Unpleasant odors and walk-ins go hand in hand, especially with aging freezers and refrigerators. These smells aren’t something you should brush aside, though—they could indicate a mold problem and even lead to foul-tasting and -smelling food. This post from your commercial HVAC service in Delaware will teach you how to eliminate those nasty smells and keep your food tasting fresh:
- Remove all food: Your walk-in will have to be cleaned from top to bottom, so you’ll have to start by taking everything out of the walk-in and setting it aside. While you’re removing everything, check the product to ensure that it hasn’t spoiled. After all, that could be the root of the smell.
- Mop: Next, make a soap and water solution and get to work mopping up the floor. It may be tempting to use a more abrasive cleaner, but you need to avoid that urge. Harsh cleaners can ruin the interior of your walk-in, leading to big problems like rust and corrosion. If you need a little more cleaning power, you can use a vinegar and baking soda solution.
- Wipe down surfaces: Next, use another water and soap solution to wide down all the surfaces in the walk-in. From walls to shelves, everything needs to be cleaned off. Again, if you need a little extra cleaning power, stay away from harsh substances. Baking soda and vinegar should do the trick.
- Handle future odors: Place a bowl of charcoal briquettes in your walk-in to absorb any lingering odors in the fridge or freezer. Fresh coffee grounds and baking soda also help when it comes to absorbing bad smells.
Schedule routine maintenance calls
Along with eliminating bad odors as soon as you smell them, we recommend calling an HVAC service in Delaware for a checkup. Here’s how a maintenance call can benefit you:
- Avoid odors: First and foremost, a professional maintenance call can help you avoid any bad smells in the first place. Your commercial refrigeration technician will identify any problems, like mold or mildew, and help you clean them up before they really start to stink.
- Stay in compliance: You always want to be in good standing with the health inspectors. A good way to start is by ensuring your walk-ins are in compliance with local laws! Your technician will double-check that everything is up to snuff and make any adjustments if necessary.
- Reduce breakdowns: A malfunctioning walk-in is one of the worst problems you can encounter in a commercial kitchen. Not only will you need to pay for repairs, but you could also lose thousands of dollars due to spoiled food. A semi-annual maintenance call reduces the possibility of a breakdown, as your technician can make any repairs before they lead to a work stoppage.
If your walk-in freezers or refrigerators still stink, be sure to call our team at Commercial Equipment Service Inc. Our comprehensive commercial refrigeration services and fair prices are part of what makes us the trusted restaurant HVAC service in Delaware. We’re even available 24/7 to make emergency repairs, so call today to see what we can do for you and your business.