Building a Bottle Washer

In this video I follow the build of my new bottle washer. This is actually an extension of my previous keg washer build (see the other video for this). I used a 1/4 HP Barracuda utility pump that I had purchased from Menards when I had some water issues in my basement last winter. The water problem is fixed and now I have a pump that hopefully isn't going to be used to remove water from my basement any more. I saw online that others have used this same pump as the basis for their keg, carboy and bottle washers, so I thought I would try it too.

I bought the pens I used for bottle nozzles at Dollar Tree. I left the pen point on as a nozzle. Different stores may have different sized pen tubes. Measure before you drill.

I spaced the pipes and the centers of the holes 2 1/2" apart, essentially in squares. This pretty much necessitated bottoming out the pipe that connected the long end of the "T's" on the ends.

I have been asked on which soaps to use with this. I had the best luck with regular dishwasher soap. I tried Palmolive liquid and some Dollar Tree Powder. Both seemed to work well and didn't suds up. I also tried Dollar Tree Oxi cleaner. It was very sudsy. Using my laundry sink ended up being a big advantage. I was able to wash the bottles in soap, drain the sink, then fill it up with clear rinse water and rinse.

Following is a list of the parts I purchased to build this. Since I already had the pump and some of the parts such as pipe and a few fittings I only spend around $20. Had I needed everything I would have spent closer to $30.


Part Bought at Qty Price Totals
1/4 HP Barracuda pump (may get cheaper on Amazon) Menards 1 $55.00 $55.00
3/4"PVC side outlet elbow Menards 4 $1.89 $7.56
3/4" PVC "T" (bought a 10 pack - used 5) Menards 1 $3.99 $3.99
3/4" schedule 40 PVC pipe (10 foot length) Menards 1 $2.28 $2.28
3/4" PVC cap Menards 4 $0.23 $0.92
3/4" PVC to male garden hose adapter Menards 1 $1.53 $1.53
1 1/4" pipe thread to 1 1/4" PVC pipe adapter Menards 1 $0.98 $0.98
1 1/4" to 3/4" pipe thread - PVC bushing adapter Menards 1 $1.49 $1.49
3/4" to 3/4" elbow barbed fitting Menards 1 $1.89 $1.89
Ball point pens for cylinders - 10 pack Dollar Tree 3 $1.00 $3.00
Female Garden Hose end Menards 1 $2.99 $2.99
Quick Setting Epoxy Harbor Freight 2 $1.98 $3.96
Total $85.59
Less Pump $30.59

Miscellaneous
PVC primer and glue ($7.99 for a kit) had
Piece of garden hose had
5/16" drill bit had