Cleaning & Maintaining Commercial Dishwasher: The Correct Way

The commercial dishwasher is the workhorse of your kitchen: hundreds of wash cycles per day, along with grease, starch, protein and often hard water. Neglecting daily care risks hygiene issues, dull glasses, limescale damage to the heating element & in the worst case a breakdown mid-service. The good news: With a fixed routine of just a few minutes per day, your machine will remain reliable for years and consistently deliver flawless washing results.

Why daily cleaning is crucial

Unlike domestic dishwashers, commercial dishwashers use a tank whose water is used across many wash cycles. Food residues, grease and detergent residues accumulate there over the course of the day. If the tank is not emptied and cleaned daily, you will be washing with contaminated water the next morning – this endangers hygiene and visibly worsens the results. Clogged filters and washing arm nozzles also cause the machine to use more detergent and energy without improving the wash.

Daily routine after end of operation

Plan about ten minutes at the end of each wash day – in this order:

• Drain machine: Completely drain the tank water (in many models via the self-cleaning programme) and switch off the machine.
• Remove and rinse filters: Remove flat filters and pump filter, rinse thoroughly under running water, dispose of coarse residues in the bin – never knock them down the drain.
• Check washing arms: Remove upper and lower washing arms, check nozzles for blockages and flush through. Blocked nozzles are the most common cause of poor washing results.
• Wipe interior: Wipe down tank, door interior and seals with clear water, remove any label or food residue.
• Leave door open: Overnight, leave the hood or door slightly open so the interior can dry and no odors or germs develop.

Weekly deep cleaning

Once a week, you should be more thorough: check rinse aid and detergent hoses for kinks and air bubbles, wipe down the housing and inspect seals for damage. Remove limescale and starch deposits inside the machine with a deep clean on an empty machine. Stainless steel surfaces on the outside stay attractive longer with a suitable care product – you can find suitable products in our category Cleaning agents for dishwashing technology.

Descaling: when and how

Limescale is the creeping enemy of every dishwasher: it settles on heating elements, lengthens heating times and drives electricity consumption up. White deposits in the tank or on the washed items are a clear warning signal. With medium-hard water, descaling is recommended about every four to eight weeks, with hard water correspondingly more often – for example with the Descaler F1L. Dosage and dwell time can be found on the label; afterwards rinse thoroughly with clear water. In the long term, a water softener before the machine pays off with hard water.

Correct dosing of detergent and rinse aid

More is better? The opposite applies with detergent use. Overdosed detergent causes foam, streaks and unnecessary costs, underdosing leads to greasy residues and hygiene risks. Follow the manufacturer's instructions – typically about 2–4 ml detergent per litre of tank water depending on water hardness. The combination of Dishwasher Detergent F10L for powerful cleanliness and Rinse Aid F10L for quick, spot-free drying of glasses and cutlery has proven effective. Regularly check whether the dosing devices are drawing and canisters are changed in time.

Common mistakes

• Leaving tank water in the machine overnight – germs and odor are inevitable.
• Only rinsing filters but forgetting the pump filter.
• Ignoring clogged washing arm nozzles and increasing the detergent dose instead.
• Using domestic dishwashing detergent in commercial machines – strong foam formation can damage the pump.
• Delaying descaling until the heating element is already damaged.
• Not clearing dishes beforehand: coarse food residues belong in the bin, not the machine.

Conclusion

Ten minutes of daily care, a weekly deep clean and regular descaling – that’s all it takes to keep your commercial dishwasher hygienic and economical for many years. The right detergent and correct dosing make the difference between dull glasses and brilliant results. Are you planning a new machine or looking for the right detergent? In our category Dishwashers you will find commercial dishwashing technology for every need. For questions about dosing, water hardness or choosing equipment, we are happy to advise you personally at +49 6724 2069393.