Purchasing an undercounter commercial dishwasher is a big investment for your operation, and of course you want it to last a long time. Anytime you purchase a piece of equipment, you want to do everything you can to make it last and get the most for your money. Just like you do regular oil changes and tire rotations to keep your car running at optimum performance, proper care and regular cleaning are key to getting the most out of your dishmachine investment. This results in:
- Improved performance with cleaner dishes
- More efficient washes leading to energy savings over the long run
- Prolonged life of the dishwasher
Training: The Foundation of Good Habits
From day one, it’s important that everyone working with the new dishwasher have proper training in proper cleaning to make sure it continues to work in top condition. Centerline™ undercounter dishwashers come with an easy-to-understand owner’s manual that outlines everything you need to know to properly clean and maintain your dishwasher.
Not everyone learns easily by reading, which is why there are other tools available to help make sure anyone who works with the dishwasher has everything they need to know to keep things running smoothly. Visual learners will appreciate the wall chart and videos. Hang the wall chart near the dishmachine, for easy to follow, step-by-step, illustrated instructions for daily start-up and cleaning processes. Wall charts also include QR codes that you can scan with your smartphone and watch videos showing the processes.
Click Here to view the Centerline CUH Operator Resource Site
Making Regular Cleaning Easy
It is recommended that operators drain and clean the interior of the dishwasher after every shift. Special features make this easy, including an auto-clean feature which drains the machine, sprays down the chamber and shuts down the machine.
Daily: The strainer pans and scrap basket should be taken out and cleaned after each meal to help keep the water and interior clean and free of food soil, which can lead to redeposit on glassware and dishes, or poor performance overall.
Weekly: In addition to the daily cleaning, once a week the two wash and rinse arms should be cleaned in warm, soapy water. The arms have a snap-in feature that makes it easy to remove the arms for washing.
As Needed: Deliming is another important step in maintaining your dishwasher for longer life. The Centerline is set at the factory to delime after 1,500 cycles, but how often you should delime really depends on the hardness of your water. The deliming cycle should be run when you see a white chalky substance on the inside walls of the dishwasher. Be sure to inspect the interior regularly to stay on top of deliming. The Centerline dishwasher has a deliming cycle that is easy to start with the simple press of a button.
Extra Tips for Improved Efficiency
In addition to regular cleaning, there are a few other things you can do to keep your undercounter dishmachine running at peak performance.
- Pre-scrap dishes. Getting large food particles and debris off before loading keeps the filters and water cleaner while washing.
- Load the rack properly. Load only one rack per cycle with the right spacing for all dishes to get them clean.
- Use only recommended commercial detergents and sanitizers.
Complete cleaning and maintenance instructions are included in the owner’s manual. Be sure to set up and follow a regular cleaning routine for your operation to keep your dishwasher working at peak performance. And, make use of all the tools available to help your team develop good habits to protect your dishwashing investment.
