Carter Hoffmann Food Cart Cleaning & Maintenance
From hotels and restaurants to schools and healthcare facilities, Carter Hoffman food carts and cabinets ensure people get delicious dishes served at the proper temperature. With consistent use, regular upkeep is a must to get the most out of these units. In this guide, we tackle all the steps for proper Carter Hoffman food cart cleaning and maintenance.
BR Series Banquet Carts
The BR series heat retention banquet carts are used in a wide variety of applications. Below are periodic cleaning instructions BR series carts.
Cleaning Instructions
- Step 1. Power down machine and cool – Turn off the main power switch and unplug the machine. Wait until the unit cools down before you start cleaning.
- Step 2. Remove and clean the racks – Take out the racks by lifting up and pulling. Clean the racks by hand in a sink using warm water.
- Step 3. Clean the stainless-steel surfaces – Use OEM-recommended cleaning chemicals, degreasers and sanitizers that are both chloride- and phosphate-free. Follow the mixing instructions on the product for proper concentrations and mixing ratios.
- Step 4. Rinse the stainless-steel surfaces – Once you're finished cleaning and sanitizing the surfaces, rinse them with a large amount of clean water. Wipe off remaining liquid or residue from the surfaces as well as the corners and rear edges.
- Step 5. Clean the vinyl trim – Use a chlorine-free cleaner and water to wash the vinyl trim. Don't use abrasive cleaning chemicals, waxes, car polishes or alcohol-based cleaners. Also, avoid using direct steam or hot water above 190 degrees Fahrenheit. This could loosen or bubble the vinyl’s adhesive.
- Step 6. Rinse the trim and air dry – Rinse the vinyl trim using clean water. Once you're done, let the whole unit air dry.
- Step 7. Reinstall the racks – After the cart is dry, place the racks back into the unit.
Economy Tray Carts
The Economy models also are used in various hospitality segments but have a smaller footprint. Below are periodic cleaning and maintenance instructions for economy tray carts.
Cleaning Instructions
- Step 1. Remove tray slide assemblies and racks – Take out the slides by lifting from the bottom, rotate it 90 degrees upward and slide out. Lift the rack assembly up from the bottom off the rack pins at the bottom of the cabinet. Angle the rack, so it slides off the upper pins.
- Step 2. Clean the stainless-steel surfaces – Use OEM-recommended cleaning chemicals, degreasers and sanitizers that are both chloride- and phosphate-free. Follow the mixing instructions on the product for proper concentrations and mixing ratios.
- Step 3. Rinse the stainless-steel surfaces – Once you're finished cleaning and sanitizing the surfaces, rinse them with a large amount of clean water. Wipe off remaining liquid or residue from the surfaces as well as the corners and rear edges. Don't tip the cart onto the door to drain extra water.
- Step 4. Clean the vinyl trim (if applicable) – If your model has vinyl trim, use a chlorine-free cleaner and water to wash it. Don't use abrasive cleaning chemicals, waxes, car polishes or alcohol-based cleaners. For proper measurements and ratios, follow the solvent's procedures carefully.
Periodic Maintenance
Make sure to conduct regular maintenance on the following components.
- Casters – Lubricate the casters at least once every six months. Conduct this more frequently if the cart has special bearing or if it's cleaned with a hot water or steam cleaning system.
- Latches and hinges – See If the joints are sealed and the latches don't stick. Lubricate the latches as needed with silicone spray, graphite, WD-40 or major stainless-steel lubricants. Don't use oil.
- Doors – When using or cleaning the cart, never tip it forward to drain water during cleaning or drying. This can damage the hinges and latches.
Carts with TH15 or THL Heating System
These carts are equipped with a flush-mount TH15 or top-mount THL heating system. Below are periodic cleaning and maintenance instructions for these models.
Cleaning Instructions
- Step 1. Power down machine and cool – Turn off the main power switch and unplug the machine. Wait until the unit cools down before you start cleaning.
- Step 2. Remove the heating unit – For Take off the top-mount heating system by lifting up and off the top of the cabinet.
- Step 3. Remove and clean the racks – Take out the racks by lifting up and pulling. Clean the racks by hand in a sink using warm water.
- Step 4. Clean the stainless-steel surfaces – Use OEM-recommended cleaning chemicals, degreasers and sanitizers that are both chloride- and phosphate-free. Follow the mixing instructions on the product for proper concentrations and mixing ratios.
- Step 5. Rinse the stainless-steel surfaces – Once you're finished cleaning and sanitizing the surfaces, rinse them with a large amount of clean water. Wipe off remaining liquid or residue from the surfaces as well as the corners and rear edges.
- Step 6. Clean the vinyl trim – Use a chlorine-free cleaner and water to wash the vinyl trim. Don't use abrasive cleaning chemicals, waxes, car polishes or alcohol-based cleaners. Also, avoid using direct steam or hot water above 190 degrees Fahrenheit. This could loosen or bubble the vinyl’s adhesive.
- Step 7. Rinse the trim and air dry – Rinse the vinyl trim using clean water. Once you're done, let the whole unit air dry.
- Step 8. Reinstall the racks and heating system – After the cart is dry, place the racks back into the unit and reinstall the heating system.
Periodic Maintenance
Occasionally conduct maintenance on the following components regularly. Before you start, turn off the main power switch, unplug the cart and wait for the unit to cool down.
- Casters – Lubricate the casters at least once every six months. Conduct this more frequently if the cart has special bearing or if it's cleaned with a hot water or steam cleaning system.
- Latches – Check the latches regularly to make sure they're secure. They can be sticky from residue buildup from consistent usage and cleaning. Lubricate the latches as needed with silicone spray, graphite, WD-40 or major stainless-steel lubricants. Don't use oil.
- Perimeter bumpers – The vinyl bumpers can get dislodged from bumping or scraping. Pry them back into place using a screwdriver.
Need help with more cart cleaning and maintenance? Look through our collection of Carter Hoffmann manuals for additional instructions.