CINCINNATI, OH (February 12, 2025) – CleanIce is a new odorless, colorless, and non-corrosive solution to keep commercial ice machines clean and bacteria free. CleanIce does not affect the ice produced, alter the taste of served food/beverages, or corrode ice machine parts. It is a patented, NSF/ANSI 12 registered solution that uses continuous vapor action to prevent bacterial growth and maintain hygiene effortlessly. With just a sachet and holder, CleanIce offers a simple, effective cleaning solution for restaurants, hospitality, sports arena concessions, retail chains, and a wide variety of other applications where commercial ice production and/or refrigeration are critical to operations.
“Dirty ice machines produce ice contaminated with bacteria, mold, viruses, and chemical residues, and consuming contaminated ice can cause a variety of health issues, especially for people with weakened immune systems,” said Ben Treftz, partner, CleanIce. “Harmful microorganisms such as Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and Shigella can also grow and be spread through the ice, and health inspectors often issue violations for excessive mold or slime growth.”
Biofilms are a collection of these microorganisms, mainly bacteria, that grow together in a matrix of polymers. The associated slime formation – typically, mold or fungus – accumulates on surfaces exposed to water drops and warm temperatures. The biofilms may also cause objectionable flavors and odors in ice.
“Once installed, humidity in the ice machine activates the CleanIce sachet, generating a small amount of Chlorine dioxide (CI02) gas,” added (CleanIce REP). “The gas is released as a vapor through the breathable, puncture-resistant sachet, and travels to all open areas in the machine and walk-ins, including the coils, chute, compressor, and evaporator plates.”
Chlorine dioxide is a neutral molecule that seamlessly infiltrates the biofilms and destroys the inner-lying molds and spores. CI02 is more chemically selective than bleaches, ozone or peroxides, and it destroys the unwanted microbes without burning or corroding surfaces. Due, to CI02’s unique method of pathogen inactivation, viruses, bacteria, molds and spores are unable to build up a tolerance to it.
The CI02 gas generated by CleanIce quickly breaks down and leaves little‐to‐no residual. Additionally, the active ingredient is also an EPA‐approved drinking water treatment substance and holds FDA registrations for food contact.
In addition to health issues, components like the evaporator coils, condenser, and water lines, can become less effective when the ice machine is not clean and sanitized regularly. A buildup of scale, sediment, mold, and slime makes it difficult for the ice machine to function properly, causing the machine to run harder, use more electricity, and even breakdown.
Once well-developed biofilms establish themselves on surfaces, cleaning and sanitation become much more difficult, because the biofilms have a shielding effect on the bacterial cells that live within them. For example, Listeria can be 1,000 times harder to eliminate if it is living in a protective biofilm and can be a continual source of pathogenic and spoilage organisms if not completely removed.
It’s important to remember that a clean ice maker not only provides high-quality ice but also means your food — both in the fridge and freezer — is safe from harmful bacteria and funky smells and tastes. CleanIce is backed by scientific data and market research, validating its effectiveness in creating a clean, healthy environment within ice machines and commercial walk-in coolers and freezers.
For more information on CleanIce, please visit www.usecleanice.com.