Soda is a popular beverage choice for those visiting a restaurant or food stand. In fact, the average American consumes over 42 gallons of soda each year, and nearly half of Americans drink soda on a daily basis. One of the more popular types of soda is from a fountain. A critical, though overlooked, aspect of operating a soda fountain is cleaning it. Proper cleaning is necessary to ensure the soda tastes great and is edible. Below, you will find how often you should clean a soda fountain.
How Often Should You Clean a Soda Fountain?
Cleaning a soda machine is critical to ensure that patrons are safe from contaminated drinks and that the soda is as fresh as possible. A soda machine has many parts, and each part must be cleaned at different intervals, including daily, weekly, and monthly. Consider the following recommendations on how to properly clean a soda fountain.
Daily Cleaning
Several parts of the soda machine should be cleaned daily. These include the nozzles, drip trays, and dispensing valves. Each of these parts accumulates buildup fairly quickly, and cleaning them daily can reduce the risk of unwanted grime.
Weekly Cleaning
Busy restaurants should prioritize deep cleaning the soda fountain on a weekly basis. Regular cleaning, which involves cleaning and flushing the entire system, is highly beneficial and an investment in the business. It is also important to deep clean the removable parts of the machine to ensure they are free from buildup and debris. Depending on how often the machine is used, it is also advisable to check the filters. Assess how often they need to be replaced and add it to the calendar.
Monthly Cleaning
Once a month, it can be helpful to fully disassemble the soda fountain equipment to get a deep clean. This includes cleaning the internal and removable components and looking at all of the parts to see if anything needs to be replaced. Soda fountains should last a long time, but regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the machine’s longevity. Be sure to replace any worn-down parts, as this will dramatically improve the longevity of your machine.
Tips for Busy Restaurants
Busy restaurants with many patrons who order soda should clean the machine regularly. In fact, you may need to deep clean more often. Some restaurants clean the machine daily, while others may not need to. Busy restaurants should consider professional soda fountain cleaning. This may be beneficial on an annual or even quarterly basis. Consult with a professional to get their opinion on when and how often your specific soda fountain should be cleaned.
When you clean your soda fountain, have a designated employee in charge of it. Train one to two employees on the procedure and have them do it regularly. Having the same employees clean the machine can reduce errors, as those cleaning will always have been trained. Additionally, having the same people do it regularly ensures that issues are being monitored regularly. Create a cleaning checklist and have them sign off on it each time they clean the machine.
Soda Fountain Supplier in Los Angeles
If you need to replace your soda fountain machine, contact the top soda fountain supplier in Los Angeles. The team at SC Beverage has been servicing the area for years. They offer both installation and services to ensure your soda fountain is running perfectly. Contact their team today for more information!
