What do you guys use to clean your popcorn machines?

I screwed up and left the top up TWICE... In a row!!! The entire inside of my popcorn maker is coated with oil.

What cleaner does everyone use? Wiping it down was working fine until this stupidity happened. i don't want the doors or sides get blurry or scratched.

I take mine COMPLETELY apart. I remove everything that is removeable. Unplug the unit. Vacuum out with shop vac, then, I wash the inside of the cabinet with mild liquid dishwash saop and hot water on a handtowel rag. My machine is stainless steel/aluminum/glass construction, so, all is well with mild (non-abrasive) detergent. Then a good damp cloth rinse. All the aluminum and stainless steel parts (except the kettle) are washing in the sink with same soap. Towel dry. The kettle gets carefull cleaning without imersing the unit in water. Reassemble and hit the glass with Windex on the outside. The doors are plexiglass, so NO windex on them. Just soap and water. Still looks new three years later.

It depends on how dirty mine gets. Most of the time I get very hot water (out of my Instant hot dispenser) and wipe down everything. I use a lot of paper towels here! I take out my kettle for ease of cleaning. If I need to go the extra mile, I use a drop of mild dish soap in the water. If the kettle is extra gross, I use Heet N Kleen. It is specially formulated for popcorn machines.

Yea, I pretty much only use hot water. I only use coconut oil and it has a very low melting point. So even warm water on a towel will loosen it up and wipe right up.

On the kettle I take to the sink and use the spray nozzle to "hose it off" all over. IMHO this really is a must as just wiping you can miss areas. I then towel dry and let air out good before putting back in the popper.

I clean with warm water & towel.

I had some carbon build up in the kettle and removed it easily by putting a 1/2 cup of soda water in it and turning the kettle on for about 15 minutes, then letting kettle cool and wiped it down, all the carbon just wiped right out, most had already peeled loose

Thanks Everyone!

I clean my kettle with some carbon-off available at most popcorn supply places. the inside of my machine is done with warm water, no soap.

3000 psi pressure washer. Only takes 2 min.

If you are having a real problem, put an electric kettle in the bottom of the unit and boil water for about 1 minute. The steam will "loosen" all the build up and a simple wipe out with paper towel will work great.

This is a great way to clean the inside of a microwave oven as well. Just put a mug of water and heat to a boil. The steam will do the same thing.

Jay

Good tips on the hot water clean. i have cleaned our microwave like that for years. In my machine instructions it says to wipe the kettle out after using it. I do this and just try not to get burned in the process!

I use a spray stuff that I bought with the machine it is basically windex on the glass and steel portions and paper towel with hot water on the kettle.
I bought a small shop vac just for vacuuming out old popcorn.

I just put my dog in there, let him lick it clean. Takes about 10 minutes. Just need to remember to take him out.

Forgot once and then I really did need to use the pressure washer and bleach.

^^^

Now THAT'S funny (in a sicko way :D )

Yeah, JUST DON'T USE IT! I sold mine, and have friends that just use them for decor. I switched to microwave popcorn. Cleans up really well. :)

Don

The instructions for my Paragon Contempo say not to use water on the kettle to clean it. How should I clean it? So far I've just been wiping it down with paper towels, but not sure if this is the best way.

Thanks,
Guy

What do you guys use to clean your popcorn machines?

I screwed up and left the top up TWICE... In a row!!! The entire inside of my popcorn maker is coated with oil.

What cleaner does everyone use? Wiping it down was working fine until this stupidity happened. i don't want the doors or sides get blurry or scratched.

I use a product called "Glass Control" by OdoBan. I get a spray bottle of it at Home Depot for a couple bucks. You can use this product on "every component" on a popper (i.e. tinted glass, stainless steel, plexiglass doors, etc.)

I used some Glaze Pop and I think it's what burned on the inside bottom of the kettle. Is this "seasoning" and I should just leave it, or should I use something like Heat N Klean, or Carbon Off to remove it?

BTW: I have the Paragon Theater Pop 6 oz. machine.

Heat N' Kleen is good. Glaze pop is just sugar. so, you have a sugar burn. I jut use hot water on my Paragon kettle. I don't worry about blemishes,

Very hot water to dampen a microfiber cloth works well for me on the inside of the machine. I take the kettle out and wash it in the sink, just don't submerse it or you will ruin the heating coils. I only use coconut oil, and that seems to clean up easily from the kettle with just hot water and a small drop of soap.

My instructions say NOT to wash the kettle just to wipe it down good so it gets a good season to it. Am I doing it right??:eek:

You should probably follow the instructions that were shipped with your particular machine. I just like to keep mine shiny and I don't want a bunch of carbon built up on my stainless steel kettle. :cool:

I take mine COMPLETELY apart. I remove everything that is removeable. Unplug the unit. Vacuum out with shop vac, then, I wash the inside of the cabinet with mild liquid dishwash saop and hot water on a handtowel rag. My machine is stainless steel/aluminum/glass construction, so, all is well with mild (non-abrasive) detergent. Then a good damp cloth rinse. All the aluminum and stainless steel parts (except the kettle) are washing in the sink with same soap. Towel dry. The kettle gets carefull cleaning without imersing the unit in water. Reassemble and hit the glass with Windex on the outside. The doors are plexiglass, so NO windex on them. Just soap and water. Still looks new three years later.

