Patent ID: 7507697

Claim:
A method for out of place cleaning of disassembled components of food processing equipment having soiled surfaces using a cleaning formulation containing an aqueous combination of hydroxide ion and an oxidizing agent, comprising the sequential steps of: a) preparing a first aqueous cleaning solution comprising: i) from approximately 0.1 percent by weight to approximately 50 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the first cleaning solution, of an alkali metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and a mixture of two or more of these ingredients, and ii) soil dispersants comprising alkali metal salts of acrylic polymers having an average molecular weight range of from about 1,000 to about 12,000 g/mole in an amount of from about 0.1 percent to about 5.0 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the first cleaning solution; b) preparing a second aqueous cleaning solution comprising: i) from approximately 0.1 percent by weight to approximately 50 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the second cleaning solution, of a compound selected from the group of: hydrogen peroxide and a compound that generates hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water; ii) from approximately 0.1 percent by weight to approximately 10 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the second cleaning solution, of a dispersant; iii) from approximately 0.2 to approximately 3.0 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the second cleaning solution, of a peroxide bleach activator that generates surface-active peracids; c) combining the first aqueous cleaning solution with the second aqueous cleaning solution to generate perhydroxyl anion in a container selected from the group consisting of a pressure spraying device having a nozzle, a holding tank and a recirculation tank; d) contacting the soiled surfaces of the cooking equipment with the combined first and second aqueous cleaning solutions by one or more of: spraying the combined solutions under pressure through the nozzle onto the soiled surfaces; recirculating the combined solutions over the soiled surfaces; and placing the soiled surfaces in the holding tank with the combined solutions; and e) allowing the combined first and second aqueous cleaning solutions to contact the soiled surfaces of the food processing equipment for a period of time sufficient to clean them.