Patent ID: 6991685

Claim:
A method of cleaning and applying an antimicrobial treatment to a surface of food and beverage equipment comprising at least the following steps in sequential order: a. washing said surface with a detergent wash solution comprising an acidic detersive agent wherein the temperature of the detergent wash solution ranges from 100° F. to 150° F.; b. rinsing said surface with an intermediate rinse solution, wherein the temperature of the intermediate rinse solution is up to about 80° F.; and c. applying an antimicrobial treatment solution to said surface, the antimicrobial treatment solution comprising an active antimicrobial agent, wherein the temperature of the antimicrobial treatment solution is up to about 150° F., wherein the active antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of a percarboxylic acid, a halogen composition, a halogen donor composition, chlorine dioxide, ozone, a quarternary ammonium compound, an acid-anionic organic sulfonate, an acid-anionic organic sulfate, a protonated carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof.