How to Clean a New Still Before First Use (Step-by-Step Guide)

You’ve just unboxed your brand-new still, and your mind is already racing with possibilities—rum, whiskey, vodka, moonshine, and more. But before you can start crafting your first batch of liquid gold, there’s one very important step you can’t skip: cleaning your still.

Even a brand-new still straight out of the box can contain oils, flux, metal shavings, and residues from manufacturing. If you don’t remove them before your first run, they can contaminate your product, affect flavor, and even pose safety risks.

Let’s walk through exactly how to clean your new still before distilling anything worth keeping.

Step 1: The Initial Wash

Start by giving every part of your still a thorough scrub with warm, soapy water. This first wash removes surface grease, dirt, and any remaining packaging residue. Use a soft cloth or sponge—avoid anything too abrasive that might scratch your still’s metal surface.

Once you’ve cleaned everything, rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Step 2: The Vinegar Cleaning Run

Now it’s time to go deeper. Mix up a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar—enough to run your still for about 30 minutes.

As your still heats up, the acetic acid in the vinegar will break down and dissolve oils, flux, and other impurities left over from the manufacturing process. You’ll notice a strong vinegar smell—that’s normal (and means it’s doing its job).

Allow the solution to boil and run the vapor through the entire system. You don’t need to run cooling water through the condenser during this stage; you’re simply letting the steam clean the inside.

Click the video below for a Vinegar run tutorial.

Step 3: The Sacrificial Run

After the vinegar run, it’s time for the sacrificial alcohol run. This step burns off any lingering residues and prepares your still for real use.

Make up a simple sugar wash (you can find many easy recipes online) or use some cheap wine or low-cost spirit. Just make sure the alcohol going into your still is below 40% ABV for safety.

Run this wash through your still just like you would for a normal distillation—but don’t drink the result. It’s called sacrificial for a reason! The output will likely smell and taste unpleasant, carrying away any leftover contaminants or vinegar traces.

Step 4: Ongoing Maintenance

Once your sacrificial run is done, congratulations—your still is ready for real use!

From now on, get into the habit of cleaning your still after every distillation.

• Rinse with warm, soapy water

• Follow with a no-rinse sanitizer spray

• Store your equipment dry and covered

This routine will help prevent build-up, corrosion, and off-flavors in your future runs.

Final Thoughts

Your still is the heart of your operation, and taking care of it from day one ensures it performs at its best for years to come. A clean still doesn’t just make better liquor—it makes safer, more consistent, and better-tasting liquor.

So take the time to prep your equipment properly. Once that’s done, you can finally get to the fun part—firing up your first real run!