How to Clean a Top Load Water Cooler With Baking Soda

printable directions here

No one wants to drink from a dirty water cooler. You need to clean the inside of your water cooler for the best tasting hydration. Cleaning your water cooler won’t take long and you do not need any special equipment.

You will need:

• Rubber gloves
• Baking soda
• Bleach (if sanitizing)
• A vacuum
• Dish soap

Directions:

• Unplug the water cooler before cleaning.
• Remove the water jug.
• Check to see if your water cooler is equipped with a water guard. This is the device that punctures the caps on the bottles to allow the water to be dispensed.

Answer these questions to determine if you have a “water guard” bottle adapter. 

Do you remove the entire cap when you change the bottle?  If the answer is yes, you DO NOT have a water guard adapter. 

Do you only peel off the cap sticker rather than removing the whole thing? If you answer yes, you DO have a water guard adapter.

• If you do have a water guard, you need to remove it. Grasp it on both sides and pull it up and out of the water cooler. Clean it in mild detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly, and dry with a clean towel.
• Rinse the reservoir out with a baking soda and water solution, use approximately 1 cup of water and 2 tbsp of baking soda. Pour it into the reservoir, drain it out through the spigots then rinse several times with tap water.
• Replace the water guard kit.
• If sanitizing is required: Make a solution of ½ tsp of bleach to one gallon of water.
• Pour the solution into the reservoir. Do not leave in for longer than five minutes.
• Drain out through the spigot. If you have a hot and cold water cooler, do not drain out through the hot side. Instead, use the cold spigot only.
• Rinse immediately with tap water.
• Periodically remove dirt and lint from the black wire and tube condenser on the back of the water cooler. Disconnect the power supply cord, then clean with the small brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner. Observance of this procedure will ensure adequate air circulation, so operation is efficient and economical.

If you would prefer to have your water cooler serviced professionally, please contact us to schedule a cleaning, we would be happy to do the dirty work for you!

How to Clean a Bottom Loading Water Cooler With Vinegar

printable directions here

Our customers love their bottom load water cooler. They have become an excellent solution for those that don’t want to lift a 5-gallon water bottle. Like standard top-loading dispensers, you should clean the inside of these units on a regular schedule.

You will need: 

• Rubber gloves
• Distilled white vinegar
• Bleach (if sanitizing)
• A soft cloth

Directions:

• In a medium bucket, add about 4 cups of distilled white vinegar to about 12 cups of water and stir. 
• Turn the unit off using the power button(s) on the back of the cooler.
• Unplug the water cooler.
• Remove the water bottle from the bottom compartment. 
• Drain all of the water from the unit into a large bowl or pitcher by holding down both spigots.
• Place the bottom of water pump into the bucket. The pump is the mechanism in the bottom compartment of the cooler that draws water up to the spigots. 

*Some sources will tell you to add the white vinegar solution to your 5-gallon bottle. DO NOT DO THIS. You will contaminate the bottle and render it useless. 

• Hold down the water cooler spigots and drain half of the cleaning solution into a large bowl or pitcher. Allow the remaining solution to sit in the cooler for 30 minutes. 
• Now, hold down the water cooler spigots to drain the remainder of the cleaning solution into a large bowl or pitcher.
• Repeat this process several times with fresh tap water to rinse. 
• Place a fresh 5-gallon bottle in the cabinet and install the water pump. 
• Drain 1 cup of water out through all of the spigots to ensure that the cooler is primed and ready for use. 
• Wipe the black wire and tube condenser on the back of the water cooler with a soft cloth to remove dirt and dust. 
• Plug the cooler back in. 
• Turn the unit on using the power button(s) on the back of the cooler.

If you would prefer to have your unit serviced professionally, please contact us to schedule a bottom load water cooler cleaning, we would be happy to do the dirty work for you!

How often should you clean your water cooler?

It is important to maintain a water cooler cleaning schedule for your home or office. In general, you should clean your cooler every 90 days. Keep in mind, 5-gallon consumption varies greatly among users. You may need to clean your unit more often if you drink a large amount of water.