Cleaning of Warehouse Freezer

Vince Wood

Vince Wood

Active member
I have a 600 sq ft warehouse freezer that needs to be cleaned. The freezer temp is 20F and the concrete freezer floor which needs to be cleaned is -15F. My customer says there is a chemical out there that will clean this but does anyone know what it is?

I know if I try and pressure wash it I'll turn it into a ice skating rink.
 
I would say that it would have to be a strong butyl (alcohol) cleaner. Some MSDS sheets will tell the freezing point of the chemical. Would using hot water to clean and a vacuum to suck up the water before it freezes could be a solution?
 
I mentioned that idea to the guy that is in charge at the warehouse. I did do a small test area and the water froze almost instantly on the floor. Plus not to mention the fact ath I would be taking a huge risk of blowing out the concrete using hot water on a surface that is -15F.

The guy said he has seen some stuff that is almost like dry sweep or kitty litter you put down, brush it and the floors come clean.
 
Then use dry sweep. It all depends on what they are considering clean. If they are just wanting the dust up, it will probably be a dry sweep job. If the walls are metal, they will buckle if you use hot water. Notice that I did not say might buckle. Usually, if a place wants the place pressure washed they will shut it down for a few days to warm up. Let you clean it, then restart it, which usually takes at least 24 hours.
 
Definately not hot water if it is that cold you will have many issues like Scott said. There are dry sweeps that contain cleaning agents in them but not sure how they will work at that temp.
 
Chem-Ex Might have something. 708-430-5544
 
I found some alcohol based cleaner locally that is made to clean freezers with. It's good for -30F so I hope it works. It's basically a mop on chemical. I'll try and remember to take before/after pics.

We have 8 fires burning here in Diamond Bar so everyone is glued to the Tv hoping that we don't have to evacuate.
 
I never thought about what Scott said though about the walls buckling on it. I never put my hopes up though too high though on a chemical I've never used before.

I'm sure after being in that 10 degree freezer though for awhile tomorrow I'll remember how thankful I am to live in Southern California with 86 degree weather heading into November lol.
 
It will not be that bad, I used to work at Sam's club and we stocked the food in the freezers and coolers. The freezers were usually at -9 so we would stock in there for 45 minutes to 1.5 hours then come out and warm up, we had the carhart insulated coveralls but after a while I would start sweating and take them off and be wearing just pants and t shirt and still sweating.

As long as you are working you will be ok but in the beginning I would wear a thick jacket and maybe the thermal longjohns so you are warm.
 
I made the mistake of pressure washing in the freezer at Logan's Steakhouse a few years ago. It created so much fog from the heat that I felt like I had pneumonia for the next week after breathing in all that moist air.
 
Well I got out to the job to clean that freezer. Everything was going smooth at the beginning. I cleaned the 1st part and it came clean with no problems. I went to clean the 2nd part and the chemical froze to the ground.

Keep in mind it's -5F in there. The chemical I used was rated for -30F. I know the floor is colder than -5F though. Luckily they aren't using it. The kid and I are going back 1st thing in the morning with 10 bags of rock salt and some scrapers to get the ice up off the ground.

The guy told me to forget about the rest of it and just get the ice up. I offered to bring 20 bags of dry sweep to finish the job but he insisted that was ok they way it was.

I have a thermal jumpsuit my wife bought for me 2 years ago. Thankfully I keep it in the truck just in case. I could only stand being in there for 30 minutes at a time though it was so cold. I guess I won't be applying for a job as a Ice Road Trucker anytime soon.
 
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