Category Archives: Cleaning Products
29 Jun |
Buy Online, By Phone or In Person? |
The re-connecting of our online shop has caused us to pause and reflect on how much has changed in the way the world does business. For most of time the only way was face-to-face. Still the essential for much of the catering trade. In the last half century, phone began to dominate. From the booking of a table to the ordering of the growing market for takeaways.
Now much is done online with everyone having multiple accounts and connections. Food delivery services, personal reviews and ordering the basics, are now all done this way. With the appropriate software, we can remotely monitor the performance of Rational ovens. This ensures they’re appropriately maintained for your specific kitchen’s demands and to time our engineer’s in-person visits.
Shop Back On-line
At the core of what AC Services does is high quality customer service mainly through in-person engineers and our office staff at the end of a phone or email. Having changed our accounts system, our on-line shop was temporarily off-line. But now its back, for those who want to order this way. It’s available at any time of day or in the cool of the night/early morning!
With the second heatwave of the summer and record temperatures just passed, it’s a good time to ensure that you have suitable stocks of your Rational cleaning products to keep your ovens optimally operating.
Price Questions
In the many years, we’ve had an on-line shop, we’re sometimes asked why our Grill Cleaner and Liquid Rinse Aid seem more expensive. Both are hazardous goods to deliver the level of cleaning required effectively and efficiently. Rather than advertise a lower price and then apply a higher delivery charge, we’ve always shown that delivery cost in the item ticket price. Overall, the cost is typically the same or cheaper than other suppliers.
Regular buyers will also see when we refreshed the on-line prices, that some are now a little cheaper.
Perhaps another reason to order today as the summer rush builds. If you want to phone in the order please call 01454 322222, select option 1 and talk with Lynne, Neil or Rob. Or just use our on-line shop at a time that suits you and today’s world!
Published Date: 29th June 2026
Category: Blog, Cleaning Products, News, Online Sales
Tags: AC Services, Cleaning Products, Online Sales, Rational Ovens
04 Oct |
Forward Planning |
The autumn equinox has passed and the morning mists have appeared with crisper mornings. We know for certain that autumn has started for a number of reasons. England’s Women have won the Rugby World Cup in front of a celebrating crowd of 82,000, after a year’s plus worth of preparation.
The political party conference season has begun. Although it’s fair to say that planning on these has been already variable. This is the norm!
And the ultimate reason is, of course, because this is AC Services blog reminding our catering colleagues to start planning for the winter equinox celebrations. This equinox is of course better known as Christmas and New Year.
Never too early
We know for some that the summer season has barely closed. For those in university towns, Freshers Weeks are in full swing. For them, it’s the chance to make a good impression to last over the year or three to come. And yes, there are many significant event days in-between now and December, nationally and locally which should be celebrated. But for many of our clients, in these uncertain times, Christmas is the key time to make cashflow. So they can last the difficult winter months until the spring equinox or Easter.
Many know that Christmas is a few days after the actual equinox and was transplanted onto an existing day of celebrations. At this point the ancient world could see the lengthening of days and knew that the crop-growing times would come again.
What and when to plan
Amongst the myriad of other plans that will need to be made, those for your Rational ovens are fairly simple:
- In early October, check when all your machines were lasted serviced. If some time has passed since your Rational ovens had their service and you are not on the remote service system; call our team in the office now. We can arrange a mutually sensible date in October or November.
- In late October, review the stocks of your Rational cleaning materials. Check there is enough plus a little more, to get you through November, December and in to early January. Then order what you need from our team.
- In early November, for some, remember that you haven’t done one and two and call our team on 01454 322222 immediately, we’re here to help!
Published Date: 4th October 2025
Category: Blog, Catering Business, Cleaning Products, News
Tags: Catering business, Cleaning Products, Rational Ovens, service
01 Jul |
Is Value A Harder Concept Than Price? |
With midsummer’s day just gone, technically the nights are drawing in. But it’s still way too early for us to be promoting the use of Rational cleaning products. We do that normally in November so there are no issues over Xmas. Yet we’re driven to talk about this now. Why?
AC Services has, over 2025, seen a rash that is now developing into a full-scale trend. Increasing numbers of our service call outs are for Rational ovens being cleaned with other products. Or worse being repaired by non-Rational trained engineers. We then have to deliver a solution for the second time, where the initial aim was cost-saving.
