Types of Warewashing Chemicals

• Tableware presoak: Use a tableware presoak to loosen, soften, and remove food soil films from silverware, stainless steel, glass, and other dinnerware before washing it. Like detergent, it’s available in liquid, powder, or solid form. 
• Detergent: Available in powder and liquid, manual warewashing detergent removes tough soils, like lipstick, from glasses without affecting them. There are low suds formulas available for use with electric glasswashers.
• Sanitizer: To remove pathogens after cleaning, soak dishes in a manual warewashing sanitizer. Quat sanitizers are safe on metals, safer for skin contact, and use a quaternary test strip to test them.
• Mineral solvent: Using a mineral solvent helps condition hard water to prevent water spots and boost cleaning power. Add this to all three sinks for the best results.  

High-temperature dish machines sanitize dishes using extremely hot water during their rinse cycle to remove pathogens. Typically, they’re more expensive upfront but help lower expenses long-term due to not needing chemical sanitizers. Additionally, high-temperature dish machines remove grease, smudges, and other debris better than low-temperature machines.

• Wash temperature ranges from 150 - 165 degrees Fahrenheit
• Rinse temperature ranges from 180 - 194 degrees Fahrenheit
• Requires a detergent and a rinse aid

Low-temperature dish machines rely on chemical sanitizers to remove pathogens, not hot water. With more versatility than their counterpart, they require less electricity and have a lower upfront cost. However, you should not use a low-temperature dish machine for glassware as it can leave water spots on the surfaces.

• Wash temperature ranges from 120 - 160 degrees Fahrenheit
• Rinse temperature is a minimum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit
• Requires a detergent, rinse agent, and chemical sanitizer

• Detergents: Machine detergents come in high or low-temperature formulas, so you should select one compatible with your machine. Detergent formulas are available in liquid, powder, or solid form. Metal-safe options are available for high-temperature washers.
• Rinse aid: Machine rinse aids help to speed drying time and eliminate spots. Formulas are available for both high temp and low temp machines. Liquid, low-foaming, and solid formulas are available. 
• Sanitizer: Used only in low-temperature machines, dish machine sanitizers are typically chlorine-based to eliminate pathogens from dish surfaces. Frequently check sanitizer levels using a chlorine test strip.