Hardness of water in relation to the cleaning of farm dairy equipment

Abstract

Ten different cleaning mixtures were used with waters ranging from 41 p.p.m. to 1020 p.p.m. total solids.
When used with soft waters, six mixtures cleaned the equipment sufficiently well to permit effective sterilization. Sodium metasilicate/wetting agent and sodium carbonate/wetting agent were indicated as the most economical.
Stone-like deposits built up in equipment when cleaning mixtures were made up with hard waters, and periodical cleaning with hydrochloric acid was needed to remove these deposits; otherwise, cleaning was not done effectively and subsequent sterilization was inadequate.
With waters of more than 200 p.p.m. total hardness, chemical cleaning became very difficult and heat sterilization was indicated.