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Quality Service Since 1996
Dry Ice Blasting
Dry ice blasting is the non-abrasive, no-residue cleaning method best suited for sensitive equipment and demanding industrial environments.
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Expert Dry Ice Blasting Services in Central & Northeastern Ohio

CT Service Systems has been delivering high-performance dry ice blasting since 2011—helping manufacturers, plant managers, and maintenance teams tackle tough cleaning challenges with precision and speed. Dry ice blasting offers a clean, residue-free solution for cleaning machinery, electrical components, production lines, or delicate surfaces that can’t be exposed to moisture or abrasive materials. With best-in-class equipment and deep industrial experience, we’re the team to call when downtime isn’t an option and the job has to be done right.

Why Blasting with Dry Ice is the Most Effective Industrial Cleaning Method

Dry ice blasting is used by leading manufacturers for fast and reliable results. It outperforms water, sand, and solvents in nearly every way. Here are more benefits to using dry ice blasting in your next industrial cleaning project.

  • Fast Turnaround: Because dry ice blasting does not require disassembly or drying time, it reduces cleaning time from a matter of days to hours. Equipment can often be put back into service immediately after cleaning.
  • Effective Cleaning and Surface Preparation: The pressurized dry ice pellets reach into tight spaces that scrubbing or conventional blasting can’t. Unlike manual cleaning or abrasive methods, dry ice blasting systems remove grime, oil, and residue without leaving behind secondary waste.
  • Non-Corrosive and Surface-Safe: Dry ice is non-abrasive and non-conductive, meaning it won’t damage sensitive components or wear down surfaces like sandblasting or harsh chemicals might. It cleans without compromising equipment lifespan.
  • Environmentally Friendly: Dry ice blasters produce no secondary waste and use no harmful chemicals. It’s a safe, eco-conscious cleaning solution—and the only one approved by the FDA, EPA, and USDA.
  • Cost-Effective: Dry ice blasting lowers overall cleaning costs because it cleans equipment faster and more thoroughly with less labor. It also minimizes equipment wear and downtime, which means fewer repairs and production interruptions.
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How Does Dry Ice Blasting Work?

Powerful, No-Residue Cleaning Method Using Carbon Dioxide

It Hits Hard Without Damaging Surfaces

First, pressurized air propels dry ice pellets—a solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2)—at supersonic speeds, chipping away at built-up grime, paint, or residue. Unlike sand or steel shot, the pellets are non-abrasive and non-conductive. That means you get the force you need without scratching surfaces or damaging sensitive equipment.

It Cracks Contaminants at the Core

As the dry ice makes contact, it super-cools the surface. This rapid temperature drop causes the contaminant and the material underneath it to contract at different rates, loosening the bond between them. In essence, it pops the old paint or residue off a surface without chemicals or manual scraping.

It Vanishes on Impact

The dry ice turns straight from a solid into a gas with no mess and no cleanup required. This sudden expansion creates a micro-explosion that lifts off the loosened debris, leaving a clean surface behind with no secondary waste to deal with.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning
with Dry Ice Blasting

Dry ice blasting is a powerful and highly specialized method of industrial cleaning—but it’s still unfamiliar to many plant managers and facility teams. Below, we answer some of the most common questions we hear about how it works, where it’s best used, and what you should consider when hiring a dry ice blasting contractor.

Dry ice blasting is commonly used to clean industrial equipment, production lines, electrical components, and surfaces where traditional cleaning methods would be too abrasive or wet. It’s ideal for removing grime, grease, adhesives, ink, soot, and food residue without leaving behind secondary waste.

Facilities often use it to prep surfaces for painting, clean delicate machinery, or maintain compliance with safety and audit standards. It’s especially well-suited for the manufacturing, food processing, packaging, and automotive industries.

Dry ice blasting machines can remove light surface rust, flash rust, and oxidation without damaging the underlying metal. However, it’s not the right method for deep, flaky, or structural rust.

For more aggressive rust removal, abrasive blasting may be required. In many cases, dry ice is used as a first pass to strip contaminants before a final abrasive or coating process.

Our team at CT Service Systems will help assess the surface and recommend the most effective method for your situation.

It depends on the job. Dry ice blasting uses compressed air and CO2, so it’s non-abrasive, non-conductive, and leaves no residue. That makes it the better choice for cleaning sensitive equipment or areas that can’t tolerate water, chemicals, or grit.

Sandblasting is more aggressive and can damage surfaces or leave behind dust and debris. If you need to preserve surface integrity while removing contaminants quickly and cleanly, dry ice blasting is typically the safer, more efficient solution.

While dry ice blasting offers many advantages, it’s not right for every application. It’s less effective on thick coatings, heavy rust, or deep layers of paint. Because the dry ice sublimates into gas, it doesn’t generate the same abrasive force as sand or steel media.

Additionally, dry ice blasting typically requires specialized equipment, proper ventilation, and protective equipment due to the CO₂ gas release. That’s why it’s important to hire trained technicians with experience in industrial environments like CT Service Systems.

The cost of dry ice blasting depends on several factors, including the size of the area, the level of contamination, access challenges, and whether equipment needs to be cleaned in place. While it may be more expensive up front than manual cleaning or pressure washing, it can save money in the long run by reducing labor, preventing damage, and minimizing downtime.

Contact CT Service Systems for a free, no-obligation price quote so you know exactly what to expect!

(330) 322-9274