The ice maker providing your bar or restaurant with convenient ice needs regular cleaning to keep the appliance functional and safe. Ice is considered a food by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and machines require routine cleaning to keep it free of harmful bacteria. Here, review steps for cleaning your ice machine to avoid FDA violations, damage to your establishment’s reputation, and premature appliance replacements.

4 Ice Maker Cleaning Steps You Can’t Skip

1. Remove Ice & Use the Wash Feature

Use buckets to remove ice from the machine. Turn off the ice maker, including its water supply, and leave it overnight to ensure all ice melts. Remove the remaining water and turn the machine back on to use the ‘clean’ or ‘wash’ cycle. Once the water trough refills, the machine will tell you to add cleaning chemicals as per the owner’s manual guidelines. Allow the cleaning cycle to complete, which typically takes about 20 minutes.

2. Clean Individual Components

Unplug the machine again and follow your manual instructions to remove internal components. Clean them with the manual’s suggested solution, which is usually 1 gallon of water to 16 ounces of recommended cleaner. Allow the mixture to foam before cleaning each part with a sponge, nylon brush, or cloth. Rinse each component thoroughly and set them in a safe area to dry.

3. Eliminate Buildup in the Machine

Use the cleaning mixture and brush to scrub the inside of the ice maker, including the walls, base, bin or dispenser, and evaporator plastic parts. If you need a stronger mixture to remove grime, mold, and scale, create one that’s 20% chlorine and 80% water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle to clean affected areas using either a clean cloth or brush. You can also use 20% bleach to disinfect the area.

4. Rinse

Finish the cleaning process by rinsing the ice maker interior with water until it is chemical-free. Plug the machine in and start the wash feature again for a thorough rinsing without chemicals. Also, wipe down the exterior of the machine to remove fingerprints and grease. Repeat these steps every six months or any time you notice odors or mineral buildup.

If you need your ice maker or any other restaurant equipment repaired or replaced, contact Commercial Refrigeration of KY in Campbellsville. The locally owned company has served southeastern Kentucky for over 30 years, offering 24/7 services and a wide range of quality restaurant and deli equipment. Call (270) 465-2910 today to schedule repairs or visit the website for information about their services.