Restoring blue barrels?

**tanvil** · 02-11-2010, 10:32 AM

I'm seeing alot of yuppies in Annapolis with rain water barrels connected to their downspouts these days. I figured this would be a good platform for a garden irrigation system. In asking around and talking to folks about where they've gotten these barrels, I learned that there is an (eco-nazi) 'foundation' selling them and getting involved with the customer to help set the rainwater collection system up. They want $80 per barrel and then they want to be in your business. Selling you a bunch of stuff and registering you in their nice little database. Of course it's all to save the bay (bull shit). I called the head guy and it only took about 3 minutes to learn what he is all about. He's one of the ''the great 3 eyed lizard has more rights than you do'' types.
ANYWAY, he tells me that the barrels are commercially restored.
My question is what would be the best/fastest way to clean a barrel that had a methol alcohol based cleanser in it?

White Devil · 02-11-2010, 10:49 AM

Here is a good place to get 55 gallon water barrels. You can jerry rig a spout to collect rain water. thats what I did.
Their prices seem to be the best I've found for a online retailer.
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**tanvil** · 02-11-2010, 11:19 AM

They are good prices but I have that part covered. I just need to clean them properly. I've used soap and water but when it's in the teens outside, soap and water become the enemy.

railbuggy · 02-11-2010, 12:39 PM

I use to work for a container recycler in Cincinnati(Queen City Barrel)until the day someone picked up my jacket and that pistol fell out.Anyway,They would sell 55gal plastic used drums for far less than $80.And the guy was Jewish.They diden't do any special cleaning.They used soapNwater to scrub them,and had Negros and Mexicans to pressure wash them.

Frogman · 02-11-2010, 12:53 PM

I may be wrong ( BUT ) just take it to the car wash and pressure wash it. It could not be any worse than the road crud thats out there.

**tanvil** · 02-11-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by railbuggy

I use to work for a container recycler in Cincinnati(Queen City Barrel)until the day someone picked up my jacket and that pistol fell out.Anyway,They would sell 55gal plastic used drums for far less than $80.And the guy was Jewish.They diden't do any special cleaning.They used soapNwater to scrub them,and had Negros and Mexicans to pressure wash them.

RB, your first sentence made me laugh. Ooops!
I've been using my pressure washer but the cold put that to a screeching halt.
Carwashes are a good free source for them.

Sid_Vicious · 02-12-2010, 12:46 PM

Take a look at some sites for brewery/winemaking they often have some tips for what to do to clean up stuff they use in the process. And their stuff have to be superclean.

alpine44 · 02-12-2010, 01:13 PM

If you just want to irrigate you garden, cleaning with a pressure washer would be enough unless the barrel had a scull and crossbones on it. However, if you want to drink the water at some point use only new barrels or barrels that have been exclusively used for food-stuff.

Most chemicals that were stored in the barrels will have migrated into the barrel walls and will leach back in your water, no matter how thoroughly you clean the surface.

Depending on the chemical, that could be good or bad. A barrel that contained Hypochlorous acid (aka Chlorine bleach) would be great for long-term storage of drinking water.

The MSDS sheet that came with the product will give you some idea whether a couple ppm/ppb (parts per million/billion) of the stuff that was in the barrell will be good or bad.

**tanvil** · 02-16-2010, 04:42 PM

I was told that the coca cola bottling companies are willing to give their barrels away. They were used for cola syrup, which is arguably as bad for you as anything else. All the bottlers in my area already have them promised out to people but if your searching for good condition used barrels, your area bottler might be an option.

Black Blade · 02-17-2010, 02:04 AM

I get the blue barrels for water storage because they inhibit algae growth. Add the stabilizer and stored water is good for at least five years. Easy enough to change out the water and add more stabilizer (or chlorine bleach if you like). I also have Big Berkey water filtration units and extra (black) ceramic filters.

Blue barrels (end of row)