The ChemSan No-Rinse Sanitiser is a professional-grade, self-foaming, acid-based sanitiser widely used by craft and home brewers worldwide. Unlike traditional sterilisers, ChemSan requires no rinsing after use — simply spray or soak, allow to drain, and brew. It is not affected by organic soils and leaves no harmful residue.
Available in 100ml, 250ml, 1 litre, and 2.5 litre sizes to suit any scale of brewing operation. Dilute to 2ml per litre of water (10ml in 5 litres).
Chemsan vs Star San
Looking for Star San in the UK? Chemsan is the UK-made equivalent — the same phosphoric acid-based, self-foaming, no-rinse sanitiser chemistry that made Star San the American homebrewer's favourite, but produced in Britain and considerably cheaper per litre of made-up solution. It works in exactly the same way: dilute, apply, let the foam do the work, and don't fear the foam — any residue left after draining is harmless to your beer and your yeast. If a recipe or forum post calls for Star San, Chemsan is a direct like-for-like substitute - just use it at Chemsan's own dilution of 2ml per litre.
Use on your fermentation vessels, syphon, hydrometer, and all other equipment. Also see: VWP Cleaner for the cleaning step before you sanitise.
Dose
10ml per 5L
2ml per litre (0.2%)
Contact
2+ minutes
no rinse
100ml makes
50 litres
1L makes 500 litres
Used for: No-rinse, self-foaming acid sanitiser - kills bacteria and wild yeast on clean equipment.
When: Just before use, on equipment that's already been cleaned and rinsed.
Step by step
1Dilute 10ml per 5 litres of water (0.2%, 2ml per litre).
2Wet every surface - spray, wipe or soak.
3Leave at least 2 minutes, keeping surfaces wet.
4Drain well. Don't rinse - a little foam is fine.
Good to know: Corrosive - wear gloves and eye protection. Never mix with chlorine cleaners (chlorine gas). Not for soft metals. Stronger than 0.2% needs a rinse. Keep a made-up solution at pH 3 or below (check with pH papers).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to rinse Chemsan?
No — it's a genuine no-rinse sanitiser. Allow equipment to drain and any remaining foam is harmless. Rinsing would actually reintroduce untreated tap water onto your sanitised surfaces.
How long does Chemsan take to work?
Keep surfaces wet for at least 2 minutes of contact time. Spray bottles work brilliantly for quick jobs like syphons, taps and hydrometers.
How long does diluted Chemsan solution last?
Made up with tap water, use within a day or two. The solution remains effective while it stays clear and acidic — once it turns cloudy, mix a fresh batch.
Is Chemsan the same as Star San?
Chemsan is the UK-made equivalent of Star San: the same phosphoric acid-based, self-foaming, no-rinse sanitiser chemistry used at 2ml per litre, produced in Britain and typically cheaper per litre of solution.
