Winemaking Cleaners & Sanitisers

Do I need to clean winemaking equipment before sanitising it, and do I rinse the sanitiser off?

Yes, clean first and sanitise second. A sanitiser only works on surfaces that are already free of residue, so wash with a brewery cleaner such as PBW or another compatible cleaner first. Five Star, the maker of Star San, says to clean surfaces thoroughly with PBW or a compatible cleaner first, then mix Star San at 1 oz per 5 US gallons of water and allow at least 1 to 2 minutes of contact. It says to drain the surface but not rinse, because Star San can be used without rinsing at the recommended dilution. Other sanitisers have their own dilution rates and contact times, so follow the directions on the product you use.