soda machine cleaning Archives

A soda fountain is not typically the centerpiece of a restaurant’s image, however, just like any other part of a functioning business, there will come a time when you will have to clean your soda fountain to maintain the level of quality you need to in the products, as well as to meet the hygienic standards of your local health board.

This task can be daunting if you have not given it a go in the past. Fortunately, we have whipped up this guide that can inform you of how to clean your soda fountain efficiently and thoroughly.

Why Do You Need to Clean a Soda Fountain?

The reasons to clean a soda fountain are fairly similar to the reasons one would engage in routine cleanings of any other element of a restaurant’s equipment. Without regular cleanings, the quality of the product you dispense and the functionality of the equipment become threatened. Even engaging in occasional cleanings can yield great results, and engaging in regular cleanings will ensure that you minimize the potential for adverse effects on your soda.

Soda is one of the most popular items on most menus, and ensuring that the quality of your product is consistent is one of the best steps you can take to deliver a strong product experience with your customers on a consistent basis. On the contrary, delivering soda products that fail to impress can make a negative impression on new and existing customers.

In addition, cleaning your fountain on a regular basis will extend the amount of time before you need to replace your equipment. This can save you time and money in the long run and allow you to allocate funds towards other causes.

How to Clean a Soda Fountain

There are a number of steps that an individual can take to ensure that their soda fountains remain clean and the product they are serving to customers remains at the highest level. Some steps you can take include the ones listed below. While there is bound to be some variability in terms of how your machine operates, many soda fountains are mass-produced to specific standards, which allows for the easy replacement of parts.

Clean the Nozzles Every Day

One simple step that you can take to ensure that your soda fountain remains clean is to clean the nozzles on your soda fountain on a daily basis. Using a sanitizing solution on the nozzles can rid them of the debris that can accumulate over time. Avoid using bleach for this purpose, as this can be toxic and degrade the plastic nozzles at a more rapid rate than usual.

Clean the Syrup Connectors Once a Week

The syrup connectors are a tool that connects the bag-in-box soda units to the rest of the soda fountain. These connectors are prone to becoming dirty at a slightly higher rate than many of the other parts of a soda fountain and benefit from weekly cleanings. The easiest way to achieve this is through soaking the connectors in a sanitizing solution for several minutes and then letting them dry.

Clean the Fountain Dispenser Ice Bin Once a Month

This is a task you can complete on a more infrequent basis. During an ice bin cleaning, you will unplug the ice maker and remove any ice that remains in the bucket. Then, you should use a sanitizing solution and nylon brush to brush down the ice chute. After this, you can reinstall the ice maker so that the unit can begin producing ice again.

Clean the Condenser Fans Once a Month

The condenser fans are another part of your soda fountain that you should clean approximately once a month. Using a soft-bristled brush and cleaning any air filters that are present can help your machine run more smoothly.

Clean the Water Filtration System Once a Month

The water filtration system of your soda fountain is one of the most essential elements when it comes to maintaining the long-term quality of your product. Inspecting to see if the filtration system needs to be replaced every six months can help inform you whether the systems that keep your soda fountain running are in tip-top shape.

The Best in Beverage

SC Beverage prides itself on offering customers in Southern California and beyond the best service and products available for their commercial beverage equipment needs. If you would like to discuss your beverage systems with professionals, contact us today.

Cleaning your Machine

Cleaning the soda fountain should be a normal part of closing procedures. It ensures that the nozzles get cleaned daily, allowing your morning staff to start off fresh. It’s quick and easy. Here’s the daily cleaning routine.

Remove the nozzles from each dispenser.
Clean them thoroughly using warm, soapy water.
Let the nozzles soak in warm, soapy water.
While they are soaking, remove the spill tray and clean it out with warm, soapy water.
Rinse the spill tray and allow it air dry.
Remove the soaking nozzles, rinse them, and allow to air dry.

Don’t Forget to Let Your Soda Machine Dry

To ensure that all of this is done, many restaurants leave the nozzles to dry overnight. The morning staff then place the clean nozzles back onto the machine.

The weekly cleaning routine is a little more thorough, so you may want to save it for the middle of the week when business is slow. You should not try going through this routine while your restaurant is open. Here’s what is entailed.

Wash the diffusers in warm water.

Empty the ice chute.

Take a clean sponge soaked in warm water and wipe out the ice chute.

By doing this process after closing on a quiet weekday, you give your staff the time to do it right. The ice chute will dry and re-fill overnight.

How to Maintain a Soda Machine

Regularly cleaning the nozzles, diffusers, and ice chute is an important part of maintenance because your machine is less likely to experience clogging. However, that doesn’t mean we get to ignore the inner-workings of the machine. The syrup lines are the most crucial part that you can maintain yourself by simply flushing them about once a month.

Some restaurants choose to flush a syrup line every time the syrup has to be replaced. This ensures that the lines are being flushed frequently, but not every business has the excess staff to make this possible. Experts suggest flushing all of the lines at least once a month, so you can work it into the schedule regularly.

This is how you flush a syrup line.

Remove the syrup bags/boxes from the lines.

Place the intake end of the line and place it in a bucket of cleaning solution.

Secure the line in the cleaning solution if it is likely to fall out.

Dispense the cleaning solution through the syrup line until it runs clear.

Attach the intake end of the line to a bucket of clean, warm water.

Flush for several seconds to rinse out the cleaning solution.

Re-attach your syrups.

Dispense liquid through the nozzles until the soda is flowing normally.

Do a taste test to make sure the syrup is being effectively delivered through your clean line.

Your nozzles, spill tray, ice chute, and syrup lines are all relatively easy to maintain. If you find yourself struggling with more severe mechanical problems, then you should speak to the original manufacturer and have the problem diagnosed by a mechanic familiar with soda machines.