First and foremost, be 100% positive it was only used for food items and nothing with a strong taste, smell/odor. Then I do it in steps, 1st I open the drain and run a sprinkler inside for at least 1 hr. My sprinkler is on a tripod and I rigged a rope to close it up when inside. I ran a white camper hose rated for potable water, connected to the tripod sprinkler and I have the legs set so they are right to have the sprinkler about 1' down in the tote. I let it run about an hour with the drain valve open. Then I pull the rope to collapse the tripod and pull it out the top. Then use my pressure washer to flush anything that is still on the lower half of the tank. Next I fill the tank, when about 1/2 full, I add Clorox to leave it at 5% solution when full. I then finish filling until it overflows. I clean the cap and then put the cap on. I let this set at least 30 minutes but often overnight.
Then I drain the IBC and let it air out for several days with the top able to breathe but not wide open for something to get in. After several days, I flush well with my pressure washer, and it is ready to use. Cap tight and wait. Just before use, I flush again with the pressure washer.
All of this may be overkill but I then know it is clean. When I am pressure washing I have the IBC tilted at about 45 degrees and the valve at the low spot.
If you are not 100% sure the IBC was only used for something acceptable, don't use it. The ones I use has vanilla extract, canola oil or sunflower oil. The 2 oils can be used for a defoamer and one of the subtle tastes of maple syrup is vanilla.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
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