5 Beginner Mistakes That Cause Contamination

1. Rushing sterile technique

Wipe down surfaces with 70% iso, work in still air, and flame your needle every time. Patience here saves whole grows.

2. Under-sterilizing grain

Endospores survive short cook times. Sterilize grain jars properly and let them fully cool before inoculating.

3. Opening too often

Every peek invites spores. Trust the process and leave colonizing jars alone.

4. Wet, stagnant conditions

Too much standing water plus no fresh air exchange breeds bacteria. Aim for humidity with airflow.

5. Ignoring genetics

Weak or contaminated culture never recovers. Start with a clean, lab-tested liquid culture and you've already won half the battle.