You Would Say that Anyway
Of course, we might, but so would our colleagues in the catering trade about the dishes they sell. For example, take fish and chips. Depending where that is served so our expectations change; fine dining fish and chips is not the same as those from the local takeaway. The former might get away with a small portion of fish and two very large quadruple cooked chips made from an exotic variety of potato; the latter might be more about volume. Yet both are fish and chips.
Rational cleaning products are designed for Rational ovens used in commercial kitchens. The automatic cleaning programmes in software enable the ovens to be clean and hygienic from the way that chefs use them. Alternatively consider Rational Oven care tablets costing 69p per tablet, which not only cleans the oven, but also reduces limescale. Limescale build-up reduces the efficiency of ovens and increases energy costs with longer cooking times to achieve the same cook.
Yes, you could descale using another means, but that would cost additional time and resource. Where this happened recently for a customer, we needed to replace the complete Steam Generator. This cost the customer £180 plus VAT for the first visit to diagnose the problem. As the Steam Generator is a non-van stock part we had to return to repair the oven, which cost them over £650 plus VAT. All sadly avoidable and could have resulted in lost revenue if the oven was unusable whilst the part was ordered and the kitchen had to be closed.
Our Promotion
Please don’t cut corners thinking that it will save you money. It might, but it does not give you or your customers value. Our cleaning products might not be the cheapest in the market as we ensure that they are transported in accordance with legislation, but they are the correct products for your ovens.
Our aim is always to provide the best value service. Again, like you. We’re not going therefore to give you money off your next purchase with a promo code. Why? Because value is long term and consistent and that’s what underpins all our pricing, whether that’s for service, maintenance and yes cleaning products. So please call us on 01454 322222 and we’ll help you save money on your future service costs today.
Published Date: 1st July 2025
Category: Blog, Catering Business, Cleaning Products, News
Tags: Cleaning Products, Maintenance, Rational Ovens
05 Nov |
Christmas Prep |
Christmas comes but once a year; and already November is here. While there were no presents in the Budget for the catering and hospitality sector; the old certainty of making the most of Christmas is once again on colleagues’ minds. As a sector it’s often a peak time to make money in order to wait out those winter months; when normal trade tails off until longer days bring it back.
Christmas Prep Always Starts Early
Food prep always starts early, so that in the heat of service everything can be delivered perfectly and on time. Maintaining your Rational oven is just the same.
At AC Services Southern, we are always surprised when in early December we get that phone call asking us to service their Rational oven. And can it be sometime this week as their planned series of Christmas events kicks off on Friday? Not surprisingly the Christmas season is also one of our busiest times and while we always try to accommodate the request; sometimes it needs to be the following week. Or if the call is in late December, the next year!
Our request to help us help you is to think about when your Rational oven was last professionally serviced, today. Then if needed phone us to arrange a service in good time on 01454 322 222. November is not too early for that call, so we can both plan the most efficient time.
A Second Early Check?
While you’re thinking about a Rational oven service, November is a good time to make a second check. As well as regular maintenance, using Rational cleaning products helps ensure the optimal performance of your Rational oven. They are proven to reduce the possibility of breakdown, which none of us wants at a peak time.
What are your current stocks of the cleaning products for your specific oven(s)? Are they sufficient for the peak services to come in December? Again, ordering early is a good idea to allow time for delivery.
Either order on line or if you have any queries or need advice, please call the team on 01454 322 222. We are here to help catering colleagues make the most of the Christmas season.
Published Date: 5th November 2024
Category: Blog, Catering Business, Cleaning Products, News, Rational
Tags: Catering business, Cleaning Products, Servicing
31 Oct |
Trick or Treat for Halloween |
Trick or treat is an appropriate question for us to ask when we’re posting so close to Halloween. Certainly, the last year has been full of tricks for UK catering businesses with only the occasional treat. And the fast-approaching Christmas season promises more of the same as parties hesitate to book knocking the trade’s planning.
All Hallows Even
There are those who of course bemoan the fact that Halloween has become so big as a newfangled Americanism. But is it? The 31st day of October is the day before 1st November. This in the Christian faith is All Souls Day. The day when Christians remember and celebrate the departed. The older name for All Souls is All Hallows and een is merely the eve of. It was always the night before a holy day.
In Mexico at the same time is the Dia Los Muertos, which runs for 2-3 days. Interestingly this predates the conquistadors, so was not the result of their European faith being imposed. Somewhat spooky that it occurs on exactly the same day and for the same purpose. Especially as there is no comparable day in other faiths.
