A commercial refrigerator is one of the most vital pieces of equipment for businesses – big and small – that handle food, beverages, and even medical supplies.
From small bakeries and butcher’s shops to large chain supermarkets and pharmaceutical companies, commercial refrigerators do more than keep your stock at optimum temperature.
Despite their importance, they often bear the brunt of some pretty rough handling. Considering the role they play in your kitchen, keeping it clean and in tip-top working order is crucial.
But how do you do it?
In this post, our commercial refrigeration experts here at J&M Refrigeration share our tips on how to clean your commercial refrigeration system to ensure it stays on top form.
Empty your unit and turn it off before cleaning
The first step before you get busy with cleaning is removing the contents of your fridge, and throwing away anything that is mouldy or has otherwise reached its expiration date.
Trying to clean around the contents of your fridge, rather than just taking everything out and putting it back in later, will make the process much more difficult and time-consuming.
So, once your fridge is empty, go ahead and disconnect the power supply before you begin cleaning.
Wipe down the insides
Now that you’ve cleared your fridge of its contents, it’s time to start scrubbing.
Using a solution of warm water and washing up liquid and a soft sponge of your choosing, wipe down the messes that have accumulated since your last cleaning session.
To remove particularly stubborn spots of dirt, a simple toothbrush should do the trick.
Once you’ve scrubbed away all the dirt, rinse with clean water, and dry with a soft, microfibre towel ready to put your items back in later.
Clean the door seals
The best way to prevent bacteria and mould from forming on the door seals (also referred to as gaskets) of your fridge is to clean and dry them regularly.
To do this, run a soft brush along the seal to remove any trapped food debris or dirt. Spray a mixture of bleach and water (one part bleach to seven parts of water) onto the gasket and scrub gently with a clean, soft cloth, a wet sponge, or a toothbrush to remove more stubborn build-ups.
Clean the condenser filter
Commercial refrigeration units work exceptionally hard to keep your products at optimum temperatures – battling against constant door opening and moving air filled with grease, steam, and dust.
The filter is responsible for preventing the majority of air contaminants from hitting the delicate condenser components, keeping everything running properly at all times.
If not cleaned regularly, it can all clog up quickly – causing commercial refrigerator failure and potentially expensive repairs.
Use the manual to locate the filter, and, once removed, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust and debris before putting it back in.
Dry everything off
Once you’ve scrubbed every inch of your unit clean, including the doors and handles, dry everything off thoroughly with a soft, clean towel.
A mistake that many people make after cleaning their commercial refrigerators is letting them air dry – but this essentially just reverses all of your hard work.
Wet door seals, especially, are the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and mould to grow. Leaving sitting water and residue from any cleaning chemicals you used can quickly discolour metalwork, too – even stainless steel.
So, waste no time with your microfibre cloth so that your fridge is dry and ready for service again.
Need further advice?
Whether you’re looking for more expert cleaning tips or your commercial refrigerator is on the blink, consider us your go-to team for the job.
To chat with us directly, call 0121 544 0555, or reach out to us via email at admin@jamrefrigeration.com for a speedy response from one of our specialists. We’re always more than happy to help!
