Cleaning and sanitizing in the meat packing industry

A method of cleaning in a meat-packing plant, comprising:

• providing a tank;
• disposing a cleaning solution comprising a potassium-based non-caustic cleaner and a lubricant in the tank, wherein the potassium-based non-caustic cleaner is provided as a concentrate with a pH of between 10.0 and 10.2, wherein the lubricant includes polypropylene glycol, and wherein the cleaning solution in the tank is at room temperature;
• providing a track including a gambrel disposed on the track, wherein the track is configured to dip the gambrel into the cleaning solution as the gambrel moves along the track, wherein a hook of the gambrel is fully immersed in the cleaning solution and the track never extends into the cleaning solution, and wherein the cleaning solution cleans and lubricates the gambrel;
• removing a processed animal carcass from the gambrel prior to the gambrel being dipped into the cleaning solution;
• turning the gambrel a first time prior to the gambrel being dipped into the cleaning solution, wherein turning the gambrel the first time orients the gambrel parallel to the track;
• dipping the gambrel into the cleaning solution by advancing the gambrel on the track, wherein the cleaning solution in the tank remains at room temperature and the gambrel remains oriented parallel to the track;
• removing the gambrel from the cleaning solution by continuing to advance the gambrel on the track;
• turning the gambrel a second time after removing the gambrel from the cleaning solution, wherein turning the gambrel the second time orients the gambrel perpendicular to the track;
• and
• disposing a fresh animal carcass on the gambrel after the gambrel is dipped into the potassium-based non-caustic cleaner.