KEEP IT CLEAN: THE TOP TWENTY DOS AND DON’TS FROM WINTERHALTER

Warewasher gurus compile advice on how to keep warewashers washing reliably

Staff shortages and the need to reduce running costs mean that operators are relying more than ever on the technology in their kitchen to keep things running smoothly.  Dishwashers and glass washers are mission critical: with many sites only having one of each, if there’s a breakdown then stress levels skyrocket as the workload mounts, customers have to wait longer for service, and the cleanliness of dishes and glasses is compromised. 

To help minimise the risk the warewasher gurus at Winterhalter have put together their Top Twenty list of Dos and Don’ts to help staff look after their site’s machines and minimise the risk of any downtime.  The Top Twenty is divided into five main areas – washing, chemicals, cleaning the machine, water treatment and a general section covering common sense advice. 

Washing

DO pre-rinse and scrape food waste into bins

DON’T open the machine early before the wash cycle has finished

DO fill wash baskets/racks (avoid running the machine half empty)

DON’T mix crockery and glasses in the same machine (unless you have a Bistro unit), or wash dishes in a glass washer or vice versa. 

Chemicals

DO make sure chemicals are topped up

DON’T run a machine without chemicals

DO top up with salt on a daily/regular basis

Cleaning the machine

DO clean down properly at the end of each shift, checking and clearing all filters, wash arms etc.

DON’T leave machines full of water overnight

DO use the machine self-clean program, ideally using cleaning tablets, at the end of the day

DON’T clean machine interiors with dirty cloths

DO use a sanitizer or cleaning tablets (such as Winterhalter A15MC) regularly

Water treatment

DO look after the water treatment system and check it regularly

DON’T turn RO units off

DO replace RO filters regularly

Common sense

DO have the machine serviced regularly

DON’T ignore error messages

DO report faults, even minor ones

DON’T use baskets/racks that are damaged or displaying wear and tear

DO check for leaks – and if you find one, get it sorted immediately