Trick or Treat Questions
When the youngsters come round and knock on doors asking the question, do they ever expect the response to be trick? Most assume that it’s an opportunity to fill their bag with sweets. And heaven help the neighbour who puts in some interesting and usual flavours as a trick!
The question expects reward much like the order in the restaurant. But the latter doesn’t usually have 2 options for the server. Is the treat-giver at Halloween motivated by a genuine desire to please? Or by the fear of potential damage like fireworks exploding in drainpipes, when they were metal, as the trick? The equivalent restaurant question is perhaps “are you enjoying your meal” when the waiter always hopes for or assumes a positive answer?
Our Treat Question
Every year at Christmas we have a rush on cleaning supplies at the last minute, as clients suddenly realise they are short in the rush. This is just when we’re busy sorting out the last-minute maintenance calls or worse the breakdown stopping the client’s service.
Our treat for you is 10% off Detergent Tabs Active Green 150 (56.01.535), Detergent Red Tabs 100 (56.00.210) and Care Tabs 150 (56.00.562) when ordered by phone before 12 noon on 10th November 2023. This does not include shipping costs. The discount code is TREAT. And we can assure you, this is no trick! Happy Halloween!
Published Date: 31st October 2023
Category: Blog, Cleaning Products, News, Rational
Tags: AC Services, Cleaning Products, Rational Ovens
29 Nov |
Countdown to Christmas |
After the year we have had as a country and with the FIFA World Cup due to end literally a week before Christmas; there is no doubt we’re living in very strange and uncertain times. Yet those in the hotel, restaurant, pub, café and farm shop trades know that in order to make money, we need to be prepared to serve demand as it occurs. Hence our Christmas countdown.
Some of that demand is predictable with bookings for Christmas parties and events. While other demand is more ad hoc. It could literally depend on the weather or on the consumer’s feeling of the need to go out. A long run for England or Wales might dampen demand for those premises without television as people stay in; or become a place of escape for those desperately avoiding soccer.
Being Prepared for the Predictable
When demand comes, you’ll want service to function seamlessly from start to finish. For your Rational ovens this means ensuring that you have all the cleaning supplies you could need for the next 6 weeks. Regular cleaning optimises Rational performance and reduces the likelihood of a failure.
Check your cleaning supplies. Order by 2nd December and there is a reasonable chance that we can deliver before Christmas. If you order no later than 10th December and we have it in stock then you will also beat the 10-15% price increase, which Rational has had to bring in globally effective 1st December. Order either online or call the team on 01454 322222.
Being Prepared for the Unpredictable
If you haven’t already booked a Rational service or maintenance visit before the Christmas and New Year break, it’s probably too late. But we’ll happily arrange a date for January for those in our area.
Most oven breakdowns are unpredictable, but often seem to happen at times of peak demand. While many of AC Services Southern staff take a break over Christmas, there is always an engineer on call dealing with whatever crops up.
For ease of contacting us to resolve your breakdown, below are our opening hours:
In all instances, dial 01454 322222 and choose the relevant option.
- Friday 23rd Office closes at 5.00 p.m.
- Saturday 24th Engineer on call for emergencies
- Sunday 25th CHRISTMAS DAY CLOSED
- Monday 26th BOXING DAY CLOSED
- Tuesday 27th Engineer on call for emergencies
- Wednesday 28th Office open 8.30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Engineers available
- Thursday 29th Office open 8.30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Engineers available
- Friday 30th Office open 8.30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Engineers available
- Saturday 31st Engineer on call for emergencies
- Sunday 1st NEW YEARS DAY CLOSED
- Monday 2nd Engineer on call for emergencies
- Tuesday 3rd Normal office hours resume
While we cannot predict the outcome of the football; working with our catering colleagues, we can make the season less stressful and more productive by using our Christmas countdown!
Published Date: 29th November 2022
Category: Blog, Catering Business, Cleaning Products, News, Rational
Tags: AC Services, Catering business, Cleaning Products, Rational Ovens, service, Servicing
01 Apr |
We’re Still Open for Key Sites |
While this will be our last blog for a while due to the impacts of coronavirus, we are still open for key sites with our core crew. If you’ve had to close please follow our Rational oven close down tips below.
So, if you’re a hospital, care home or an off-site food company with a maintenance contract with AC Services you’re still covered for any breakdowns that occur. If this does happen please call the normal number 01454 322 222 and speak to Helen. She will arrange for our engineer to visit to repair the breakdown.
