If you run a commercial food service whether it’s a restaurant, bakery, catering company, coffee shop or home-based retail business, you need some serious cleaning agents. That’s when commercial dishwashers come in. Without them keeping the kitchen spotlessly clean can seem like a very tough task. So you can see how important cleaning and maintenance of the commercial dishwashers is. In this guide, we’ll walk you through tips for keeping commercial dishwashers all time.
How to clean a commercial dishwasher?
Just like any other machinery in the kitchen your commercial dishwasher needs cleaning maintenance. So, to make sure that your commercial dishwasher won’t get into trouble it’s important to clean it daily. Don’t panic. Cleaning a commercial dishwasher is not as difficult as it seems at the first glance. Following these steps, you can implement daily cleaning and maintenance of a commercial dishwasher as easy as a pie.
Wash inside the dishwasher
The first step after removing the dishes from the dishwasher and unplugging it is to wash inside of your machine. You can use the detergent recommended by the dishwasher manufacturer or spray the nozzle with warm water. Warm water will soften germs and debris so that you can clean them with a piece of cloth. Don’t be tempted to use a cheaper detergent alternative to cut your business expenses. This is an area you should follow the recommendation of the dishwasher manufacturer exactly.
Drain the dishwasher
After you’ve cleaned the dishwasher, you’ll need to drain the tank. Leave the drain of your machine open for ten to fifteen minus. This will allow your commercial dishwasher to drain completely and let it cool down.
Clean nozzles by spray
Spray nozzles with warm water and vinegar. Adding vinegar will ensure that hard water doesn’t build up in your nozzles.
Clean the filters
Take germs and debris out of the filter. When cleaning you can shake the filters gently or remove debris by hand. After that brush with the detergent recommended for your machine.
Clean and wash arms/jets
Wash and rinse arms/jets of the commercial dishwater with warm water. This will clear holes that have become blocked with food or debris. For that, you may have to dismantle some parts of your machine. Just make sure to replace parts again when done.
Spray detergent tubes
Rinse the detergent tubes with warm water and vinegar and make sure that the tube is free-running and not clogged.
Fill up the detergent
Top off the detergent in the dishwashing machine and check the compartments. This will ensure you that your commercial dishwasher is ready to use the next day.
Let it open
Finally, let the doors of the dishwasher open and don’t turn off the air conditioner. This allows air to circulate inside the machine and prevents bacteria buildup.
Tips for cleaning commercial dishwasher
With a little maintenance, your commercial dishwasher can last for years even under heavy use. These tips will help you keep your machine running in a good shape for years.
Remove food residue before placing them in the dishwasher
If you put the dishes in the dishwashing machine having a lot of food residue this can lead to filter and jet clogging and even a broken machine over time. The best practice is to scrap, spray rinse and remove as much as possible from the dishes before you put them in the washing machine. This will save you a lot of money reducing the risk of machine failure and preventing expensive machine repairs.
Have a daily cleaning schedule
Clean your dishwashing machine every day. Maintaining a daily cleaning calendar will ensure that your dishwasher won’t be bogged with gunk. Assign the cleaning task every day to an employee and ask them they don’t leave the restaurant until the task is finished. Always make sure that your employees are following the specific guideline of the machine.
Check the level of detergent and sanitiser every day
If there is not enough detergent, sanitiser, soap in the tank the dishes won’t become clean, and dust and debris will find their way into the dishwashing machine. Check the level of detergent before starting a cleaning cycle. This will allow you to make sure that your cleaning machine will run smoothly all along the day.
Air out after cleaning
Don’t close your commercial dishwasher after you have finished using it. You should allow the dishing washing to air-dry overnight, or else you will allow mould and mildew inside the machine.
Always keep the filters clean
Food pieces and debris can get stuck in the filter and the filter can become clogged after a few cycles. You should take germs and debris out of the filter if you can see them inside. Put the filter under the running water and clean inside with a soft brush.
Change filters frequently
Daily cleaning of filters is not enough to ensure your commercial dishwasher is always up and running. You should replace the filters approximately every 20 cycles. if the dishwasher is heavy-duty the time between filter changes is shorter.
Refill detergent after filter change
When you change the filter, you should check and fill out detergent in the tank to ensure dishes will come out clean. Only use chemicals approved for your device.
Never use abrasive cleaning products
Don’t use abrasive products to clean your commercial dishwasher. Always read the manual guide of your dishwasher to have a clue what chemical you can use to clean the machine. Bleach and other home cleaning product should be never used in a commercial dishwasher.
Plan annual inspections
Ask a certified commercial dishwashing expert to inspect your device at least once a year. The technician will examine every part of your dishwater for a sign of damage and replace them as needed.
Periodic testing and inspection will help you determine damage earlier and minimise repair and replacement costs.
Read the manual carefully
Every commercial kitchen dishwasher comes with a user guide. Before anything, read the manual line by line. It will teach you how to put dishes into the machine, the chemical you should fill the tank, the detergent you can use for cleaning, how to diagnose faults and replace broken parts and everything you need to know about your commercial dishwasher.
Train your team how to use and clean a commercial dishwasher
Teach your kitchen staff how to operate, clean and maintain commercial dishwasher machines. Of course, the dishwasher should know all ins and outs of dishwashing machines but everyone in the kitchen should know how to use and clean commercial dishwashers, just in case they ever need to.
Clean and rinse dishes as soon as they are brought back
Rinse and scrape dishes once they arrive. Leaving dishes for a later time could make them harder to wash and cause overload to your dishwasher.
The dishwasher is an important part of every commercial kitchen. Without them, your business will get into trouble. In this post, we’ve reviewed the most important tips for cleaning and maintenance of a commercial dishwasher.
