DIY CIP - cheap and easy

One of the other things I spend my time and money on is homebrewing beer. You may have guessed this by the hops I grow. After my last brew day I had a bunch of stuff to clean, as always, and I wanted to just wait and do it later. I had seen pictures of Clean In Place devices and thought that would be pretty neat to have, but with budgets being tight, I figured that would be something I can do without. After cleaning a keg the other day I realized I had nearly everything I needed to cobble together a cheap and easy CIP. The only thing I purchased was a riser for a sprinkler - for $1.50 on a clearance rack.

Here are the basic parts: Pond Pump with riser attached, large tub, milk crate. I use the pond pump for a recirculating chiller. I had the large tub that I used for soaking bottles and general cleaning or storage. The milk crate? Who doesn't have a few of these around the house.

Here's how I use it: I fill the tub with 5-6 gallons of hot water and my favorite cleaner (Oxyclean, PBW, One Step or whatever I have on hand). I place the pond pump in the middle of the of the tub. I place the crate over the pump, sliding the riser through the bottom. I then place the item being cleaned - be it a bucket, carboy, or keg - over the riser. Plug in the pump and let it go for 10-20 minutes. It's clean as a whistle.