How to Clean a Stero SD Door-Type Dishwasher
A dirty dishwasher might sound like a contradiction, but without cleaning your Stero SD door-type dishwasher, you can expect pots and pans to be rinsed with something more than just water. Essentially, you could be washing your dishes in a mold and bacteria-infused cleaning solution, causing an unpleasant odor and leaving dishes with a scuzzy residue.
Worse, this odor can cling to “clean” dishes and affect the taste of the food being served on them. That’s because the sense of smell directly affects how we perceive the sense of taste! Not only is a dirty dish gross, but it also can cause your establishment to be in direct violation of health and food safety laws, so it’s very important to clean your dishwasher at the end of every shift. The good news is, we have a video and step-by-step instructions for how to clean a Stero SD door-type dishwasher.
Supply List
- Soap & water cleaner
- Stainless steel cleaner
- Non-abrasive sponge
- Cloth
Cleaning Procedures
The following section will break down how to clean your SD door-type dishwasher into 12 manageable steps. Remember, this is a high-temperature dishwasher and gets extremely hot. Be sure to let it cool down for at least 10 to 15 minutes after its final wash cycle before touching the machine.
- Step 1. Remove the rack - You’ll want to make sure the rack is out of the way so that you can access and remove the parts underneath in steps three and four.
- Step 2. Turn off the dishwasher - Press the on/off button so that the red light is off. Then, turn off the steam supply by toggling the switch above the on/off button so that it rests in the middle position.
- Step 3. Remove the lower rinse arms and manifolds - Before you can remove the upper wash manifold, you will have to unscrew the nut. You should be able to lift the lower arm and manifold out of the machine without any additional steps. Set these aside for cleaning.
- Step 4. Drain the dishwasher - To drain the dishwasher, turn the drain valve handle to “open.” You can find this in the bottom left-hand corner of your unit.
- Step 5. Remove the scrap and intake screens - The screens might be filled with food debris, so be careful not to spill! If you do, don’t wash them down the drain, as this could clog it. Pick them out by hand and throw them away.
- Step 6. Clean the interior with warm water and mild detergent - For easier cleaning, use a spray bottle to spritz the interior walls. It’s a lot less messy than using the traditional bucket and sponge. Your sleeves will be sure to thank you.
- Step 7. Rinse the interior with a damp cloth or hose - Most commercial dishwashing stations come equipped with a hose that can be used to spray down the interior. If no hose is available, a damp cloth will suffice. Rinse until the detergent is no longer visible.
- Step 8. Clean the drain valve area - Before you take a sponge or cloth to wipe down the drain valve area, be sure to first remove any refuse from the poppet and valve seat. Clean the opening as if you were washing the lip of a coffee mug.
- Step 9. Polish the exterior with stainless steel cleaner - If you don’t have this on hand, no worries. Lemon juice will also give a sparkling finish.
- Step 10. Clean the lower rinse arm, wash manifolds and screens - Wash all of these in a separate sink using a mild detergent, getting into all the nooks and crannies. Be sure to let all the components air dry before reinstalling.
- Step 11. Install the clean lower rinse arm, wash manifolds and screen - Remember the order you took them out in? No? That’s okay. First, replace the scrap and intake screens followed by the lower rinse arm and wash manifolds. Just make sure the nut on the upper wash manifold is securely fastened, and you’re good to go.
- Step 12. Leave the door open to dry the interior - This last step is important! If you don’t leave the door open, then the interior can’t properly dry. This can lead to bacteria and mold growth, which is what we were trying to avoid in the first place!