If you’re already a connectedcooking kitchen, we are able to remotely monitor and identify the fault, which can minimise the time we need to spend with you.
New Customers
If you’re a not a regular AC Services customer, but have a breakdown on a Rational oven in the area we cover of South West England and Southern Wales; we might be able to assist you if you are a key site such as a hospital or care facility.
As we’re sure you understand, we are prioritising our established client base and responding to their breakdowns. This unfortunately means we cannot promise to assist you as promptly as normal and may mean our engineer will be diverted elsewhere. But for key facilities, we will try to help repair your Rational breakdown if we can.
Continuing Business and Key Sites
Obviously, we need to continue to operate within the guidelines issued by the government to minimise the spread of coronavirus. We are considering what impacts this has on the need to regularly service Rational ovens to prevent breakdowns and how we can deliver this over the longer term.
In the meantime, we’d urge customers to ensure that the weekly and daily maintenance routines are adhered to using the approved products. These are available from our on-line shop if your stocks are running low.
Rational Oven Close Down Procedures
If you have closed your kitchen then please do the following for your Rational oven close down.
For Rational SH, SI and Combi Master Plus please watch these handy videos first. Steam tank emptying. CM P tank emptying which is a download.
- Find the water supply and isolate the unit.
- Use the Handshower until it is empty.
- Power off unit and leave door partially open
When returning unit to operation, return power and water
- Use hand shower to rinse water feed system
- Run unit in steam for 30 minutes
- Run short cleanjet
Or for Rational CareControl SG range
- Find the water supply and isolate the unit.
- Use the Handshower until it is empty.
- Follow instructions above to empty tank. If this does not work with the door closed, repeat with door open
- Power off unit and leave door partially open
When returning unit to operation, return power and water
- Use hand shower to rinse water feed system
- Run unit in steam for 30 minutes
- Run short cleanjet
Keeping in Touch
While there won’t be any blogs for the next few weeks, please follow us on Facebook for any updates. Or if you are spending time creating a new strategy for your business why not check out our earlier blogs on trends in catering businesses and show reports.
Published Date: 1st April 2020
Category: Blog, Catering Business, Cleaning Products, News, Ovens, Rational, Self Cooking Centre
Tags: Catering business, Coronavirus
26 Nov |
Last Service Call for Christmas |
In the good old days, we used to all be aware of the number of shopping days till Christmas. But now every day is a shopping day. On-line and in the real world, we’re able to get most things within 24 hours of ordering them. Increasingly we have become reliant upon that.
Problems arise when that last-minute expectation cannot be met for perfectly valid reasons. Like a finite number of service engineers and everyone suddenly needing their expertise. This is the problem we face every year at AC Services Southern; when catering businesses suddenly realise in December they need their Rational oven servicing before peak Christmas use.
Black Friday Reminder
Black Friday sales seem to be launched earlier each year. One UK retailer started theirs in October this year! Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is the last Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is the big American turkey dinner with all the trimmings followed by pumpkin pie for the whole family; while Black Friday signifies the start of the countdown to Christmas not the biggest sales.
Indeed it’s called Black Friday from all the heavy and disruptive vehicle and pedestrian traffic. This caused gridlock on the streets of Philadelphia, as the whole family went shopping on their free day. It sounds a bit like a cross between a Boxing Day walk and the start of New Year sales!
For AC Services, it’s almost become a tradition that on the Tuesday nearest Thanksgiving, we blog our gentle reminder to Rational oven users in South West England and South Wales. This is to not delay and book your pre-Christmas Rational service today on 01454 322 222.
This way both of us can tick your equipment off our to do list early and concentrate on the real Christmas dramas later in December. We can guarantee that up until Christmas Eve, our engineers will be working flat out to cope with the inevitable panicked last-minute rush of breakdowns and servicing!
Buy On-line
Now is also a good time to check that you have all the cleaning products you need to ensure that your Rational ovens continue to function at their highest efficiency. Rational Self-Cooking-Centers have automatic cleaning programmes built into their software. When used with the right cleaning materials you get cosmetic and hygienic cleanliness.
Our on-line shop enables you to purchase these at whatever time of day you remember or have free in the forthcoming rush. But please be aware as these are delivered by delivery firms and they may be affected by their delays caused by volume of parcels and weather. Again earlier purchase enables greater peace of mind.
