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Maintaining Your Commercial Dishwasher: Essential Tips for Longevity and Performance


Dishwasher with clean glass washer machine utensils

The commercial dishwasher is one of the most important appliances in your restaurant’s kitchen. If it breaks down, that can mean a huge loss of productivity for you and your establishment as you strive to meet the demands of hungry customers. So it stands to reason that preventive maintenance is the best way to improve the longevity and performance of your commercial dishwasher.


How do you ensure you get the most out of your commercial dishwasher? Our blog takes a closer look at the best ways you can increase its longevity.


Clean Your Dishwasher Daily

Commercial dishwashers perform a lot of heavy-duty cleaning work during the day. But that doesn't mean they don't need cleaning. If you neglect cleaning your dishwasher, you risk making it less efficient.


Not all food particles make it to the drain. Some of them can stay inside the dishwasher where they can build up and cause bacteria growth. This makes your dishwasher less effective at washing and sanitizing your dishes.


Regular cleaning of the catch basket eliminates these problems and extends the life of your machine.


Scrape Food Debris Off of Dishes

A kitchen can get hectic when it gets busy, but taking a moment to remove food debris from dishes before loading them into the dishwasher and rinsing quickly can significantly improve the life of your dishwasher. This reduces the amount of food debris and oily residues that enter the dishwasher, limiting problems such as clogged filters and nozzles, food catching on wash arms and many others. Have a pre-rinse hose installed at the sink near the dishwasher to maximize efficient rinsing of the dishes.


Clean the Filter Often

Food waste can clog the filter/catch basket and make your dishwasher less efficient, as well as creating strange odors. Check the filter often, every 20 cycles, and clean it with a soft brush under running water. You can use a toothpick to remove stubborn particles but take care not to knock the filter against anything to try to dislodge particles as this will damage it.


Always Follow the Manufacturer’s Manual

Your dishwasher will come with a manual that should be your guide for any maintenance, repairs, and operations. It can be tempting to ignore it and try and figure things out on your own, but failing to follow the manufacturer’s instructions can have serious consequences for your dishwasher. For example, using the wrong chemical can lead to corroded pipes or the outright destruction of your dishwasher. Manuals are available on line should you lose your original hard copy.


Call a Qualified Inspector Often

Despite your best efforts, your dishwasher will still accumulate wear and tear. That’s natural, so you should have your dishwasher inspected at least once a year by a qualified technician to detect any problems early, before they lead to a breakdown.


We Provide Commercial Dishwashers and More in Toronto

J.F.S. Restaurant Equipment Ltd has an extensive selection of commercial dishwashers for all manner of kitchens in Toronto. Whether you’re a small restaurant or a much larger operation, you can find the equipment you need to keep your dishes clean and tidy.


Contact us today to learn more.

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