Review of practices for cleaning and sanitation of milking machines

Cleaning of milk handling equipment is accomplished by a combination of chemical, thermal and physical processes. Recommended cleaning and sanitizing practices are a balance between the cleaning temperatures, cleaning chemical concentration, contact time and mechanical action. A cleaning failure can result from a failure in any one of these processes. Any one of these factors can be intensified to make up for lack in another, up to a point. For example, a cleaning failure will result if cleaning solutions are not adequately distributed to all parts of the milking system. If little or no cleaning solution contacts a surface, the chemical and thermal actions cannot take place.