Stewarding SOP for Cleaning and Maintaining Dishwashing Machine / Dishwasher

SOP Number: Kitchen / F&B Production SOP – 33

Department: All Kitchen and Stewarding Staff

Date Issued: 16-Feb-2019

Time to Train: 30 Minutes

Purpose of this SOP:

All stewarding staff must have complete knowledge about dishwashing machines, their handling and their maintenance etc.. All stewarding staff must familiarize themselves with the correct standard and procedures on handling the kitchen equipment. Always disconnect the electrical power supply and place a tag at the disconnect switch indicating that you are working on the circuit before performing any cleaning and maintenance procedures.

The Executive Chef and Stewarding Manager should be responsible to ensure that appropriate kitchen equipment cleaning and maintenance methods are followed by the stewarding staff. The hotel training and HRD department should develop and implement proper written Kitchen Stewarding SOP's to ensure the same is implemented correctly throughout all the food preparation outlets.

What are the steps for cleaning the Dishwashing Machine?

Note: This SOP is for reference or example only, always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer for your's and others safety, and also to avoid any injury while operating this equipment.

1. Dishwashers must be thoroughly cleaned after the operation.

2. Open the door and lift drain handle to drain water. Drain handle places above the strainer panel in the front of the wash tank.

3. Remove and clean curtains.

4. Use a hose with nozzles to wash large particles into the machine, clean dishwasher interior thoroughly.

5. Pull upper arm latch, rotate upper arm front to take the upper arm. Lift lower arm front and rotate right to take the lower arm. Remove a plug of the lower arm and clean wash arms.

6. Take out strainer basket and strainer panel. Pour waste into the dustbin. Do not strike strainer basket/panel on hard things. Clean strainer basket/panel in the water pool.

7. Drain the wash tank and pull out intake screen strainer to clean.

8. Take out rinse arm, screw rinse arm plug, clean nozzle and rinse arm.

9. Re-install wash arm plug and make sure not too tight. Install wash arms and rinse arms proper positions.

10. Clean tank bottom and clean out left food leavings.

11. Replace pump intake screen, strainer basket and strainer panel.

12. Open the door to make sure interior air circulate freely.

13. Re-install all the curtains.

14. As any other stainless steel products, please use a wet dishcloth or neutral suds clean machine exterior.

15. Do not use steel wool to clean the surface of dishwashers an only use products that announce no harm to stainless steel.

16. Do not hose down other sections except wash chamber and tank interior.

How to clean and maintain the dishwashing bench and overhead rack?

Clean down: General cleaning

Dishwashing bench: The table where the dirty equipment is kept.

Overhead rack: For the glass racks.

Clean down is to be done every meal period and every shift change.

1. Clean all the equipment on the dishwashing bench.

2. Put the glass racks on the overhead rack.

3. Clean the cutleries container and the washing tub.

4. Clean the bench and overhead rack with detergents.

5. Spray with hot water until they are clean and dry them up.

6. Reinstate the decoy system.

7. Replace the trash bin when appropriate.

What are the steps for deliming / descaling the dishwashing machine?

Deliming is the process of cleaning water stains inside the dishwashing machine and this process must be done at least once in every week.

1. Release the chemicals on the dispenser.

2. Dismantle the rinse hose so that the chemicals are not mixed.

3. Turn on the machine to remove all the leftover cleaning chemicals.

4. Turn off the main power.

5. Open the drain valve to remove the water.

6. Reclose the drain valve.

7. Reignite the main power to refill the water.

8. Pour five litres of lime scaler into the machine.

9. Turn on the machine. Operate on 50-60 C for washing and 60-80 for rinsing.

10. Operate the machine for a maximum of one hour.

11. Turn off the machine and dismantle all the parts one by one.

12. Clean and spray them with water.

13. Remove all the water used during the de-liming process.

14. Reignite the machine and repeat it for two more rinses.

What are the steps for cleaning the strainer pan and basket?

• Strainer pan and basket must be cleaned termly in using, to prevent overmuch waste to influence dishwasher performance.

• Stop machine, open inspection doors, strainer basket placed in the front of the tank.

• Too much waste on strainer pan and basket may reduce wash performance even damage the machine.

How to lubricate the dishwasher machine?

• Check the owners operating manual to see the list of acceptable lubricants to use with your dishwashing machine.

• Line strainers used in water or steam lines should be cleaned once every week.

• Normally all motors have sealed bearings and hence it does not require any lubrication or maintenance.

• Conveyor Gearmotor - The gear case is filled with lubricant and does not require to change them.

• The work life of machine should be longer if the lubrication is changed periodically.

• Conveyor Drive Chain - Inspect the drive chain regularly and lubricate as and when it is required. 

Training Summary questions:

Q1. What is the purpose of this SOP?

Q2. How to lubricate the dishwashing machines?

Q3. Explain the terms Overhead Rack, Clean Down and Dishwashing bench?

Q4. Explain the steps for deliming / descaling the dishwashing machine?

Q5. What are the steps for cleaning the strainer pan and basket?