Cleaning and disassembling a soft serve machine can feel intimidating, especially if you're unfamiliar with the process or responsible for training others. However, it’s essential to learn the proper techniques, as regular cleaning is key to maintaining the quality of your product, ensuring the machine runs smoothly, and preventing harmful bacteria from affecting your customers’ safety. By following the straightforward steps below, you'll ensure your soft serve machine stays clean and in top condition!
Remove all product
The first step in cleaning your soft serve machine is to flush out any remaining product. If it’s still fresh and usable, pour it into a bucket and refrigerate it while you clean, then pour it back in when you’re done. If the product is no longer good, simply discard it. Before disassembling the machine, run clean water through it 2-3 times on ‘wash’ mode. This will make the cleaning process much easier and help prevent things from getting too sticky as you disassemble the machine!
Disassemble the machine
Now it’s time to disassemble the machine! This includes taking off the door, removing the beater, the scraper blades, the drive shaft all the way at the back of the freezing cylinder, any air tubes, and basically everything else that can be removed! Don’t forget to also remove all the O-rings using our O-ring removal tool. For more information on disassembling your soft serve machine, please refer to this video.
Wash the parts
To make this step easier, place all the disassembled parts in a bucket for easy transport. Bring them to a sink where you can scrub them with a sponge using cool water and commercial food-grade soap. It’s important to clean every nook and cranny where soft serve might be hiding, and that’s when your Spaceman brush kit comes in handy. We designed specific brushes of all sizes for every specific opening on the machine.Â
*Always remember to hand wash the parts—never use the dishwasher!*
Reassemble the machine
Once all the machine parts are cleaned and the o-rings are back in place, it’s time to add lubricant to all the wearable parts. For more details on which parts need lubrication, please refer to this video. After lubricating all the necessary components, you can begin reassembling the machine. This includes placing the drive shaft back in position, reinstalling the scraper blade and beater, and securing the door by tightening the door screws.
Flush with sanitizer
Once the machine is fully reassembled, it’s time to flush it with sanitizer. Keep in mind that cleaning and sanitizing are two separate processes—cleaning doesn’t sanitize, and sanitizing doesn’t clean. Sanitizing should be the final step, done only after the machine has been thoroughly disassembled and cleaned. Use a food-grade commercial sanitizer—we recommend one like this! Mix the sanitizer with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then pour the solution into your Spaceman machine. Run the machine on wash mode for 5-10 minutes, then pour out the sanitizer and dispose of it. Product should be added to your machine within 30 minutes of removing the sanitizer. Waiting longer than this can lead to bacterial growth in the machine. For more information on this, please see this video.
We hope you found these 5 simple steps easy to follow and helpful for cleaning your Spaceman commercial soft serve machine! If you have any questions, feel free to contact our team at success@spacemanusa.com. Cheers!