To clean your vending machine is a fundamental task which ensures your machines run smoothly and your business flourishes!

And in saying that, cleaning you vending machine doesn’t just include the glass front! You need to remember the condenser that keeps things cold, the coin mechanism which accepts coins and the note acceptor which takes the notes!

There is nothing more frustrating than buying a beverage from a vending machine only to find that it isn’t cold… Or one which took your money but says you didn’t put in enough – It’s unlikely that you’d want to go back to that same machine – right?   

Equally for a vending machine operator, it’s no fun getting that call that your machine isn’t working. Most definitely not in the middle of summer.

The way to ensure your machines are running at their optimal operability is to regularly clean and maintain them. It’s like having a car – if you don’t regularly service it, the engine light will come on at some stage – and by ignoring the light, fixing expenses may become very costly. So, by making sure you are servicing your vending machines, keeping them lint free and cold will mean your customers are happy and your revenue continues to flow in.

The thought of cleaning isn’t a glamourous thing – we know – however spending a couple of routine minutes every few months will ensure you don’t void your warranty (if still valid), have an efficiently run machine, happy (and hopefully returning) customers and your business will continue to flourish.

When it comes to cleaning the internals of your machine there are three things to cover:

1. Condenser
2. Coin mechanism
3. Note acceptor

Cleaning your condenser

By doing this you will ensure:

• Your drinks and snacks remain cold
• Your machine operates at its optimal level
• You avoid failure of the refrigeration system

There are six simple steps to ensure your machine is always clean:

1. Open the door and ensure the machine/circuit breaker are off.
2. Remove the condenser cover (every machine will be different).
3. Using a brush, brush the condenser fins in an up/down motion.
4. Brush the grill at the base to remove any dust/lint. Ensure to do this from the top and the bottom of the grill.
5. Replace the covers & screws.
6. Switch the power on and close the doors – you’re all done!

Cleaning your coin mechanism 

By doing this you will ensure:

• Avoid coin jams
• Coins are directed to the correct tubes
• Correct change is given to customers

There are six simple steps to ensure your coins flow properly:

1. Open the door to your machine.
2. Have some glass cleaner handy and a rag for wiping.
3. Open the top door of the coin mechanism and clean both surfaces.
4. Open the lower door of the coin mechanism and clean all surfaces.
5. Ensure all the gates are loose and clear, so that they can move freely and close the door.
6. Close the machine door – you’re all done! 

Cleaning your ICT note dispenser

By doing this you will ensure:

• All notes are accepted

There are two ways to ensure your notes flow properly through your note dispenser:

1. Use the Note Reader Cleaning Card (available from Vendpro).
2. Without opening the door of the vending machine, feed the Note Reader Cleaning Card into the reader. Repeat a couple of times.
3. All done!

OR

1. Open the door to your machine.
2. Remove the optical module at the bottom of the note reader.
3. Gently wipe the glass area with a cloth to remove dust/debris.
4. Slide optical unit back making sure it ‘clicks’ into place.
5. Close the machine door – you’re all done!

And, on the daily it’s as easy as 1,2,3:

1. Use a glass cleaner to wipe down the front of the machine to remove smudges, fingerprints, and dirt.
2. Clean the inside of the glass to remove any marks made by products as they drop into the delivery tray.
3. Lastly, wipe out the delivery tray to remove any crumbs, dust, or spilled liquid.

So, what are you waiting for – summer is around the corner, and no-one likes a hot drink on a hot day! Plus, the better your machine is functioning, the more revenue from your machine, so get in touch today 😉