How to prepare a used soda syrup keg for brewery use


1)	Rinse off outside with hot soapy water and a ScotchBrite pad.
2)	Hit any paper labels with a soft brass bristle brush to break
	up the surface and make them more liquid permeable.  If any
	paper labels are on the rubber, finish them off down to the
	rubber with the brass brush.  For labels on SS, see next
	step.
3)	Finish removing the paper labels with more hot soapy water
	and a ScotchBrite pad.  Don't try to remove any label glue,
	that is later.
4)	Sun dry the keg.
5)	Scrape any plastic labels off the SS with a razor blade being
	careful to not scratch the SS.  Also, scrape off any large
	deposits of glue.
6)	Remove any residual glue from the rubber and SS with a cloth
	and Goo-Gone or CitraSolve.  
7)	Remove Goo-Gone or CitraSolve with a heavy duty household
	cleaner.
8)	Open and rinse the inside with hot water.
9)	Brush out the interior with a hot water solution of 1 TBS
	TSP per gallon of water and rinse with hot water.  Use a
	nylon bristle brush.  (See NOTE below)
10)	Disassemble, brush out the dip tubes and valve bodies with
	the TSP solution and rinse with hot water.  Again, use a nylon
	bristle brush.
11)	If there are any rust spots on the SS, use an oxalic acid based
	cleaner such as Bar Keeper's Friend or Kleen-King and a 
	Scotch Brite pad to remove the rust.
12)	Rinse everything thoroughly with hot water and let stand in
	the sun to dry. 
13)	If you needed to use an oxalic acid cleaner, store the keg
	inside for a week or two to let the natural oxidaton layer
	reform on the SS.
14)	Wipe the rubber top and bottom with a pure silicone spray
	put on a cloth.
15)	Obtain new O-rings and re-assemble.
16)	Store with the valve bodies and lid loose and a plastic bag
	over the top of the keg to prevent dust from entering.


NOTE:	Since this was originally written, I have discovered PBW,
	an alkaline based cleaner available from Five Star Chemicals.
	It is much better than TSP and much gentler on the skin.
	However, TSP will still work and is available everywhere.