Tips & Tricks For Cleaning A Commercial Ice Machine

commercial ice machines

Commercial ice machines can make a lot of ice every day, up to several hundred pounds. Huge ice machines can make thousands of pounds of ice per day.

But if you want to keep getting ice from a commercial ice machine, it must be cleaned regularly. Follow the steps below to learn how to clean a commercial ice machine.

Why should you clean your business ice machine often?

The Food and Drug Administration has rules about how big companies that package ice have to clean their commercial ice machines. Ice is something you can eat. In particular, the FDA checks: 

• Plumbing to make sure that the water supply or ice doesn’t get tainted; 

• Safety and cleanliness of the water supply;

Local health departments watch over ice machines in hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and stores. The rules are similar to what the FDA says to do.

Commercial ice machines can grow dangerous bacteria and get dirty if they aren’t cleaned well. Biofilm doesn’t form when things are cleaned often. Biofilm protects harmful organisms and is hard and expensive to get rid of once it is there.

Cleaning Ice Machines for Businesses

You can clean your commercial ice maker by following these general steps. Always read the instructions from the manufacturer to find out how to use a specific model.

First, empty the unit of any ice.

Then clean the water system of the machine. Your unit’s instruction book will tell you how to do this. Plan on spending about 20 minutes on this step.

Unplug the ice machine once this is done. You can clean each part of the ice maker by taking it apart.

Check the air filters next. Most manuals have a chart that shows how much water and cleaning solution to mix to clean the filters.

Use a cleaning solution to clean all the parts that can be taken apart. Then clean the base, the sides, and the plastic components of the evaporator.

Don’t worry if the cleaner starts to foam. This means that the unit has some mineral deposits.

Once it stops foaming, scrub those spots with a cloth. Then, use clean water to rinse each part.

Now, check to see if the pressure in the machine’s filtration system is even. Then check the sensors, hoses, pump, controls for changing the size of the cube, and thermistors.

If any of these don’t look right, you should make an appointment for a commercial refrigeration service.

Wash the Condenser

Like the filter, the condenser must be cleaned at least once every six months.

If the condenser is unclean, air can’t move through it either. This means your unit will make less ice, run at higher temperatures, and break down sooner.

First, ensure that the ice machine and the remote condensing unit are turned off.

Next, use a flashlight to look for dirt on the condenser’s fins. By blowing air through the condenser hose, you can clean this.

Or you can turn it inside out and give it a good rinsing. If you still see grime after taking these measures, you’ll need to arrange for maintenance.

After the commercial ice maker has been cleaned, it can be sterilized.

Clean your ice-making machine

After you’ve cleaned your ice machine, you’ll need to sanitize it. Follow the directions on the package for how to use the sanitizing solution and tepid water.

Clean all the parts of your ice machine that you’ve taken out. Use a spray bottle or a sink filled with solution and water to soak the parts. Let the parts soak for a few minutes in the solution.

Use the sanitizing solution to clean all the machine’s surfaces while the parts are soaking. Use the solution in a significant way.

When you’re done, you can put everything back together. These don’t need to be rinsed with water!

Put a 20-minute timer on and wait. When the timer goes off, plug in and turn on the ice machine.

Use your ice machine’s “clean” or “wash” button. The time to replenish the water trough’s sanitizing solution should be indicated on the screen.

Set your machine to start making ice when the cleaning cycle is done. 

Don’t use the first batch of ice. Start a new cycle. Check the ice machine’s freeze and harvest times to ensure it works well.

How to Clean Your Machine’s Outside

You can clean the outside of your commercial ice machine as often as you need to. If your kitchen has a lot of oil and flour, you will have to clean the outside of your ice maker more often.

It is easy to clean the outside of your commercial ice maker. You only need a warm, damp cloth to clean the surfaces. This will get rid of dust and grime.

If grease outside your unit won’t come off, use a soapy dishrag to wipe it away.

Make sure you don’t use scrubbing cloths or brushes that are too rough on the outside of your machine. Check the manual for your machine to see what kind of cleaners are recommended.

You should never clean the panels or plastic trim with cleaners that have citrus, chlorine, or abrasive ingredients.

Remember that your unit will work well as long as it is well taken care of. It will also make your ice maker last longer.

Mr. Vikas Suri
Founder and CEO of Kitchenrama