Prevent Coronavirus Spread with Safe Ice Handling Practices

The inside lining of an ice machine bin is cold and made of inorganic, antimicrobial material, which is not a surface for viruses. The surface of an ice cube is also not an environment where viruses can thrive. Still, that doesn’t mean that mean a person can’t get sick using a commercial ice maker.

According to David Covell, Health Commissioner for Lorain County, Ohio and President of the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners, “As is with most of the diseases that might be associated with an ice machine, mostly the danger is someone dishing that ice out with their hand.”

Any infected individual who coughs or sneezes into their hand and touches the bin door, commercial ice dispenser button, or the ice supply itself can potentially spread the virus onto the surface. The disease can then potentially transfer to the next user or into a customer’s glassware.

Restaurant ice machines and industrial ice makers are types of ice machines that come with an ice bin to store the ice.

Here are a few tips you can follow when using an ice maker and bin:

• Always keep the ice machine bin door closed when ice is not being used.
• Require employees to wash their hands prior to scooping ice out of the bin.
• Always use an ice scoop to dispense ice. Do not scoop using glassware.
• Store the ice scoop outside of the bin.
• Sanitize the ice scoop with a mixture of 2 tsp chlorine bleach per gallon of water (you can also sanitize the scoop in your dishwasher).

Ice dispensers are popular models of hotel and hospital ice makers. These machines have a button or lever users press to drop ice directly into glassware. These models may not need a scoop, but users still need to be cautious when using these machines. Infected individuals can pass the disease onto the button or lever if they press it by hand.

Instructing a person to disinfect the area every time it’s touched is not very realistic. Still, there are things you can do to encourage sanitary practices.

“We have a big saying here in our mission statement,” Covell says, “We want to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”

You can encourage good hygiene with these models by placing a supply of disinfecting wipes or hand sanitizing stations near the machine. Ask users to wipe the area down or sanitize their hands after every use. Employees will have an easier time keeping the area sanitary, which will decrease the chances of contamination.

Disinfect and Sanitize High-Use Surfaces on Your Ice Equipment

To eliminate germs like COVID-19, disinfect and sanitize surfaces that users will likely touch.

There are many approved cleaners the EPA suggests using to combat viral contaminants, bleach being the most widely used and cost-effect of them.

There is a difference between disinfecting and sanitizing. Disinfecting kills germs using a disinfecting cleaner. Keep in mind, you must rinse the area of any remaining cleaner, especially if it’s a food contact surface.

Sanitizing means using a lesser concentration of the same cleaner to drop the level of microorganisms on the surface to a safe level.  When sanitizing, allow the solution to air dry. The manufacturer’s suggested concentration for sanitizing is at safe levels and non-toxic to people.

Cleaning the Exterior of Your Ice Equipment

• Pre-wash any soiled area with warm water.
• Wipe the area with a solution of 8 oz of bleach per gallon of water (or other EPA approved cleaner)
• Let the solution sit for at least 5 minutes.
• Rinse the area thoroughly with water and let air dry.
• To sanitize further, spray the area with a mixture of 2 teaspoons of bleach to one gallon of water.
• Let air dry.

Cleaning the Inside of Your Ice Bin

• Use a spray bottle to saturate the contaminated surfaces.
• Wipe the areas to remove the debris and make sure to rinse the area well.
• Once you’ve wiped the bin down after disinfecting, reapply the solution to sanitize.
• Leave the mixture to air dry.

Finally, cleaning your ice machine’s air filter regularly will decrease the growth of biofilms in your ice maker. We’ve put together some additional information on cleaning a Hoshizaki ice machine and cleaning a Manitowoc ice machine here.

Keep Your Business Safe from Diseases Such as COVID-19

Your main priority should be keeping customers and employees safe. Making sure to follow CDC guidelines and maintaining a regular ice machine cleaning schedule is the best way to prevent the spread of diseases like coronavirus.

At Automatic Icemakers, we professionally clean and sanitize ice machines for Chicago businesses twice a year. Cleaning helps to eliminate mold, slime, and other microorganisms. Professional ice machine service also helps in cleaning slime, scale, or sediment as well. We ensure our industrial ice makers are always up to the safest standards.