Dry ice blasting is an advanced media-blasting process that uses small pellets or shaved bits of solid carbon dioxide (CO₂), propelled by compressed air at extreme speed, to clean surfaces. Dry ice sublimates (turns directly from solid to gas) upon impact, lifting contaminants and debris without leaving any residue behind. Known for its non-conductive, non-toxic, and non-abrasive properties, dry ice blasting is considered safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

As dry ice pellets hit a contaminated surface at high velocity, several forces combine to dislodge dirt, grease, residues, and buildup:

Thermal Shock:

The extreme cold (-78.5 °C/-109°F) of the dry ice causes contaminants to shrink, fracture, and lose adhesion due to brittleness.

Explosive Sublimation:

Upon impact, dry ice instantly sublimates from solid to gas, creating microscopic shockwaves that lift and separate layers of debris.

Non-Abrasive Cleaning:

Unlike sand or soda blasting, dry ice pellets transfer minimal kinetic energy to the surface, preventing damage to sensitive equipment or delicate substrates.

This combination results in a powerful yet gentle cleaning process that efficiently tackles stubborn contaminants across a wide range of surfaces and materials, including stainless steel, plastic, rubber, and concrete.

The advantages of dry ice blasting over traditional cleaning methods are considerable:

No Secondary Waste or Residue:

Unlike sandblasting or chemical treatments, dry ice sublimates instantly, leaving behind only dislodged debris that can be easily swept or vacuumed away.

Environmentally Friendly:

Dry ice is made from reclaimed CO₂ sourced from existing industrial processes, minimizing its ecological footprint.

Non-Toxic and Safe:

Approved by Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, EPA, FDA, and USDA for use in food and pharmaceutical applications, dry ice eliminates chemical residues and reduces employee exposure to hazardous cleaning agents.

Gentle and Non-Abrasive:

Dry ice blasting preserves surfaces by avoiding abrasion or wear, making it ideal for sensitive equipment or delicate projects like historic preservation.

Minimal Downtime:

Most equipment can be cleaned in place without disassembly, keeping operations running smoothly while reducing labour costs and downtime.

Versatile Across Industries:

From food processing equipment to aerospace components, dry ice blasting adapts to highly diverse cleaning requirements.

In food manufacturing, hygiene compliance is crucial, but manual scrubbing and water-based methods often struggle to tackle hardened grease, protein residues, glue, and more. Dry ice blasting solves these problems by providing chemical-free cleaning that’s approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, FDA, and USDA.

Applications include:

• Cleaning ovens, bake trays, slicer blades, fryers, food moulds, and palletizers.
• Removing buildup from packaging machinery such as folders and gluers.
• Sanitizing production environments, walls, floors, piping, and exhaust fans, with no water residue or secondary contamination.
• Dry ice blasting preserves delicate surfaces, improves hygiene compliance, and reduces cleaning downtime, enhancing efficiency and asset longevity.

Factories often face grime buildup in the form of dirt, grease, graphite lubricants, ink, soot, and production residues that, over time, reduce operational efficiency. Dry ice blasting offers a fast and effective way to clean equipment and facilities during routine maintenance without halting production processes.

Applications include:

• Cleaning die-casting machines, conveyors, core-making tools, injection moulds, hydraulic power units, and presses.
• Removing production debris from industrial printing equipment without dismantling sensitive mechanisms.
• Thanks to its gentle yet powerful cleaning properties, dry ice blasting increases production efficiency, extends equipment life, and supports uninterrupted workflows.

Electricity and energy facilities rely on constant uptime to ensure operational continuity, making deferred cleaning a costly problem. Accumulated dust, grease, and debris can lead to flashover, outages, or decreased equipment efficiency. Dry ice blasting provides an ideal solution for non-conductive, in-place cleaning of sensitive power-generation equipment.

Applications include:

• Cleaning generators, stators, rotors, turbines, compressors, and boilers.
• Maintaining electrical switchgear and insulators with no risk of damage or secondary waste.

By maximizing efficiency and safety, dry ice blasting helps the power industry prevent unforeseen downtimes and maximize equipment performance.

Precision cleaning is crucial in aerospace and automotive maintenance, where equipment often features intricate geometries or sensitive components. Dry ice blasting delivers powerful yet risk-free cleaning of landing gear, engine bays, brake systems, and more, all without disassembly.

Applications include:

• Removing oil, debris, and buildup from automotive engines, chassis, and seats.
• Cleaning landing gear systems, tow hitches, and brake systems in aerospace maintenance.

Dry ice blasting ensures faster maintenance cycles, maintains integrity, and supports safety in both industries.

For hygienic-critical environments like pharmaceutical production or medical device manufacturing, dry ice blasting offers an indispensable combination of precision and safety. Its chemical- and residue-free properties eliminate risks of contamination while complying with stringent regulatory guidelines.

Applications include:

• Cleaning stainless steel production containers, mixers, reactors, and tablet moulds.
• Removing residues from separators and medical manufacturing lines.

By improving cleaning efficiency, dry ice blasting helps manufacturers meet sanitation requirements with minimal downtime or complexity.

Dry ice blasting is widely used for restoration after disasters that leave behind mould, smoke, fire, or water damage. Its non-abrasive and residue-free properties allow safe cleaning of delicate surfaces without creating extra waste during recovery operations.

Applications include:

• Removing mould infestation from walls, wood, or furniture.
• Cleaning soot and smoke damage from buildings affected by fire.

Dry ice blasting ensures faster and more efficient cleanup with no abrasive harm to sensitive surfaces.

When cleaning artifacts or restoring historical buildings, abrasive methods and chemicals risk irreparable harm. Dry ice blasting solves this problem by providing a gentle cleaning process that preserves integrity while removing dirt and contaminants.

Applications include:

• Conservation efforts for museum artifacts.
• Restoring historic structures or monuments, including delicate surfaces like stone or metal.

The agricultural industry faces unique cleaning challenges due to the heavy-duty machinery, facilities, and equipment involved in day-to-day operations. Traditional cleaning methods, such as pressure washing and chemical treatments, not only come with risks of surface damage but can also be time-intensive and disruptive to operations.

Dry ice blasting offers farmers and agricultural businesses an innovative cleaning solution that’s gentle, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly.

Applications include:

• Removing grease, grime, and residue from mechanical components such as bearings and hydraulic systems.
• Pre-season or end-of-season cleaning to prepare machinery for peak harvest operations or storage.
• Removing mould and mildew from barn walls, floors, and stalls.
• Cleaning silos and storage areas after extended use, preparing them for fresh harvests.
• Sanitation of exhaust systems, piping, and ducts without residue or moisture.
• Cleaning greenhouse glass panels to maximize sunlight penetration.
• Removing algae from structural frameworks and growing platforms.
• Sanitizing greenhouse equipment, irrigation systems, and ventilation fans.

Dry ice blasting excels at cleaning sensitive components and mechanical parts without requiring disassembly. For facilities and equipment where water can cause corrosion or mould growth, dry ice sublimates without introducing moisture, ensuring clean and dry surfaces. By replacing labour-intensive methods like scrubbing or pressure washing, farmers can ensure their equipment is thoroughly cleaned, properly stored, and ready to go for the next season.