Spring cleaning isn’t just for homemakers any more.

Each and every year, industrial production plants turn to specialized services for cleaning, polishing, and servicing their massive equipment.  Cleaning an ethanol power plant, for example, isn’t as simple as hosing it off and wiping it down with a rag.  The plant manager must account for machinery downtime, losses in production, and other considerations.  Cleaning a power plant or large piece of machinery should be done quickly, but thoroughly as well.

There is one type of cleaning that not too many outside of the industry are aware of, but is catching on rapidly throughout the manufacturing and production industries.  The method is called dry ice blasting and is one of the most efficient AND eco-friendly methods of industrial cleaning.

What Is Dry Ice Blasting?

Dry ice blasting is very similar to other methods of power washing, but with some subtle, yet important, differences.  The methodology behind dry ice blasting is the same as other pressure washing techniques – propel a barrage of small objects (i.e. water, sand, soda water, etc) at a surface until it is clean and shiny.  The subtle difference with dry ice blasting is the “small object” that does the blasting.  The dry ice, used in the blasting process is a byproduct of other sources.  The pellets disintegrate on contact, meaning the only waste leftover is the dirt and grime that was blasted off of the machinery.  Compare this to pressure washing which can use thousands of gallons of water, sand blasting which can be abrasive to the machinery and valuable parts, and soda blasting which is very harmful to the environment.

Dry Ice Blasting

Less Downtime

Another difference with dry ice blasting compared to other types of industrial cleaning is the decreased downtime with dry ice.  Because it evaporates on contact, dry ice blasting can usually be done while machinery is in use or with electrical components still operational.  This fact means that the machines being cleaned can still get their estimated work done, all while their efficiency and cleanliness is increased.

If your production or power plant is looking to undergo some “Spring Cleaning” this year, take a look at dry ice blasting.  Because of the minimal loss in production, this form of cleaning can actually be easier on your wallet and on the environment.  With minimal training, your staff can operate the machinery as well, saving your company even more money.

About the Author:  Ray Beauvais is the owner of Midwest Dry Ice Blasting, a dry ice cleaning company from Minnesota specializing in industrial & production plant cleaning.  For more information about their services, please visit www.midwestdryiceblasting.com.