I've just been wiping mine down with paper towel and water for the last 3 years. We make popcorn every weekend, but only wipe it down every other time (or so). Mine still looks new too.

Hmm........perhaps this should be renamed the why not to get a popcorn maker thread. Now and again I work the stack shack at the little league field. The popcorn machine there gets dirty too.

Can anyone comment on whether the hot air type machine (that looks like a small tabletop vintage machine) gets dirty and is hard to clean?

Here's what the Paragon instructions say from their site:
All Paragon poppers utilize tempered glass panels, stainless steel cleanout trays, aluminum corner posts which can be cleaned with vinegar and water. The plated or anodized kettles are designed to be wiped out with a clean cloth after each use. You will want to note that you should never submerge a kettle in any type of liquid because it has electrical components inside of it that can short out. Should you have a kettle that gets burned on oil stains you can order Paragon's kettle cleaning kit (part# 1075) which will allow you to clean it to near new conditions.

This doesn't say not to use water, it only says don't submerge the kettle in water. I would think the above mentioned hot water treatment would work and not ruin it.

Hmm........perhaps this should be renamed the why not to get a popcorn maker thread. Now and again I work the stack shack at the little league field. The popcorn machine there gets dirty too.


I'm not complaining about the unit or having a popcorn machine. I LOVE it! I wouldn't change my decision to buy it. What's a home theater w/o a popcorn machine? :eek:

Yeah, JUST DON'T USE IT! I sold mine, and have friends that just use them for decor. I switched to microwave popcorn. Cleans up really well. :)

Don

Well, microwave popcorn is terrible for you.
Popcorn from the machine is not exactly nutritious but it is better for you than MW popcorn.

heh, i have been working in a movie theatre for 4 years (manager now; whooopieee) in concession stand. Basically, we use stainless steal/cleaning solution and get everything. Takes about 20 minutes after you know how to do it.

Any recommendations on a real heavy duty cleaner? A buddy of mine had a bar that he bought a popcorn machine for and used it for about a month to realize it was to small for his needs. The inside of the machine looks as though it was taken car of for cleaning but the metal stand it is on and the plexi glass outside of it are coated with buttery sludge. I have tried hot water and dish soap with no luck. it seems to just smear it around. Any help would be great.

"Watchdog" brand Concession Equipment Cleaners are the industry standard for professional concession cleaning. There are a few considerations when cleaning your concession equipment. Plexi-glass and lexan. Never use an amoniated cleaner or anything containing ammonia, it will "cloud or fog" the plastic. Stainless steel cleaner/polish work great on metal surfaces. Also, if using a degreaser/carbon remover, remember to rinse thouroly with water before food contact.

that I bought for my wood floors. Only uses water, no chemicals, and it does the job in 10 minutes with a lot of paper towels too. Mine was $70 at Cos*co and does a great job on the floors too.

Looks like this:

http://images.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/08800-08899/08823.gif

Bob

clean it with windex thats how they clean them in the movie theaters

Windex will ruin plastic doors and side panels, over time

I recently found a JetStar J4R Mini Popcorn Machine, 4 oz.
It is in need of cleaning,and the owrst part is the kettle. I believe it is aluminum. Aside from trying to get a replacement,would the products suggested in the rest of this thread work on cleaning it up. The kettle is coated with gunk. Any suggestions?

http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/public/DLisU5KhMPHE8mDUKOQ9zTwrW63YyEh1oSx3ADaw0t0S3Bv7oJcj-iOzTopCpJNNAzZiWh0iScTrDLnvHNPIqUBRRQ5tDUqZZAKwVqYLJALCxSOC9 oXHe2uY-TYxn4YOFwmLGmWXMGBwd0PmjmNhHexVVQ

Yeah, JUST DON'T USE IT! I sold mine, and have friends that just use them for decor. I switched to microwave popcorn. Cleans up really well. :)

Don

I know old post, but literally I cannot eat microwave popcorn ever again after having a popcorn machine for a few years. It tastes .....uck. Coconut oil also is all we use.

I have the same popper. I just use elbow grease and paper towels.
You might contact info@star-mfg.com for info on what to use to clean the kettle.
I've never used the products below but you might try these:

http://www.stargatecinema.com/Heat-n-Kleen-pr-17631.html
http://www.stargatecinema.com/Kettle-Cleaning-Kit-pr-16344.html

I recently found a JetStar J4R Mini Popcorn Machine, 4 oz.
It is in need of cleaning,and the owrst part is the kettle. I believe it is aluminum. Aside from trying to get a replacement,would the products suggested in the rest of this thread work on cleaning it up. The kettle is coated with gunk. Any suggestions?

http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/public/DLisU5KhMPHE8mDUKOQ9zTwrW63YyEh1oSx3ADaw0t0S3Bv7oJcj-iOzTopCpJNNAzZiWh0iScTrDLnvHNPIqUBRRQ5tDUqZZAKwVqYLJALCxSOC9 oXHe2uY-TYxn4YOFwmLGmWXMGBwd0PmjmNhHexVVQ