Citric Acid and SO2 – Cleaning Barrels

Household Measurements

Follow these steps using the amounts listed in the Table below.

  1. Rinse the barrel with cold water several times with the barrel about 1/4 full of water rolling both sideways and end for end.
  2. Fill half-way with water.
  3. Add sodium mettabisulphate solution from the table below. Normally, sodium metabisulfite is used for cleaning barrels while potassium metabisulfite is used for addition to musts or wine.
  4. Add citric acid solution from the table below.
  5. Mix by rolling, fill completely with cold water, replace bung and place into storage. If sterilizing for wine use, let stand for 48 hours and then rinse several times with cold water before using.
  6. If storing the barrel, check the level in the barrel every month and add cold water to keep barrel full. For an active and fresh solution, change the water and refill the citric acid and sulfite solution every 2-3 months.
Household Measurements
Gallons of WineSodium BisulfateCitric Acid
12 teaspoons in 1/2 cup water1 teaspoon in 1/2 cup water
24 teaspoons in 1/2 cup water2 teaspoons in 1/2 cup water
53 tablespoons in 1 pint water1-1/2 tablespoons in 1 pint water
101/3 cup in 1 pint water3 tablespoons in 1 pint water
151/2 cup in 1 pint water5 tablespoons in 1 pint water
253/4 cup in 1 quart water1/2 cup in 1 quart water
501-1/2 cup in 1 gallon water1 cup in 1 gallon water

Metric Equivalents

Follow these steps using the amounts listed in the Table below.

  1. Rinse the barrel with cold water several times with the barrel about 1/4 full of water rolling both sideways and end for end.
  2. Fill half-way with water.
  3. Add sodium bisulfite solution from the table below. Normally, sodium metabisulfite is used for cleaning barrels while potassium metabisulfite is used for addition to musts or wine.
  4. Add citric acid solution from the table below.
  5. Mix by rolling, fill completely with cold water, replace bung and place into storage. If sterilizing for wine use, let stand for 48 hours and then rinse several times with cold water before using.
  6. If storing the barrel, check the level in the barrel every month and add cold water to keep barrel full. For an active and fresh solution, change the water and refill the citric acid and sulfite solution every 2-3 months.
Metric Equivalents
Gallons of WineSodium BisulfateCitric Acid
19 grams in 240 ml water5 grams1 in 240 ml water
218 grams in 240 ml water9 grams in 240 ml water
546 grams in 480 ml water23 grams in 480 ml water
1092 grams1 in 480 ml water46 grams in 480 ml water
15140 grams in 480 ml water70 grams in 480 ml water
25230 grams in 950 ml water115 grams in 950 ml water
50460 grams in 3.8 liters water230 grams in 3.8 liters water