How to Deep Clean a Dishwasher

Commercial dishwashers are one of the hardest working appliances in the kitchen. The amount of time and effort they save is incredible, so it’s all the more important to keep yours maintained. A clean dishwasher is going to do a better job, but it’s also going to last longer and be less likely to fail.

What Happens When Dishwashers Get Dirty?

If your dishwasher is overdue for a cleaning, you’re risking damage. Grease, grime and scale will build up in the system, causing rust and corrosion and deteriorating components like seals and O-rings. You can also experience blockages that lead to slow drainage — or none at all. When problems like this occur, the best you can hope for is performance issues. In the worst cases, you could wind up with significant flooding, or your dishwasher could ignite.

How to Deep Clean a Commercial Dishwasher

As with any commercial appliance, you should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding maintenance and care. There may be special instructions or hazards that are unique to your system. Here are some tips to think about when working on yours:

• Check the nozzles: Clean the sprayer nozzles to remove food and scale, and wash the sprayer arm.
• Clean with care: Carefully clean the interior, door guides and any other surfaces to remove food soil.
• De-lime your system: Use a commercial descaling solution to remove limescale and other mineral deposits.
• Choose the right products: Make sure you select noncorrosive, non-damaging cleaning agents and use soft tools.

Once you’ve completed the process, take the few extra steps necessary to keep the unit clean. Scrape or rinse food from dishes before putting them in, clean the filter often and replace the tank water at least twice per day. You’ll also want to leave your dishwasher open when it’s not in use so the inside can dry.

How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher

If your dishwasher has odors, but you don’t have time to perform a deep clean, there’s a simple process to remove them.

First, wipe things down. The filter, sprayer arms, inside surfaces and the door gasket are all places where odor-causing bacteria thrive. Use a rag and hot water. You’ll also want to make sure your drain hose is clear and your filter is clean.

Once that’s all taken care of, follow these steps to eliminate smells:

• Add vinegar: Place a bowl of white vinegar in your dishwasher. Two cups will work for most commercial units.
• Run it: Run your dishwasher at the hottest possible temperature. The vinegar will break odorous deposits down.
• Add baking soda: Sprinkle baking soda across the bottom. Use the same amount as you did for the white vinegar.
• Run it: Run another short cycle to dissolve the baking soda. This step leaves the dishwasher smelling fresh and clean.

Disaster Planning and Damage Restoration Services

If your dishwasher caused a fire or flood in your building, contact Unlimited Restoration. We’ll stop the damage from spreading, remove any hazards and rebuild things back the way they’re supposed to be. We also offer the option to create a plan before disaster strikes as a free service.

Message us today to learn more about the different commercial services we provide.