In a commercial kitchen, the fridge freezer takes some hammering. It endures all kinds of leaks and spills, is stuffed full of food and containers, and then it is subjected to dirty hands – and even sometimes feet – banging the door shut.
Cleaning these appliances can be a big job, so here are some tips and ideas for approaching it to get the best results. A great tip for cleaning any office, appliance or work place is to contact a professional with options like a Commercial Cleaning Company Cheltenham who can come in as regular as you need.
If you’re not sure about how and when you should be cleaning and maintaining a food storage facility in your premises, The Food Standards Agency offers detailed guidance in its safe catering guide.
Commercial warewashers come in all shapes and sizes depending on the capacity required by individual businesses. Some have smaller under-counter options, while others have the capacious walk-in variety. Whatever the size, the cleaning principles remain the same.
Empty the contents
This may sound obvious, but make sure you empty it before you start or you risk contaminating any remaining food with cleaning chemicals. Move any food to another suitable chilled area while you’re cleaning. You should also turn off the power supply before you start.
Choose the right cleaning solution
Some cleaning chemicals and solutions are only suitable on certain types of materials. Make sure you know what your fridge freezer is made from and pick the right cleaning fluid for it. Choosing a chemical that is too caustic, for example, can damage your appliance.
Clean everything!
It sounds straightforward, but do not forget all the nooks and crannies in your fridge freezer. Get into every layer of the door seals, and remove the shelves and drawers so everything can be properly cleaned and sanitised. Take out any filters and wash these, too. The filter in your fridge freezer works hard to prevent steam and food particles getting into the condenser and damaging it, which can impact the efficiency of your appliance. In the long run, it’s a really good maintenance routine to get into.
Dry everything!
You might think that you can save time by letting your appliance dry off by itself while you get on with something else, but this isn’t the case. Leaving water in areas such as the seals can lead to a build-up of bacteria and cause them to rot.