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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => EQUIPMENT - Making Cheese => Topic started by: martinstillwell on December 22, 2010, 06:00:14 PM

Title: Cleaning - Milk Stone Removal
Post by: martinstillwell on December 22, 2010, 06:00:14 PM
Hi
I'm just setting out on my cheese making journey and have bought some equipment to get started.
Amongst an Ebay purchase I have a large, old, stainless steel milk churn.
Lovely and clean on the outside, some 'deposits' on the inside - like you'd find in a kettle.
Any ideas how these may be safely removed?
I'd appreciate your help, and maybe views on making a triple cream cheese down here in Cornwall.
Many thanks.
Martin
Title: Re: Cleaning - Milk Stone Removal
Post by: linuxboy on December 22, 2010, 06:11:31 PM
Those are either mineral deposits or oxidized metal. Acid detergent wash should take care of both. And if not, buy a bag of citric acid or a gallon bottle of hydrochloric (aka muriatic), dilute with water, and give it a good soak and scrub.

it is:

- enzymes for fat and protein
- acid for mineral deposits like milkstone
- alkaline for general cleaning
Title: Re: Cleaning - Milk Stone Removal
Post by: martinstillwell on December 22, 2010, 06:19:00 PM
Fab.
Thanks for super quick reply  8)
Martin
Title: Re: Cleaning - Milk Stone Removal
Post by: steampwr8 on December 23, 2010, 01:44:45 AM
In the industry this is called MILK STONE. It is exactly that, calcium deposits from years of milk in the churn.

A real no no if you are inspected regularly by ZA AWTHORITEEZ. Could get you shut down if it was on the milk house floor.

Check a dairy supply house for...wait for it...milk stone remover. I wouldn't use acid as that is too harsh and could ruin a fine antique.