How do you clean your filters?

[evansglenn]

After we got all done filtering and got last of the syrup bottled, I compared my first bottle to the last bottle. Now, between every batch I rinse the filters as best I can with hot water. Once we were done, and the bottles sat for a few days, I had a thin film across the bottom of the bottles. What is the best way to get the filters cleaned out? I have talked to some guys that wash them right in the wash machine, and others say not to. Is hot water the best way to go, or is there other ways?

[maplecrest]

the best way to filter is with a press.

[Brent]

Amen ... get a filter press of some kind

Waffel plate style, bag filter style or SiroPress.

After 3 years of the same results you got I now beleive you can't gravity strain through a fine enough filter to avoid a small thin film settling out.

If you're a small producer, the waffle plate presses run with the least loss in the media. The bag filter press we use does a terrific job, but we leave a lot of syrup in the bags, maybe as much as a quart. If we're still boiling we can rinse it in sap to recover most of that. Some pictures on our web site

[PerryW]

I wouldn't worry unless you are canning in glass.

While I'm sure a filter press can get every last bit of nitre out of your syrup, I have never had complaints after selling syrup for 20 years.

I use the smaller flat filters (24" x 36" i think) with paper prefilters.

I just fill a sap bucket 1/3 full w/ hot water and agitate by hand. Repeat 3 or 4 times until the water comes out clean and hang to dry.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Before I had my press I had a old ringer washing machine and it worked great no pumps to freeze just 110 v power and a garden hose and when you were done washing the ringer got 99% of the sedement out of BOTH sides of the filter. I think that is the main problem is when you wash the filters sedement gets on both sides and the first syrup thru ends up cleaning out the last bit of dirt. I would filter it let it sit 24 hrs and then sipon out into the bottler leaving the bottom 1" reheat and you will get as close as possible to clear.