I have just stumbled over a new source of food grade barrels. While shopping at a Surplus & Salvage Store I noticed a sign that read Barrels $5.00 each. I went in and asked the owner about them and he directed me to behind his store. There was a stack of about 100 barrels. He said that they were in back because they stink ! I examined the barrels and they are from a manufacturing plant 100 miles north. They are labeled FOOD USAGE ONLY on the side and the barrels have labels displaying their original contents. The majority of these barrels contained red wine vinegar and salad dressing. The barrels still have some remnants of the contents inside so you can guess about the smell...although it is cold outside so the new load of barrels only stink because of the contents..not because it is rotting! My question is this...If these are true food grade plastic barrels won't these odors wash out if rinsed with bleach water then washed again with a good quality antibacterial soap? I have several barrels made into a water stand already but know of many other people that would like to prepare but don't have the money to pay $60 per barrel. This would offer them the chance to lo buck their water prep. BTW....located Alladin Lamps at a local furniture store. My wife called them about three weeks ago and inquired. The owner was able to get them from his distributor of home dec items...imagine that! She asked me several times to call and I didn't listen :) He sold us the Genie lamps for $47.95 and they came in last week. I guess even a blind hog gets an accorn every once in a while.

-- bill (y2kbill@hotmail.com), February 22, 1999

Answers

Might want to try some baking soda or other +ph materials to help work out those odors...

-- j (sandpine@juno.com), February 22, 1999.

Bill; sounds like you stumbled upon a few good items. Concerning cleaning those barrels, some might say it's unusal,but try your local car wash to pressure wash those barrels and then rinse several times and let dry in the sun upside down. Your cost will be almost nill compared to using your house water and cleaning supplies. Good luck and good shopping ! Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), February 22, 1999.

Bill -

please let us know what you finally come up with to take the taste/smell out of the barrels! This isn't trivial, when one considers the longterm possibilities of having to eat or drink something with an off taste or odor, even if the food/beverage is perfectly okay otherwise.

Thanks,

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 22, 1999.

Bill,

you said "I guess even a blind hog gets an accorn every once in a while". Might you be in...Texas?

The ol Bear might like to swap a few whatevers for some barrels

-- Greybear, who can ALWAYS use a few more barrels

- Got Pumps?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 22, 1999.

Food chemicals permeate the plastic! I purchased plastic barrels that contained Mt. Dew Syrup. I washed them out with high pressure water, then put bleach (about one pint), filled it with water (48 gallons), and let them sit for 3 weeks. I dumped the water out, rinsed, then refilled with water adding the appropriate amount of bleach for storage. I opened up one the other day and it still has a hint of Mt. Dew odor. I'd rather have a Mt. Dew taste than Italian dressing. Try washing with bleach, rinse, then dump 2 boxes of baking soda in drum, fill with water, let sit for a few days, dump water and refill. If odor goes away, then do it with all your barrels. Good Luck.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 22, 1999.

You may also want to consider plastic liners for those 55 gallon drums at www.glitchproof.com. I ordered several boxes of them (4 bags/box) for around $14/box to put in an ordinary trash can to fill with water. They are made for the drums, but can be used in all kinds of ways.

-- David (David@BankPacman.com), February 23, 1999.