Published Date: 26th November 2019
Category: Catering Business, Cleaning Products, News, Ovens, Rational, Self Cooking Centre, Service plan
Tags: AC Services, Cleaning Products, Rational Ovens, service
12 Nov |
Rational Cleaning Routine |
It might be mid-November but it’s getting perilously close to Xmas. Which means you should start making lists of everything you need to make the season progress as smoothly as possible.
If you are in charge of catering, then remember to add Rational cleaning products to the list. They may not be as glamorous as some of your requests to Santa, but they are an oft-overlooked necessity.
Rational Cleaning Products Save Time
Your Rational oven needs to be cleaned regularly in order to perform to its optimal capacity. And you need to ensure that the correct cleaning products are used.
At AC Services, we supply all the assistance you need to service and maintain your oven, from Rational Grill Cleaner, Rational Rinse Aid, Rational Oven Cleaning Tablets for the SCC (SelfCooking Center®) range and for those with Care Control, Rational Care Control Tablets and accessories.
If you have more than one oven, then you may need different cleaning product combinations. As a reminder, we supply:
- Rational Oven Cleaner Tab (x100): highly concentrated tablets specially developed with a complex set of active ingredients designed to guarantee maximum cleaning power.
- Rational Oven Care Tablets (x150) with special scale-dissolving ingredients contained to prevent limescale building up. These give reliability without a water softener and the need for separate time-consuming descaling.
- Rational Rinse Tablets (x50) highly effective care products ensuring active protection.
- The Rational Grill Cleaner (10 litres) for use with a hand spray gun.
- Rational Rinse Aid (10 litres).
- For water filtration, the products are either the Brita Purity 1200 Quell ST Filter Cartridge or the Brita Purity 600 Quell ST Filter Cartridge.
Be Prepared
You may think you have plenty of time but it never hurts to be prepared. And that means BOOKING A SERVICE now if you haven’t already to avoid the inevitable last-minute panic rush. We would be delighted to come out and check your oven over and pre-empt any problems that might arise.
Otherwise to order your Rational cleaning products, simply go to our on-line shop. Or call us on 01454 322222 for more advice of how to keep on top of your Rational oven cleaning.
Published Date: 12th November 2019
Category: Blog, Cleaning Products, News, Ovens, Rational, Self Cooking Centre, Service plan
Tags: Cleaning, Cleaning Products, Rational Ovens
03 Sep |
Time for Rational Cleaning |
So you may have noticed how quickly this year has gone. Last week we were sweltering in the last rays of the summer; this week we’re starting to think ahead to winter. 31st October is gearing up to be an interesting date for many, and not just because it is national let’s-dress-up-in-silly-costumes day.
It’s impossible to make any predictions about the outcome of the Brexit deadline but as a precaution, it’s worth stocking up on various items. And from AC Services Southern’s point of view, it’s an ideal time to look at Rational cleaning products.
Fact: Christmas is galloping apace and will be upon us before we realise.
Fact: we have a politically uncertain time ahead of us with no idea about the impact on imports of foreign products or indeed, on the value of the pound.
Fact: your cleaning products may not be running low now, but there will soon be a traditional late rush on supplies so avoid the queues.
Act now to stay happy later
Now is the time to take advantage of our online store for Rational cleaning products. It takes no time at all to enter an order and wait for the despatch of the goods. So let’s look at what you could get in the on-line Rational oven cleaning range
- Rational Oven Cleaner Tab (x100): highly concentrated tablets specially developed. A new complex set of active ingredients designed to guarantee maximum cleaning power.
- Tablets for Rational Oven Care (x150) with special scale-dissolving ingredients contained to prevent limescale building up. They give reliability without a water softener and the need for time-consuming descaling.
- Rational Rinse Tablets (x50) highly effective care products ensuring active protection.
- Rational’s Grill Cleaner (10 litres) for use with a hand spray gun.
- Rational Rinse Aid (10 litres).
There’s more: when was the last time your Rational oven was serviced? It’s probably longer than you think so pick up the phone and book a service now, not in December when we’re both rushed off our feet. Prevention is always better than cure.
To order your Rational cleaning products simply go to our online shop. To book a service call AC Services Southern on 01454 322222 for more advice and a time that suits.
Published Date: 3rd September 2019
Category: Blog, Cleaning, Cleaning Products, News
Tags: Brexit, Cleaning, Cleaning Products, Rational Ovens