Refrigerated Merchandiser Cleaning
Refrigerated merchandisers chill and display products while keeping them in easy reach for customers, making them critical units for self-service foodservice operations. Since proper care of these machines is important, this refrigerated merchandiser cleaning guide outlines weekly and monthly maintenance tasks to keep your equipment presentable and hygienic.
Supplies
- Warm Water
- Mild Detergent
- Cleaning Cloths
- Sanitizer
- Glass Cleaner
- Vacuum
- Screwdriver (to remove glass panels or coil grates, if needed)
Don't use abrasive pads or harsh chemicals, especially chlorine or ammonia-based ones, since these can damage the machine. Although this article gives guidelines as to the frequency for certain maintenance tasks, you may need to clean your merchandiser more frequently, especially if it’s located in a high-traffic area.
Pre-Cleaning Procedure
- Step 1. Turn off power and lights (if switches exist) - Use the power and light switches to turn off the display case. If the unit doesn’t have dedicated switches, proceed to Step 2.
- Step 2. Unplug the unit - Minimize the risk of electrical hazards by unplugging the power cord from the electrical outlet.
- Step 3. Empty the machine - Remove food items from the unit and either place them in another machine or discard.
- Step 4. Allow the unit to warm - Let the machine warm up for 10-15 minutes before continuing in order to avoid thermal shock and condensation issues on the unit’s surfaces.
Weekly Cleaning
- Step 1. Wash interior cabinets - Clean interior shelves, racks and other surfaces with warm water, mild detergent and a soft cloth. Be sure to rinse away any remaining suds or residues with a damp cloth, then dry thoroughly.
- Step 2. Maintain exterior surfaces - Use warm, soapy water and a soft cloth to clean exterior surfaces, then rinse with clean water and dry with a cloth.
- Step 3. Clean glass doors and panels - Spray glass cleaner onto the doors and panels, then wipe the surfaces with a soft cloth.
- Step 4. Sanitize interior surfaces - Apply sanitizer to interior surfaces and allow it to air dry according to the product instructions.
Monthly Maintenance
- Step 1. Maintain the gasket (if needed) - Check the door gasket for cracks or tears and replace if necessary. If the seal is still in good condition, clean it with warm, soapy water, then rinse and dry completely. For open-air units, skip this step.
- Step 2. Clean sliding door channels (if needed) - Vacuum the door channels to remove any loose debris before washing with warm, soapy water. Remember to rinse and dry the channel before sliding the door back into place. If your unit doesn’t have sliding doors, bypass these instructions.
- Step 3. Vacuum the coils - Clean the condenser coils by using a vacuum to remove dust and debris. Note that you may have to unscrew the grate to access the coils.
- Step 4. Maintain glass channels (if present) - Take out any removable glass panels and then maintain the channels by vacuuming them with a crevice tool or wiping with a damp cloth. Note that it may be necessary to loosen the screws in order to remove the panels. Once the area is clean, return the glass panels to the machine.
- Step 5. Clean the floor around the unit - Vacuum or mop the area around the merchandiser to help keep the condenser coils and exterior surfaces from accumulating excessive dust.
Resuming Normal Operation
- Step 1. Plug in the unit - Reconnect the machine to power by plugging the power cord into an electrical outlet.
- Step 2. Switch on the power and lights (if present) - Use the power and lights switches to turn on the unit. If your model doesn’t have dedicated switches, move on to Step 3.
- Step 3. Check the temperature setting (if needed) - Review the temperature setting; if it was changed during the cleaning process, reset the unit to the desired temperature.
- Step 4. Let the unit cool - Allow the machine to cool for about 30 minutes before continuing.
- Step 5. Restock the merchandiser - Reload the machine once it has reached the desired temperature.
- Step 6. Resume normal operation - You may now use the unit normally.