Descaling a Commercial Dishwasher

Descaling your dishwasher is an important maintenance task that should be performed regularly to keep your machine functioning efficiently. Limescale and mineral deposits can build up inside your dishwasher over time, affecting its performance and even causing damage to the machine.

Here are 3 reasons why descaling is important:

1. Reduced Cleaning Performance: Limescale buildup can hinder the effectiveness of your dishwasher's cleaning process. It may leave residue on dishes and glassware, preventing them from coming out sparkling clean.

2. Unpleasant Odors: Accumulated limescale can lead to unpleasant smells inside the dishwasher. Regular descaling helps eliminate these odors and keeps your dishwasher smelling fresh.

3. Damage Prevention: Limescale can harm various components of your dishwasher, including the heating element and spray arms. By descaling, you prevent potential damage and extend the lifespan of your appliance.

Before you proceed with descaling a commercial dishwasher,

make sure you get properly geared up. You’re going to need safety glasses, gloves and a mask to protect yourself from hot steam, dangerous acid burns and chemical fumes.

The best time to descale the dishwasher is either before your workday starts or after the working hours are over and the machine is empty.

To descale your dishwasher, follow these steps:

1. Everything Off: You should start by turning off the chemical feed switch or removing the chemical feed lines from containers. You should be very careful when deliming a dishwasher, because some sanitizers include chlorine, iodine or quaternary ammonia that can form acid or noxious gas that can damage your dish machine or cause harm to your health.

2. Empty the Dishwasher: Make sure the dishwasher is empty before starting the descaling process. Drain any water from the dishwasher and to empty the wash tank(s).

3. Filling the Machine: Now you should refill the machine with fresh water.

4. Start a Hot Cycle: Run the hottest and longest cycle on your empty dishwasher (No Dishware). Do not add any detergent during this cycle.

5. Add Descaler: After about 30 minutes into the cycle, add one box of a suitable dishwasher descaler into the wash tank. Allow the product to act.

6. Let It Continue: Allow the cycle to complete. The descaler will help remove hard water buildup and limescale.

7. Run Another Wash Cycle: After the initial descaling cycle finishes, run another wash cycle with no detergent to rinse away any remaining residue.

8. Ready to Use: Now that the deliming process is over, it’s time to get the dishwasher ready for washing. Turn the chemical feed switch back on or place the feed tubes back into containers and get the chemical feed pumps ready.

Remember that descaling does not clean your dishwasher; it only removes hard water buildup. For greasy residues, use a dishwasher cleaner a few times a year. Softening salt is also beneficial for softening hard water used in your dishwasher.

Keep your dishwasher in top condition by incorporating regular descaling into your maintenance routine! 🌟