Scales can be an integral part of any business process and should be kept operating at peak performance to ensure reliability, accuracy, and cost savings. One of the easiest ways to help keep your scale in top condition is regular, proper cleaning. This information, along with our Scale Cleaning Quick Guide, walks you through the steps necessary to thoroughly clean your scale, as well as providing some helpful quick tips.
Quick Tips:
- Make sure personnel are instructed on how to clean scales and refer to instructions/guidelines in the user manual.
- Remove excessive powder and dust, then remove sticky substances.
- For excessive powder and dust, use a dry, clean cloth.
- Remove the load plate as instructed in the user manual.
- Remove any dirt and foreign substances which may have collected underneath it. Do not use any hard objects to do so. Do not disassemble the weighing platform.
- Remove dirt and deposits from the outside and the inside of the weighing platform using a soft, clean cloth soaked with an appropriate cleaning agent.
- Only use cleaning agents that do not act on the plastics used in the weighing platform and that are in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not use highly acidic, highly alkaline, or highly chlorinated cleaning agents
- All cleaning agents should be adequately rinsed away, as instructed in the user manual.
- Be particularly careful when cleaning the load cell in high precision equipment. Never touch, direct compressed air against, or spray the cover of the load cell.
- The most appropriate cleaning procedure depends on both the type of surface and on the environmental conditions (dry, wet, or corrosive). Instructions from the user manual should be followed at all times.
- Stainless steel models require subsequent oiling for proper maintenance.
Frequency of Cleaning
The frequency of cleaning varies, dependent upon the industry, application, and frequency of instrument use. If there is a spill, the entire area should be cleaned before weighing another material. When handling potentially toxic substances, the scale must always be cleaned after use.
Download the Scale Cleaning Quick Guide:
Standard Cleaning Procedure
- Protect yourself and prepare instructions. Wear appropriate personnel protective equipment (coat, goggles, and gloves). Consult the operating instructions on how to disassemble and reassemble the removable parts of the scale, as well as for recommended cleaning agents to clean the scale parts.
- Switch off the scale display. Unplugging the power is recommended but not necessary. If possible, leave the scale in its normal operating position, do not tilt it sideways, and don’t unplug connected peripherals.
- Clean the area around the scale. Use a clean, dry, lint-free cloth to remove any dirt surrounding the unit to avoid further contamination.
- Remove the load plate. The load plate should remove easily. Hard objects are not required to take it off and should not be used. Do not disassemble the weighing platform.
- Clean the inside frame and terminal of the scale. Use a clean, lint-free cloth moistened with a mild cleaning agent to clean and remove any spilt material on the surface of the scale. Wipe away dirt and deposits from the outside and the inside of the weighing platform using a soft, clean cloth soaked with a mild cleaning agent.
- Clean the load plate. Use a damp cloth and clean with a mild cleaning agent containing ethanol (e.g., a commercial window cleaner).
- Reassemble the scale. Make sure the parts are correctly positioned, switch the scale on, and check that it is working properly. If completely switched off, allow enough warm-up time before first use (check the operating instructions for manufacturer’s recommendations).