It’s no secret that cleanliness is a major priority in almost all restaurants. Back then, busy kitchens struggled to keep up with washing and sanitizing dishes due to how labour-intensive it is. But thanks to the introduction of commercial dishwashers, it took most of the hard work out of the hands of the kitchen staff and made cleaning dishes a breeze.
Ideally, you want your commercial dishwasher to function properly to ensure that all dishes come out squeaky clean. To achieve that, you need to maintain the dishwasher on a regular basis. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to properly care for your commercial dishwasher and ensure that your busy kitchen runs smoothly as possible, same with Commercial dishwashers throughout Australia.
Daily maintenance tips for a commercial dishwasher
Conducting daily maintenance on your commercial dishwasher will go a long way towards keeping the machine running in top condition. These tips will help you get the most out of the equipment and extend the lifespan of its components.
- Scrape the dishes before placing them inside the dishwasher
While some people think it’s unnecessary to scrape dishes, we believe that it’s an important step that you shouldn’t skip. What it does is remove food particles that would otherwise accumulate quickly on the drain filter. A clogged filter means foot bits will recirculate onto the plates, which is something you don’t want when using your commercial dishwasher.
- Clean it on a daily basis
Make it a habit to clean the dishwasher every day before the restaurant closes. This means cleaning the food filter, checking the spray nozzles, and wiping down both the interior and exterior of the equipment. This prepares the dishwasher for use the next day and reduces wear and tear due to heavy usage.
- Check the chemical levels each day
Along with cleaning the dishwasher, you should also check the chemical levels like the detergent, rinse aid, and sanitizer. Make sure there’s adequate liquid in all of the reservoirs prior to starting the day to ensure clean, hygienic plates. A commercial dishwasher with low solution levels won’t clean dishes efficiently so it’s worth adding enough soap, sanitizer, and rinse aid before a cycle.
- Refill the water tank every 20 cycles
Replacing the water tank for every 20 cycles ensures that the dishes come out spotless each time. We recommend using a cleaning solution approved by the manufacturer to achieve a deeper clean and eliminate bacterial growth inside the tank. At the same time, you should consider cleaning the food filter by running it under tap water. If you find it difficult to remove food particles, soak it under soapy water and use an old toothbrush to dislodge food.
General tips for maintaining a commercial dishwasher
If you’ve never maintained a commercial dishwasher before, don’t worry. You don’t need to be an expert to conduct proper maintenance. Just make sure to follow these practical tips before you start using the dishwasher.
- Read the instruction manual carefully. Most modern commercial dishwashers have plenty of features and it’s important to know the functions like the back of your hand. Take the time to read the instruction manual; it’ll tell you important things you need to know like which chemicals to use, which settings work best for certain dishes, and the capacity of the dishwasher as a whole. The more you know about your dishwasher, the more efficient you’ll be at using it (which is crucial when operating a busy kitchen).
- Instruct your team on how to use the dishwasher. When running a busy kitchen, the last thing you want is for your kitchen staff to fumble around with the settings on the dishwasher. To simplify things, teach your staff on how to operate the machine. Ideally, there should be an instruction guide plastered near the dishwasher to assist your staff on which settings they should use. This helps minimise the risk of errors that could potentially damage the dishwasher.
- Have a qualified technician inspect the equipment annually. You can only go so far in terms of conducting maintenance on a commercial dishwasher, which is why you should contact a qualified technician annually to inspect its condition. The technician will be able to identify components that need replacing and fix minor issues before they become a bigger problem.
Keep in mind that repairs for a commercial dishwasher can be quite costly. Thankfully, this can be mitigated by having the equipment checked thoroughly by a professional each year.