Helpful Tips on using and cleaning your Xtracool Ice Box
Packing your Ice Box
- Chill the Ice Box by placing a little ice in it at least 5 hours before packing with food and drink. This will cool down the interior and greatly reduce the ice that is usually used up from cooling down the ice box itself.
- Pre-chill your drinks and food (frozen food is even better) before stacking in the Ice Box. Three litres of liquid at room temperature may melt as much as 1.5kg of ice to cool it.
- Keep the lid fastened and the Ice Box out of the sun whenever possible.
- Don't drain the ice water as the ice will keep longer in chilled water.
- Block ice will last longer however crushed ice will cool items down more quickly. Take ice directly from the freezer to the ice box. Any delay will cause the ice to partially melt and reduce it's capacity for long life.
- Where possible the volume of ice should be double the volume of items to be chilled.
Cleaning
- Always clean the inside and outside of your Xtracool Ice Box only with warm soapy water. Don't use commercial cleaning agents.
- Dry the inside and leave with the lid open until completely dry
Maintenance
- All Polythelyne ice box lids may be subject to warping if left empty in the full sun, especially if pressure is applied unevenly on the
lid e.g. secured with tie downs. If this occurs, it can be corrected by simply;
- Turning the box upside down with additional weight on top. Ensure the lid is on a flat, even surface.
- Leave in a position where it will receive full sun for several hours, followed by shade for several hours.
- Make sure that the weight remains on the lid for a full cycle of sun and then shade (overnight is even better) as this will firstly soften the plastic and then re-harden the lid back to its required shape.
The same result can be achieved by using a ratchet tie down to pull the lid back into shape. Again, make sure that the pressure remains constant for a full cycle of sun and shade.
