Top 4 Warewashing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
At Envirocare, we’re dedicated to helping you streamline your kitchen operations and avoid costly errors that can lead to inefficiency, wasted resources, or compromised cleanliness.
Here are the top 5 warewashing mistakes many kitchens make—and how to avoid them to keep your operations running smoothly.
1. Overloading the Dishwasher
Mistake: Trying to wash too many dishes at once is a common mistake many kitchens make. Overloading the dishwasher may seem like a time-saver, but it can lead to poor cleaning performance and potential damage to your equipment.
How to Avoid It: Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines on load capacity and allow enough space between items for proper water and detergent flow. Ensure that dishes, glasses, and utensils are appropriately arranged to ensure each item gets the thorough cleaning it needs. A dishwasher that’s loaded correctly will clean better and last longer, reducing maintenance needs.
2. Using the Wrong Detergent
Mistake: Not all detergents are created equal. Using the wrong type of detergent—whether too harsh or incompatible with your dishwasher—can lead to residue buildup on dishes, glasses, and inside the dishwasher, or worse, damage your equipment.
How to Avoid It: Make sure you're using a high-quality, commercial-grade detergent specifically designed for your dishwasher and water hardness. Different dishwashers require different formulations; we can quickly help you find the right formula for your dish machine and offer a full range of products, installations, and subscription plans.
3. Ignoring Regular Maintenance
Mistake: Neglecting regular maintenance is costly and can lead to poor performance, breakdowns, and increased repair expenses. A dishwasher or ware washing system that isn’t properly maintained will not operate efficiently and will wear out faster.
How to Avoid It: Establish a regular maintenance schedule to keep your dishwashing equipment in optimal condition. This includes cleaning filters, inspecting spray arms, checking for mineral buildup, and ensuring correct water temperature settings. At Envirocare, we offer preventative maintenance to save you significant time and money.
4. Failure to Properly Pre-Rinse Dishes
Mistake: Skipping or inadequately pre-rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher is a common oversight that leads to poor cleaning performance. Large food particles, grease, and sticky residues can block spray arms, clog filters, and prevent dishes from coming out fully clean.
How to Avoid It: Implement a dedicated pre-rinse station in your kitchen, and train staff to properly scrape and rinse off excess food before placing items in the dishwasher. Pre-rinsing helps minimize the strain on the dishwasher and improves overall cleaning. It also prevents build-up inside the dishwasher, ensuring that your equipment runs efficiently for longer.
Bonus Tip: Improperly Loading Glassware
Mistake: Glassware is particularly prone to damage and spotting so improper loading can result in broken or dirty glasses. Overcrowding the rack or improperly positioning glasses can also leave them looking streaky or wet after washing.
How to Avoid It: Always load glassware carefully, placing it securely and spaced out enough to allow water and detergent to circulate correctly. Avoid overcrowding,g and never stack glasses on top of each other. Additionally, consider using a glasswasher specifically designed to clean glassware more effectively than a general dishwasher.
Need advice on how to optimize your warewashing systems? Contact Envirocare today to ensure your kitchen is running at peak performance.