Getting the Most from Your Industrial Dishwasher
Posted by MARISSA HOLLAND
The industrial dishwasher plays a vital role in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in fast-paced professional kitchens. Its effectiveness is not only dependent on its robust build, but also on the strategic organisation. By mastering this technique, you can reduce water and power consumption, prevent any damages, and extend the lifespan of the tableware.
Understanding Your Dishwasher's Capacity and Layout
Each industrial dishwasher is designed to meet the demands of different kitchenware. It’s important to familiarise yourself with the unique capacity and rack layout of each dishwasher model to optimise the available space. Consider the strategic placement of racks and the spray patterns of the dishwasher to guarantee thorough coverage of water and detergent on every item.
Pre-Rinse: The First Step
Using a powerful pre-rinse spray gun is advised before using industrial dishwashers to eliminate large food particles and avoid blockages, ultimately improving the machine's performance. This method is both water-saving and more efficient compared to manual soaking or rinsing.
Strategic Loading: Maximising Space and Cleaning Power
Plates and Trays: Ensure that plates and trays are placed in their assigned racks in an upright position, allowing enough space for water to circulate. It’s essential to avoid overloading, as this may result in insufficient cleaning and the need for re-washing, ultimately wasting water and energy resources.
Cups, Glasses, and Bowls: To prevent water from pooling, invert these items in their racks. Ensure proper spacing to prevent breakage and to facilitate thorough cleaning both internally and externally.
Utensils: Utilise utensil baskets to organise smaller items, while ensuring that spoons, forks, and knives are mixed together to avoid them from fitting snugly. As for larger utensils, position them horizontally on a rack, making sure they are evenly spaced to facilitate thorough cleaning.
Pots and Pans: These should be loaded on their own cycle, if possible, as they often require more thorough cleaning. Make sure they're placed upside down and spaced out to allow water and detergent access to all surfaces.
Selecting the Correct Cycle
Efficiency greatly depends on selecting the right wash cycle. For glassware and lightly stained items, it is best to utilise lighter cycles, while reserving heavier cycles for pots, pans, and heavily stained dishes. By following this practice, you not only save water and energy, but also minimise the wear and tear on your dishes and the dishwasher itself.
The Role of Detergents and Rinse Aids
The key to achieving effective dishwashing lies in the use of high-quality detergents and rinse aids. These products work by decreasing the surface tension of water, enabling its smooth removal from the dishware. This not only improves the drying process but also prevents the formation of water spots, ultimately minimising the requirement for manual polishing.
Regular Maintenance
To prevent malfunctions and maintain the efficiency of the dishwasher, it’s important to clean the filters daily and regularly check the spray arms for any obstructions. Additionally, following the manufacturer's instructions for regular descaling and deep cleaning further enhances the dishwasher's performance, ensuring optimal functionality.
Training Staff
Emphasising the importance of efficient loading techniques, staff training should incorporate strategies to enhance this skill. One effective method is to create a user-friendly guide or chart that visually depicts the best practices for loading dishes. This valuable resource can be prominently displayed near the dishwasher, enabling staff members to quickly refer to it.
Continuous Evaluation and Improvement
Make it a habit to regularly evaluate the efficiency of how you load your dishwasher. This can be done by monitoring cycle durations, water and energy consumption, and the frequency of re-washing. Utilise this gathered information to make adjustments and optimise your loading strategy.
The key to mastering the efficient loading of your industrial dishwasher lies not only in maintaining cleanliness but also in maximising the return on your investment. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your dishwasher operates at its optimal efficiency, resulting in time and resource savings, and ultimately contributing to a more sustainable operation.