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 1ml per litre of water.
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 at the same 1ml-per-litre dilution.
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?
Surfaces are sanitised after 60 seconds of wet contact. 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.
Use on your fermentation vessels, syphon, hydrometer, and all other equipment. Also see: VWP Cleaner for the cleaning step before you sanitise.