warm water.
While it is not toxic at these low levels it will adversely affect the flavor of any wine that gets put into the barrel.
Like any storage material these barrels get dirty over time and should be cleaned between each batch of wine that the barrel holds.
Empty the barrel and rinse through 3 times.
Storing wine produces the buildup of tartrate coatings and yeast molecules which can ruin the wine s aging process and destroy the taste that wooden barrels are meant to maintain.
Used barrels require no special preparation beyond a simple water rinse if desired when transferring wine out and in immediately.
Let the barrel dry completely then fill it with wine or burn some sulfur in it if it is being put up for storage.
A favorite is to lay them down and have colorful flowers growing as if they were spilled from the barrel.
Fill the barrel with a solution of neutralising acid and warm water.
Drain the barrel and clean it out completely.
Just be sure to wipe away the extra build up.
You can apply oils with a brush rag or sprayer.
To clean your oak barrel follow these simple steps.