Dry ice blasting cleaning uses have expanded across many industries thanks to the method’s ability to lift dirt and contamination without damaging the underlying surface. From production machinery to heritage buildings and fire restoration, the technique provides residue free results that many other processes cannot match.
Core Surfaces Dry Ice Blasting Can Clean
Dry ice blasting works across a broad mix of materials, making it a flexible choice for industrial and commercial cleaning tasks.
Metals, plastics, rubber and wood
Most hard and semi hard surfaces can be cleaned with dry ice blasting, including metals, plastics, rubber and wood. The impact of the CO2 pellets cracks the bond between contamination and the substrate, lifting dirt, coatings and residues without grinding away the surface beneath.
Painted and coated surfaces
The method can remove certain paints, thin coatings and surface rust where the adhesion is weak enough to break. It often leaves sound primer or base coatings in place, making the technique particularly useful for selective stripping, repairs and surface preparation without causing unnecessary damage to the substrate.
Delicate and sensitive items
Because the process is non abrasive and does not introduce moisture, it can safely clean delicate electronic parts, printed circuit boards and plastic moulds. These items retain their original dimensions and profiles which is vital in sectors such as electronics, medical manufacturing and fine moulding work.
Industrial Equipment and Plant
Dry ice blasting applications are well established across production environments where machinery must be cleaned without full disassembly.
Production machinery and mechanical parts
Dry ice cleaning machinery offers a residue free method for removing grease, oil and general grime from gearboxes, presses, conveyors, motors and mechanical parts. Operators can often clean equipment in place which reduces the need for strip downs, helps maintain uptime and eliminates secondary waste clean up.
Moulds, tools and dies
Injection moulds, casting tools and dies benefit from dry ice cleaning because it removes build up and release agents without altering fine detail. The low impact method keeps product quality high and extends tool life by avoiding aggressive abrasive methods.
Power generation and process plant
Operators in energy and process industries use dry ice blasting on turbines, generators, pipework and support structures. The ability to remove dirt, coatings and build up without dismantling saves significant downtime. The dry process also prevents moisture from entering sensitive equipment.
Food, Drink and Clean Production
Hygiene critical environments rely on cleaning methods that avoid water, detergents and residue. Dry ice food factory cleaning fits these needs well.
Food processing lines
Dry ice cleaning for food processing removes baked on product, fats, starch and carbon from ovens, fryers, conveyors and mixers. The technique uses no water and no chemicals which helps sites comply with hygiene rules while reducing clean up time.
Packaging and filling equipment
Filling lines, labellers and packaging equipment can accumulate product residue, adhesives and dust. Dry ice blasting lifts these contaminants quickly and cleanly which helps businesses meet audit standards and reduce the time needed for deep cleaning between production runs.
Pharma and medical kit
In pharmaceutical and medical device settings, dry ice blasting applications include cleaning stainless steel equipment and enclosures. The process leaves no chemical residue which avoids added validation steps and supports strict contamination control procedures.
Buildings, Structures and Heritage
As it removes pollutants and protects historic materials, dry ice blasting is also widely used for restoring building surfaces.
Brickwork, stone and concrete
Contractors use dry ice blasting to clean brick, stone and concrete on buildings, bridges and monuments. The process removes soot, pollution, algae and unwanted coatings while keeping the substrate intact.
Timber beams and historic interiors
Exposed beams, panelling and historic timber surfaces respond well to dry ice cleaning. It removes coatings, dirt and aged residues while helping retain the natural grain and fine detail. The gentle action makes it ideal for older buildings that cannot risk aggressive abrasion.
Listed and heritage sites
Dry ice heritage cleaning is a popular choice for conservation teams working on churches, halls and monuments. The method limits erosion, avoids water absorption and protects original materials.
Fire, Smoke and Disaster Damage
Dry ice blasting also provides strong results in fire restoration where residue must be removed without adding moisture or damaging the structure.
Soot and smoke on structure
After a fire, dry ice blasting removes soot, smoke contamination and light char from brick, stone, block and timber. In many cases, this allows the building fabric to be repaired and restored instead of being fully stripped out.
Damaged machinery and plant
Production equipment and control systems affected by smoke can be cleaned using dry ice blasting without adding water or leaving residue. This supports insurers and owners in bringing machinery back to service more quickly and safely than with solvent based or wet methods.
Mould and water damage
Restoration firms also use dry ice blasting for certain mould and water damage scenarios. The process creates no secondary waste and helps reduce odours, making it a practical option in occupied buildings or sensitive commercial spaces.
Vehicles, Transport and Specialist Sectors
Across automotive, aerospace and specialist industries, dry ice blasting is now a widely adopted cleaning method.
Cars, classic vehicles and engines
Dry ice blasting lifts dirt, underseal, surface rust and contamination from underbodies, engine bays and running gear. It works without harming wiring looms, labels or factory finishes which is especially important for classic vehicle restoration.
Aerospace, rail and marine
Aerospace, rail and marine sectors use dry ice to clean cabins, structures, panels and mechanical parts where residue free cleaning is crucial. The controlled impact reduces the risk of damage while allowing efficient removal of grease and dust.
Printing and packaging presses
By removing ink, paper dust and adhesives, dry ice blasting can clean print rollers, frames, guards and associated machinery. It does so without dismantling major assemblies which helps reduce downtime on busy presses and finishing lines.
Situations Where Dry Ice Blasting May Not Suit
Although flexible, the method has limitations and may not be the best choice for every task.
Loose or weak substrates
Friable plaster, loose brick faces and severely decayed timber may break apart under any form of blasting. These surfaces usually require repair or replacement before any cleaning method can be applied.
Thick soft deposits
Thick layers of soft insulation foam, heavy sludge or bulk material can waste media and time. Teams often remove these deposits manually or with other equipment before using dry ice.
Jobs that need strong profiling
When a project requires a rough surface profile for heavy duty coatings or structural adhesives, abrasive blasting or mechanical profiling methods still perform better. Dry ice blasting is excellent for cleaning but not intended for deep material removal.
One process for a wide range of cleaning tasks
Dry ice blasting cleaning uses span machinery, food production, buildings, heritage fabric, vehicles and fire damaged sites. As long as the substrate is sound and the goal is safe, residue free cleaning rather than heavy cutting or profiling, the method offers strong results across many industries and applications.
Speak to Polar Dry Ice Cleaning today to discuss the best approach for your cleaning project.