In addition to being the subject of embarrassing TikTok videos, these companies may also endanger customers and employees due to contaminated ice. Let's dive into the risks associated with dirty ice machines and how to properly clean ice machines.

The ice machine is dark and wet. This environment is very suitable for the growth of slime and mold. If ignored, a lot of mold, slime, scale and deposits may form. These substances are difficult to remove and can cause the ice maker to malfunction or reduce the amount of ice produced.

Mucus and mold are disgusting, although they are not dangerous to the user. They can lead to violations of health checks and negative customer reviews, so it is very important to keep the ice machine away from these substances.

Every human interaction with the ice machine may transfer bacteria to the device and then to another user. Studies have found that bacteria such as Gram-negative bacilli and Candida can be transferred to commercial ice machines through normal use. Ice contaminated with bacteria can cause infection or disease, including E. coli, hepatitis A, Norwalk virus, and Legionnaires' disease. Protect your customers and employees by following best practices for cleaning ice machines.

The outer surfaces of ice machines and ice machines and beverage machines should be regularly cleaned anywhere in contact with humans. Employees can wipe these surfaces with disinfectant, rinse them with water, and then apply disinfectant to allow them to air dry. This will reduce the transfer of bacteria.

The main places where scale, mold and slime grow are more difficult to enter, such as the inside of ice machines and freezers. These areas require more extensive cleaning, called deep cleaning.

The manufacturer recommends deep cleaning at least twice a year. The deep cleaning of the ice machine should be carried out by trained technicians. These in-depth processes require access to all internal ice-making components and involve three important stages: descaling, disinfection, and disinfection.

The frequency of deep cleaning is determined by many environmental factors. In environments with high levels of air pollutants, such as yeast and flour, mold and slime form faster. Therefore, companies such as breweries and bakeries need to deep clean ice machines more frequently. Other factors may cause the ice machine to become dirty faster, such as the large amount of grease produced during cooking, old pipes that transport deposits, and improper and unhygienic use by customers or employees.

Some business owners or managers clean their ice machines to save money. It should be noted that in the long run, professional cleaning is usually worth the money. Professionals have the ability to do better in deep cleaning, can make recommendations based on any visible problems in the ice machine or the environment, and can diagnose small problems that prevent future repairs.

The following is an overview of the deep cleaning process, designed to guide ice machine owners on the operations that should be performed in professional deep cleaning. If you plan to clean your ice machine, please research the exact steps for your manufacturer and model.

Deep cleaning consists of three independent steps that should be performed in sequence: descaling, disinfection, and disinfection.

Descaling: Scale will accumulate quickly and should be completely removed to prevent it from getting out of control. Descaler, also called descaler solution, is an acid and should be handled with care. The descaler solution can contaminate the ice source, so be sure to remove all ice from the ice box and turn off the ice maker before starting this process. Follow the instructions to use the descaling solution to clean the ice machine components, including the evaporator assembly, water reservoir, water distribution pipe, drip zone, and ice box.

Disinfection: Use quaternary ammonium salt-based cleaners, EPA-approved food-grade bleach, or similar cleaning products. When mixing the solution, follow the instructions on the bottle for the disinfectant dilution rate. Apply disinfectant to all ice contact surfaces inside the ice maker, outside of the ice maker (including door handles and ice scoops), and the entire interior of the refrigerator. Depending on the ice machine model, this may require you to take it apart. Wet the surface thoroughly and allow the solution to stay for at least 10 minutes (called the wet contact time). Since the disinfectant has a high chemical-to-water ratio, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse all the solution on the surface of the ice machine after the wet contact time.

Disinfection: Use the same cleaning agent used to disinfect the ice maker and mix according to label instructions for disinfection. This should be a lower ratio of detergent to water, which is why it is safe to air dry on an ice maker. Fully saturate the same components and surfaces that you cleaned in the first two steps. Allow the disinfectant to air dry on the ice machine before turning the equipment back on. If you clean block ice or the flake ice machine, discard the first batch of ice.

High-flow commercial electrical appliances, including ice machines, may be contaminated by human use and may become dirty due to countless environmental factors. Business owners are responsible for following the cleaning recommendations of the manufacturer and professional ice machine technicians. Imagine being a famous person on TikTok is fun, but let it be your first-class service or delicacy, not because of having a dirty ice machine.

John Mahlmeister is the COO and co-founder of Easy Ice. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and Marquette, Michigan, Easy Ice is a national leader in the full-service ice machine subscription industry, with warehouses and distribution facilities in Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Orlando, and Denver. Since its establishment in 2009, Easy Ice has rapidly increased the number of ice machines it manages to 25,000 units in 47 states. The Easy Ice commercial ice maker subscription plan includes installation, cleaning, preventive maintenance, repairs, and spare ice. For more information, please visit EasyIce.com, or on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter

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