Sparkling Results: The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Commercial Dishwasher

In the high-paced environment of food service businesses, a commercial dishwasher is your trusted sidekick, working hard behind the scenes to maintain cleanliness and efficiency.

This article will guide you through the crucial aspects of commercial dishwasher care, from cleaning techniques and frequency of maintenance, to handling descaling and the usage of bleach.

By following these simple tips, your dishwasher will not just run smoothly, but you will also avoid costly repairs and unnecessary downtime.

Jump to a topic:

• Daily Cleaning Rituals
• Deep Cleaning
• Create a Cleaning Schedule
• Descaling
• Is bleach safe?
• Repair and Maintenance

Mastering the Art of Dishwasher Cleaning

The heart of any food service business is a well-kept commercial dishwasher. To maintain it’s efficiency and prevent grime build-up, follow these daily and deep cleaning procedures:

Daily Cleaning Rituals to Keep Your Dishwasher in Great Shape

End your day by removing all residual food from the dishwasher’s interior, including the filter and the wash and rinse arms. Scrub the interior surfaces of the dishwasher gently with a soft brush and warm water, paying particular attention to door seals and corners.

Top Tip: Avoid soap-based cleaning agents for the interior. Residual soap can cause foaming and affect cleaning results. Instead, use a non-soap-based cleaner recommended by your dishwasher’s manufacturer.

Use a damp cloth to wipe the exterior of the dishwasher, ensuring it looks clean and professional. Assemble the dishwasher and run an empty cycle to ensure all cleaning residue is gone.

Deep Clean: Ensuring the Longevity of Your Dishwasher

Do a thorough inspection and cleaning of interior components like wash and rinse arms, nozzles, and filters to ensure they are free from blockages and build-up.

Keep an eye on the door gaskets for wear and tear. Clean them thoroughly to maintain a proper seal. If your door gaskets are worn, strongly consider replacing them.

Additionally, it’s important to regularly check and top up the dishwasher’s detergent and rinse aid levels.

Creating a Cleaning Schedule: Frequency Matters

Adopting a routine cleaning schedule for your commercial dishwasher is essential. For the best results, perform daily cleaning chores after each day’s service, and carry out deep cleaning tasks weekly or monthly, based on your dishwasher’s usage and the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Banish the Build-Up: Effective Descaling

Mineral deposits can build up over time, can affect dishwasher performance and potentially cause damage.

Regular descaling removes these deposits, ensuring your dishwasher runs smoothly. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to descale your commercial dishwasher:

1. Safety first. Turn off the dishwasher, wear protective gloves, and remove dishes.
2. Disconnect the detergent line and clear the detergent by running and draining several cycles.
3. Add 1 litre of a high-quality descaling solution. Run 4-5 wash cycles to eliminate scale deposits.
4. Drain, refill, and rinse the dishwasher twice to remove any residual descaling solution.
5. Reconnect the detergent line and wipe down the interior.

Your dishwasher is now ready for use. Remember, limescale build-up can be prevented by fitting your commercial dishwasher with a water treatment system like a water softener or reverse osmosis system.

Bleach in Dishwashers: A Do or Don’t?

Although bleach effectively removes stains and sanitizes surfaces, it may not be suitable for all commercial dishwashers.

Bleach can damage interior components and cause certain materials to discolour. If you’re considering using bleach or other cleaning products, always refer to your dishwasher’s manufacturer’s guidelines.

Alternatively, consider using dishwasher-safe sanitizing solutions or commercial dishwasher detergents made specifically for your model.

Beyond Cleaning: Repair and Maintenance Essentials

Proactive cleaning and maintenance can help to prevent many common dishwasher problems. However, if you notice unusual sounds, leaks, or consistently dirty dishes, it’s time to call in the professionals.

Our experienced technicians can diagnose and address these issues, helping to extend your appliance’s life and ensure top performance, ensuring your dishwasher runs efficiently, saving you money on excessive energy bills.

Get in touch with our commercial dishwasher experts.

Key Takeaways

Maintaining a clean and efficient commercial dishwasher is a cornerstone of any food service establishment.

By following regular cleaning, descaling when necessary, and addressing repair or maintenance issues promptly, your dishwasher will work at its best.

If you’re looking for some commercial dishwasher repair and maintenance tips, check out this article.

Always consult your dishwasher’s manufacturer’s guidelines for specific cleaning and maintenance recommendations. And remember, professional help is just a call away when you need it.

About the author

Trades Team provides professional maintenance and repairs to the foodservice industry. We have 15 years of experience in maintaining and repairing commercial catering equipment across the Southeast. Learn more about Trades Team.