Mold and slime come back in a commercial ice machine because cleaning removes what is reachable and the machine goes straight back to being dark, wet and fed by the same water. Buildup left in seams, tubing and the bin gives the next round a head start, and the water supply, the scoop and the room keep adding to it.
So there are two separate jobs. Clean and sanitize the machine on a schedule, and keep the inside of it in better shape in between.
Why does buildup keep coming back?
Some of what you are looking at is biofilm, a layer of microorganisms stuck to a wet surface. Some of it is scale, soil and general grime. The mix is why one cleaning method rarely handles all of it.
Three things drive the return:
- What was left behind. Removable parts, tubing and the bin are easy to under-clean. Whatever stays is a starting point.
- What keeps arriving. Incoming water carries minerals and organisms. So do scoops, hands, and air pulled through the machine.
- Where the machine lives. A hot, humid or dusty room is a harder environment than a cool clean one.
Established buildup also makes sanitizing less effective. A sanitizer works on what it contacts, and a thick layer shields what is underneath it. That is why the cleaning step has to come before the sanitizing step rather than instead of it.
Freezing does not help either. Freezing is not a reliable sanitation step.
What does proper cleaning and sanitizing involve?
Cleaning, descaling and sanitizing are three different things. Cleaning and descaling remove soil and mineral scale. Sanitizing reduces what is left on an already clean surface. Your machine's manual sets the chemicals, the dilutions, the contact times and the order.
- Discard the ice in the machine.
- Follow the cleaning and sanitizing procedure for your specific model. Procedures differ enough between makes that a generic sequence will miss something.
- Include the removable parts and the storage bin. The bin is a separate job and it gets skipped.
- Observe the dilution, contact time, rinse and restart instructions as written.
- Keep scoops clean and stored outside the bin, and keep hands out of the ice.
- Arrange service when buildup keeps returning or when it is somewhere you cannot reach.
If you are choosing a sanitizer for that step, Selectrocide from Selective Micro Technologies is an EPA-registered chlorine dioxide sanitizer and disinfectant, generated on site and mixed to the rate you need. Confirm compatibility with your machine's manufacturer before using any product the manual does not name.
Trade guidance is useful background, but it does not override the manufacturer's instructions for your machine.
How often should a commercial ice machine be cleaned?
The FDA Food Code is a model code rather than a nationwide operating rule, and states adopt it in their own versions. Section 4-602.11(E)(4) sets the frequency as the manufacturer's specification, or, where the manufacturer gives none, at a frequency that prevents soil and mold accumulating.
In practice most manufacturers specify cleaning and sanitizing every six months, and commonly call for the storage bin to be done monthly. Machines in hot, humid or heavy-use locations need it more often than that.
Worth knowing
Ice is a food under the Food Code, so an ice machine is food equipment and gets inspected like it. Food Safety Magazine notes that visible mold and slime inside machines is common, and that waiting for it before cleaning is already too late.
Where does CleanAir fit in?
Routine cleaning and sanitizing remain essential. CleanAir™ from Selective Micro Technologies is a simple addition to that routine, for odor reduction and for stains caused by algae, mold and mildew.
It is a sachet that goes inside the machine. Moisture already in the air activates it, so there is nothing to mix, plumb or power, and it generates ultra-low levels of chlorine dioxide. On the label the intended use is reducing odor, displacing ethylene gas, cleaning the atmosphere, and cleaning and removing stains caused by algae, mold and mildew inside ice machines.
The practical points:
- Replace the sachet every 30 days.
- Contact your distributor for placement instructions for your machine.
- Professional use only. Read the label and SDS before use.
- No harsh chemicals.
- Unopened units keep for up to two years.
- Meets NSF/ANSI 12 requirements for ice machines and applicable OSHA occupational exposure limits when used as directed.
CleanAir does not replace scheduled cleaning, sanitizing or descaling, and it is not a substitute for your machine's maintenance procedure.
Get CleanAir for your machines
Shop CleanAir for ice machines.
Need placement guidance? Email inquiry@selectivemicro.com with your machine make and model.
Frequently asked questions
Is pink slime necessarily mold?
No, and color is not a reliable way to tell what is growing or how concerning it is. Pink, green, brown and black buildup all get handled the same way, by cleaning and sanitizing the machine to its manufacturer's procedure.
Does CleanAir replace cleaning?
No. Scheduled cleaning, sanitizing and descaling still have to happen on the manufacturer's timetable. CleanAir is an addition to that routine for odor and for stains caused by algae, mold and mildew.
Where should CleanAir be placed?
Placement depends on the machine, so the label directs you to your distributor. Email Selective Micro Technologies with your make and model and you will get instructions for that machine rather than a general answer.
How often is CleanAir replaced?
Every 30 days. Unopened units keep for up to two years, so ordering ahead for several machines does not waste product.