Cleaners & Degreasers

A high-temperature dish machine sanitizes with heat: the final rinse water must reach at least 82 °C (180 °F) at the manifold, so it needs a booster heater but no chemical sanitizer. A low-temperature machine washes at about 49 to 60 °C and sanitizes with a chemical, usually chlorine at 50 to 100 ppm, dosed automatically. Low-temp machines cost less to run on energy but need sanitizer and test strips; high-temp machines dry dishes faster.

Rinse aid is a surfactant injected into the final rinse of a dish machine. It lowers the surface tension of the water so it sheets off dishes and glasses instead of forming droplets, which speeds drying and prevents water spots and streaks. Use a rinse aid matched to the machine type, high- or low-temperature. Spotty glasses often mean the rinse aid is empty or under-dosed, or the water is hard.

Most kitchen degreasers and oven cleaners are alkaline: they break down fats and oils into soap-like compounds that rinse away with water. Heavy-duty oven and grill cleaners are strongly caustic and work fastest on warm surfaces, but they can burn skin and eyes, so wear gloves and eye protection, follow the label contact time, and rinse well. Never use caustic cleaners on aluminum, which they corrode, or mix them with acids or bleach.

Quaternary ammonium (quat) sanitizer is used at about 200 ppm on food-contact surfaces, or as stated on the product label, with a contact time of about 60 seconds. Concentrates such as Keystone Multi-Quat are diluted through a dispenser or by the label ratio, then checked with quat test strips at the start of each shift. Sanitizers sold in Canada for food-contact use carry a DIN or are registered for that use.

Mixing chemicals can release toxic gases or cause dangerous heat. Bleach mixed with acids or quat can release chlorine gas, and bleach mixed with ammonia releases chloramine. Strong alkaline oven cleaners and acidic descalers react violently. Keep every chemical in its original or clearly labelled container, follow the WHMIS safety data sheet, and train staff to use one product at a time and rinse surfaces between products.

Shipping is a flat $16.50 anywhere in Canada and free on orders over $199 before tax. Orders are processed in 2 to 3 business days (cut-off 10:00 AM MST, Monday to Friday) and Canadian transit takes 2 to 6 business days. We also ship to the United States, with duties and taxes shown at checkout. See the Shipping page for full details.