Prevention is always cheaper than the cure, and so we recommend that your ice machine gets a deep clean at least once every six months to keep things clean and ensure efficient operation. Equipment Mix a solution of ice machine sanitiser and lukewarm water, you may need to refer to your ice machine manual for correct ratios of water to sanitiser. Generally, though, 10 litres of water is needed for 50ml of santiser. Use approximately half of the mixture you have created to soak each part you previously removed from your ice machine and use a soft bristle nylon brush, sponge or cloth to carefully clean all parts thoroughly. Rinse all cleaned parts with clean water. It’s important to keep your ice machine clean, especially if it’s not been used for a long time, or it’s a brand new unit. A full cleaning cycle can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes depending on the model of machine you have. Once the cycle is complete, disconnect your ice machine from the power.

Whilst these parts are soaking, use the other half of the cleaning solution mixture to clean all food zone surfaces of the ice machine, cube bin and dispenser. Use a nylon brush or sponge to clean the side walls, base, evaporator plastic parts, bin and dispenser. An important portion of the ice machine is the condenser unit, the washable filter also needs to be cleaned as this traps dust, dirt, lint and grease during day-to-day operation. Cool and clean ice should be standard in any business that relies on cold drinks to turn a profit, but the cleaning process itself can be made simple by utilising a few key products to remove any built up dirt and grime. Why you need to clean an ice machine

Equipment

If your business relies on food or drink as a core product, then every single utensil or piece of equipment you use must meet regulatory standards to ensure that you meet the minimum hygiene requirement as set by British law. Use the inbuilt ‘clean’ or ‘wash’ cycle. This will cause water to flow through the water dump valve and down into your drainage system. Your machine will indicate once it is typically ready to add cleaning chemicals which will usually take around a minute. Use one-half of the water and santiser solution to sanitise all of the parts removed during the cleaning process, simply use a spray bottle to coat each portion of your ice machine or soak them before reattaching. Remember you DO NOT need to rinse with water after sanitising.

Wipe down your machine surfaces regularly and remove any greasy residue or excess water that prevails. Replace all removed parts and then wait around 20 minutes for the sanitiser to thoroughly work it’s magic.