End of the year cleanup (Mattatuck system)

[IonicTick]

Howdy!

I built one of the systems outlined on the Mattatuck Madness website. Worked great! Now that we're to the end of the year, I'm wondering if anyone has a different/better way to get it all ready for being stored until next year?

[fireant911]

I am in the same boat as you (but have no advice to offer as I am too new at this!!!). We had our last run on Wednesday and I immediately went back and reread the Mattatuck Madness cleaning procedures. It sure involves a lot of time though it is better than purchasing more of those expensive RO filters. I looked elsewhere for additional guidelines but I think that the 'Mattatuck Madness guy' is spot-on and has proven his approach to cleaning. I did see where some folks sent off their filters to be professionally cleaned if that is a possibility for you??? Kudos to the person that made the Mattatuck Madness website as it has been EXTREMELY helpful to me as I ventured into making syrup.

What part of Northern Michigan are you in? Is it the Upper Peninsula?

[IonicTick]

I am in the same boat as you (but have no advice to offer as I am too new at this!!!). We had our last run on Wednesday and I immediately went back and reread the Mattatuck Madness cleaning procedures. It sure involves a lot of time though it is better than purchasing more of those expensive RO filters. I looked elsewhere for additional guidelines but I think that the 'Mattatuck Madness guy' is spot-on and has proven his approach to cleaning. I did see where some folks sent off their filters to be professionally cleaned if that is a possibility for you??? Kudos to the person that made the Mattatuck Madness website as it has been EXTREMELY helpful to me as I ventured into making syrup.

What part of Northern Michigan are you in? Is it the Upper Peninsula?

Grayling! Though I see you're in Crystal Falls! Lived up in Iron Mountain for a few years. Beautiful area!

I think I'm just going to go through and do the Mattatuck method for cleaning and call it good. I really can't get any better answers on how to do it.

[carls47807]

You need to flush it really good (warm water works great) to get all of the sugar out. After that you can either soap wash it and leave the membranes full of slightly diluted soap. Alternatively, you can rinse the soap wash and fill it with citric acid (ph 3-4) as a long term preservative. The membranes can not dry out or they will be damaged.

1. Rinse with tons of water
2. soap wash with NaOH (ro soap) ph of 11
3. Rinse soap out until water runs netural pH
4. Fill with citric acid solution for storage (pH 3-4).