Cleaning Your Manitowoc Ice Machine
Ice may look clean, but your ice machine works hard behind the scenes, without regular cleaning it can quickly become a breeding ground for scale, slime and mineral build-up that affects performance, hygiene and the taste of your ice.
Being that ice is considered a food product we recommend scheduled cleaning and sanitising to keep your unit efficient, reliable and food-safe.
Clean Ice Starts With a Clean Machine
Even though Manitowoc ice machines use advanced filtration and antimicrobial surfaces, they still need regular deep cleans. Dust from the environment, airborne particles and minerals from the water supply naturally build up over time.
Without cleaning this residue can:
- Reduce ice production and energy efficiency
- Cause blockages in sensors or tubing
- Create unpleasant tastes or odours
- Lead to unsanitary ice and potential food safety issues
Routine cleaning keeps your machine operating as designed, producing crystal-clear ice that’s safe to serve.
Machines with LuminIce
If you have an ice machine with LuminIce – typically models with larger heads do – the luminice bulbs need to be replaced.
The purpose of LuminIce in ice machines is to inhibit the growth of microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and mold within the food zone of the ice machine. It works by creating “active air” using UV light to sterilize the air and generate a cold plasma gas, which then circulates to keep the machine cleaner, reduce labor for manual cleanings, and improve machine performance and sanitation
Australia’s Water Quality Challenges
Australia’s water quality varies dramatically by region, from soft coastal water to the hard, mineral-rich water found inland. Those minerals (mainly calcium and magnesium) create scale, a chalky deposit that builds up on the evaporator and water distribution system.
Over time, scale reduces heat transfer, slows ice release and forces your unit to work harder.
Because of these differences not all cleaning products work the same everywhere. Via Manitowoc we supply different cleaners and descalers formulated for specific mineral content and water conditions.
Using the wrong product can:
- Fail to dissolve scale properly
- Damage internal components
- Leave chemical residues that contaminate ice
That’s why it’s important to use genuine Manitowoc cleaner and sanitizer matched to your model and your local water conditions.
When we come out to service or clean your machine the we use two products; ice machine cleaner and sanitizer.
The cleaner removes lime scale and mineral deposits from the system. It contains ingredients that break down calcium and other minerals, dissolving them into a form that can be safely flushed away with water.
Environmental factors, especially if there is hard water, determine how quickly scale forms. This typically requires us to attend and clean every six months.
Ice machine sanitizer removes algae, slime and bacterial growth keeping the machine hygienic and food-safe, this is also usually completed every six months.
A complete clean includes
When we clean the machine we complete the following:
- Descaling: Dissolves mineral deposits and restores evaporator efficiency.
- Sanitising: Eliminates bacteria, yeast, and mould growth in water contact areas.
- Rinsing and testing: Ensures all chemical traces are safely removed before making new ice.
Regular cleaning helps maintain warranty compliance, keeps your ice clear and prevents costly downtime.
Partner With Professionals
Baker Refrigeration technicians are factory-trained on Manitowoc systems and use approved cleaners for Australian conditions. We can set up scheduled maintenance programs for you to keep your ice machine working to its peak performance.
Need your Manitowoc ice machine cleaned or serviced?
Contact your local Baker Refrigeration branch for professional maintenance tailored to your water quality and usage.
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