As the saying goes “Cleanliness is next to godliness”, and no one knows that better than those that work in the food industry. To a baker, their bakery space and equipment are their temples and it means everything to them to keep the space and their tools clean. When it comes to their tools and equipment, sometimes bakers face a challenge when figuring out the best way to clean certain pieces. Mixers are simple. Detach the spiral, paddle or beater for cleaning and wipe down the bowl. But other and more complex machines can be a challenge. For example, we get plenty of bakers asking us the best way to clean their dough sheeter belt.

Empire offers a variety of dough sheeters both large and small. There are many reasons why you would want to keep your dough sheeter belt clean. A clean belt ensures know dried-up dough or debris gets into your dough and keeping a sanitary dough production process are two main reasons to keep your belts clean. But how do you clean a dough sheeter belt properly to ensure no tampering with your new dough?

Step 1 – Dry Scrape

To start your dough divider belt cleaning process, you will want to take a plastic dough scraper and scrape off all of the old dried-up dough pieces and any other loose dirt and debris left behind on the belt. You should move downward lightly at a 45-degree angle. Make sure to use a plastic scrape as a metal scrape can end up damaging the belt. Once you have scraped what you and some elbow grease can muster, wipe the belt down with a clean dry rag to ensure no pieces are left behind.

Step 2 – Damp Rag

Next, you will want to wipe the belt down with a lightly damp rag to get any of the remaining pieces stuck to the belt and any dirt left behind. If there are areas that are difficult to pick up, you can use a dry plastic bristle brush and gently run it over those pesky areas. You do not want to use a lot of water when cleaning your belt as the belt will absorb the water, swell and then shrink, leaving you with a deformed belt that will then need to be replaced.

Step 3 – Final Wipe

After you have wiped your dough sheeter belt down with a damn rag, give it one more wipe down with a dry rag. This will quickly dry up any damp areas left behind by the previous rag and will ensure any loose debris is cleaned off. Once you have finished this part, your sheeter is ready to be used again.

If anything happens to your belt like deformities, tears or other types of damage, our parts and service department operates 24/7 to make sure your bakery does not miss a beat. We have dough sheeter belts on hand waiting to be shipped to you if needed.