Why you should also wash the dishwasher

Clean dishes are the calling card of any business. After all, shiny glasses, gleaming cutlery and spotlessly clean plates make a good first impression. Investing in good dishwashers and spotless dishes, however, doesn’t make a lot of sense if you overlook the maintenance on your dishwashers.

When your dishes come out of the dishwasher clean, it also appears as if the dishwasher itself has been washed completely clean inside. This is not entirely true. Because catering dishwashers usually run short wash programmes, greasy residue and detergents can be left behind. This greasiness is can be detrimental to the filters, pipes and spray arms. Cleaning the dishwasher is often an neglected chore that’s necessary for the optimal performance of your dishwasher.

When do you clean your dishwasher?

Unfortunately, the best time to clean your dishwasher is also the time when you feel like it the least. At the end of the day, when the last of the dishes have finished their cleaning cycle, is the best time to start. The dishwasher is still warm inside and caked-on residue on the inner wall comes off more easily.

With just a few tips, you can ensure a clean machine that delivers even cleaner results:

Daily:

First, drain the water and turn off the machine. To clean the inside, a sponge with hot water and detergent is sufficient. Use the detergent sparingly to avoid too much foaming when the machine is switched on again.

It’s important to check every day that the openings on the wash and rinse arms are not blocked and, if necessary, to prick and clear them with, for example, a cocktail stick. By just doing this, you have already done the most important part.

Of course, you should also remove any larger food particles. It’s also a good idea to remove as much food debris as possible from the dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.

Don’t forget to take out the filters and clean them under the hot tap using a brush. Do not remove the filter until all the water has been pumped out and any residue has been removed from the water tank.

Every millimetre of limescale causes a sharp increase in energy consumption.

Weekly:

On a weekly basis, loosen the wash and rinse arms and clean them using warm water and a brush. Don’t forget to also check the openings.

Finally, it doesn't hurt to remove the door out a few times a year. That way you can clean the hard-to-reach edges and rubber seals, and also check the seal for any wear and tear.

Descaling

Limescale is a formidable enemy to any appliances that comes into contact with water. It is also a danger to your wallet. Limescale deposits can reduce the lifespan of your appliances, and every millimetre of build-up makes an appliance use more and more energy!

The use of a water softener is highly recommended, but it will not be able to prevent limescale 100%.

In addition, you should always use a professional descaling agent . This is not only for your dishwasher, but for all your catering equipment, such as coffee machines, bain maries and kettles, because it makes short work of all kinds of lime deposits. This way you can enjoy your appliances longer and they will perform better.

Descaling is easy by putting 500g of limescale remover in the dishwasher and wash for 30 minutes.

Then, drain the water and repeat with clean water.

Other tips

Most machines have a pump for soap or rinse aid. These work automatically so there is usually no need to add any extra. It is better to adjust these pumps if you want to use more soap.

When the dishwasher is not in use for a few hours, drain the water. After closing time, you can should the door or hood of the dishwasher open. This will prevent any unpleasant odours.

 

Want to know more about professional dishwashers? On our product page, we explain more about the different types of catering dishwashers , the benefits, buying and using tips.