Spring cleaning is finally upon us! This means it’s time to pull up those rubber gloves to the elbows and get into every nook and cranny there is–and this should include any walk-in cooler or freezer you may have!
For walk-in coolers and freezers, dirt, dust, and food droppings can build up fast, as these areas have tons of traffic and a very high rate of usage. It’s important to make sure that you’re regularly cleaning these spaces to ensure that they're always in their best shape, but spring cleaning is a great time to make up for any lost time, too! Whether you’re maintaining your equipment in a restaurant, supermarket, or hospital, we’ve got some tips to help your cleaning experience go smoothly and result in a beautiful, spotless finish that will help your walk-in stay clean.
What should I use to clean?
Keep it simple! When cleaning your walk-in cooler or freezer, it’s best to keep it simple: soap and water work wonders. Combine these two miracle workers with a cloth for walls and a soft-bristled broom or brush for the floor and you’re golden! However, make sure that you’re steering away from any harsh chemicals, as they can damage the metal in your cooler or freezer. Harsh chemicals that can damage your equipment include things like chlorides and acids, so it’s best to stick to just soap and warm water to avoid any damages that may be costly over time. For anything that’s giving you a hard time while cleaning, like hard water stains, the use of a vinegar solution will usually do the trick!
How to deep clean a walk-in
At whatever size, a walk-in may seem like a daunting thing to try to deep clean. However, have no fear, because we’ve got you covered from start to finish.
To begin the cleaning process for your walk-in cooler or freezer, it’s best to start with the condenser coils. Ideally, these should be cleaned once per month to make sure that everything continues running smoothly and to avoid expensive repairs. To clean the condenser coils, the most important step is to turn off the breaker to ensure that you’re safe. Use a shop vac or an industrial vacuum to clean off the coils with ease. Next, use a rag with mild soap to cleanse the outside.
Next, work your way around the inside of the walk-in cooler or freezer with a cloth and mild soap. Remember not to use harsh chemicals!
For the floor, give it a good sweep and a mop with mild soap. Make sure to dry the floor completely before you turn your cooler or freezer back on since the liquid can turn to ice very quickly and possibly cause an avoidable accident.
One thing you can’t forget is those door gaskets! Simply take a soapy cloth to the gaskets to wipe away dirt and debris, making sure to get any buildup that may be occurring. One way of extending your gasket's life and preserving the material is to use a vinyl preservative after cleaning. To test that seal for good measure, a good trick is to close the door on a dollar bill. When you pull the bill out of the sealed door, you should feel resistance. If you don’t feel resistance, your seal might be broken. If this is the case, it’s important to call a professional to take a look and see what we can do to remedy the problem.
Next are drain lines. It’s vital to keep drain lines clean and free of any debris and food buildup. If there is significant buildup, it’s possible that it could cause your entire cooler or freezer to break down completely, which would not only be expensive, but you run the risk of losing items stored in that cooler or freezer. Another terrible side effect of the freezer breaking down due to the clogged drain lines is the smell that can come along with it. As you can imagine, the odor of old, caked-up food waste and liquids doesn’t smell too pleasant, and that stench could fill up your kitchen or supermarket quickly. To examine the state of your drain lines, just give it a quick check to see if there is any buildup or blockage. We highly recommend getting one of our skilled technicians to come out and clean the drain lines on your unit.
Bliss
Although a mighty task, the act of cleaning your walk-in is always much needed and can help prevent problems in the future. Along with deep cleaning, it’s extremely important to make sure that you are getting preventative maintenance and checkups with a technician. This will not only ensure that your equipment looks good now, but can help in finding potential problems before they start, thus saving you money and the headache of potential future breakdowns.
Call us
Need a deep clean? Want to set your walk-in freezer or cooler up on one of our preventative maintenance plans? Give us a call here at Tri-Point Refrigeration and we would be ecstatic in helping you in your walk-in journey! We’re excited to help you along the way, and our professional technicians can help find the perfect spot for your walk-in. With good placement and regular servicing, we can keep your equipment running smoothly and healthily, while also extending the reach of your dollar.
For a direct line to any of our employees ready on the line to help you, please call…(512) 651-4565 for our Austin, Texas community (806) 686-0050 for our Lubbock, Texas community. Or check out our website at https://www.tripointrefrigeration.com