Dry Ice Blasting
Every industrial or commercial cleaning job requires the right solution to get the job done right and effectively. MCA Group is Toronto’s leader in providing powerful cleaning at a price that fits your budget.
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5000+
Business Served
96.2%
APPROVAL RATING
99.9%
RETENTION RATE
Trusted by 5,000+ Businesses for Commercial Cleaning Since 1993
One of our most popular cleaning services is dry ice blasting. Non-toxic and non-flammable, dry ice blasting is the perfect choice for businesses looking for exceptional results that won’t interfere with your day-to-day business.
Our Full Dry Ice Blasting Process: Step-by-Step
Pre-Cleaning Preparation
We clean the target surface(s) by removing loose debris and other materials, so the dry ice blasting can be performed in an unimpeded manner.
The Cleaning Process
We clean the surface with concentrated high or low-pressure dry ice methods, depending on the surface, as well as wet blasting (dry ice and water) or dry blasting (ice pellets only) as needed.
Post-Cleanup Duties
We clean and dry the remaining surfaces to make sure that the job has been done thoroughly and correctly.
Finishing Touches
We perform a final inspection to make sure that all surface areas have been attended to.
Dry Ice Blasting: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Non-abrasive: Won’t damage underlying surfaces, coatings, wiring, or machinery.
- No secondary waste: Dry ice sublimates into gas, leaving only the removed contaminant behind.
- Safe for electrical equipment: Can clean energized or sensitive components without moisture.
- Minimal downtime: Often requires little to no disassembly of machinery.
- Environmentally friendly: No chemicals, no solvents, and no additional waste streams.
- Effective on residue: Excellent for removing grease, oil, adhesives, soot, mold, and baked-on contaminants.
- Food-safe: Approved for use in food and beverage processing environments.
Cons
- Higher cost: Equipment and pellet supply are more expensive than traditional blasting.
- Limited for heavy removal: Not ideal for thick rust, heavy scale, or durable industrial coatings.
- Requires specialized equipment and training: Not as widely accessible as sandblasting.
- CO₂ ventilation requirements: Enclosed spaces need airflow management for safety.
- Less effective on highly porous surfaces: May not penetrate deep pits or rough textures.
What Is Dry Ice Blasting and How Does It Work?
Also known as CO2 blasting or dry ice dusting, this form of industrial cleaning has become popular among businesses thanks to its environmentally safe results and the ability to tackle almost any industrial cleaning situation such as:
- Cleaning Contaminants
- Paints and Oils
- Biofilm
- Releasing Agents
Dry ice blasting is an exceptional cleaning tool designed to maximize results without using abrasive tools or grinding on surfaces by using supersonic speed paired with soft dry ice to remove dirt, grime, and debris from surfaces, unlike traditional blasting.
It offers similar results to glass, sand bead, and soda blasting without the use of abrasive and potentially damaging materials.
The dry ice lifts dirt and contaminants off sources without leaving any residue behind.
Dry blasting is an ideal choice for cleaning manufacturing and commercial facilities including:
- Gas Plants
- Mining
- Boilers
- Industrial Coolers and Condensers
- Turbine Maintenance
- Industrial Facilities
- Decontamination
It is a valuable disaster clean-up tool and can restore buildings or equipment without causing further damage. It’s the ideal solution for environmentally sensitive clean-ups because it does not create fumes or toxic gasses. Dry blasting provides an environmentally sustainable alternative to expensive and ineffective chemical treatments that often require multiple products and visits interfering with your business and costing you valuable time and money.
Key Benefits of Dry Ice Blasting for Industrial & Commercial Cleaning
No Waste – When you choose dry ice blasting to clean your facility, you are choosing one of the most environmentally safe and waste-free cleaning solutions. Dry ice blasting evaporates as it cleans leaving the air fresh and ready for an immediate return to work. Any debris or residue that is created during the cleaning process is simply swept or vacuumed.
Non-Abrasive
You have countless hours and dollars into creating a facility that looks great. That’s why dry ice blasting is the ideal cleaning solution. Dry ice pellets do not harm work surfaces or machinery, unlike other abrasive cleaning solutions. The pellets simply vapourize leaving behind a workspace that exceeds cleanliness standards.
Safe For You and Your Staff
We know how important it is to keep your team safe. Traditional cleaners can leave behind dangerous residue and may contain toxins. Dry ice blasting is 100% free of toxic chemicals and does not hurt the environment. Because dry ice uses reclaimed CO2, it does impact air quality or the environment, protecting both your health and the planet.
Fast and Efficient
You know it’s necessary to have regular cleanings at your facility, but you also don’t want to interrupt production or force downtime. Dry ice blasting can usually be done during working hours because it does not interfere with workflow. No machines need to be shut down or dismantled and most cleaning jobs can be done in just a few hours.
No residue left behind means staff can return to work right away so you never have to compromise your business.
Affordable
How often have you received a quote from a cleaning company only to find it exceeds your budget? Dry ice blasting is affordable and requires fewer man-hours than traditional cleaning meaning you get the best return on investment. No money lost to downtime and no money lost to exorbitant service fees.
Why Choose MCA Group for Dry Ice Blasting in Toronto & Ontario
We provide fast and friendly service that fits your budget and timeframe. We are available 24/7 to ensure that you never have to take time off to accommodate cleaning.
We take pride in providing service that is results-driven. We are not happy until you are.
Over 5K
BUSINESS SERVED
96.2%
APPROVAL RATING
99.9%
RETENTION RATE
Make An Appointment
Ready to experience the MCA Group difference? Contact us today, and we’ll set you up with a free consultation to get you started!
Contacts & Location
- 6021 Yonge St. Suite #220 North York, ON, M2M 3W2
- info@mcagroup.ca
- (416) 884-1652
Office Hours
- Daily Operating Hours: 8am-11pm
Service Hours
- 24/7/365
What Our Customers Say
Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Ice Blasting
Is dry ice cleaning worth it?
Yes—when you need a deep clean without water, chemicals, or abrasives. In Toronto, it’s ideal for food plants, warehouses, transit/parking areas, fire-smoke restoration, and heritage brick or wood where grit would be risky. It saves shutdown time and leaves no media residue, so sites reopen faster. For heavy rust or thick coatings, a different method may be cheaper.
What are the risks of dry ice blasting?
- CO₂ buildup in tight rooms—needs ventilation/monitoring.
- Frostbite if pellets touch skin.
- Noise and flying debris—use PPE.
- Thermal shock can stress fragile materials (old paint, thin plastics).
- Pros manage this with trained techs, airflow control, and safety gear.
Can dry ice blasting remove rust?
- Light surface rust: sometimes.
- Pitted or heavy rust: no—use abrasive blasting or sanding. Dry ice is best to strip oils, grease, soot, glue, and grime without thinning the metal.
What are the disadvantages of dry ice (the material)?
- Must be stored and used quickly; it sublimates.
- Very cold (-78.5°C) → burn risk.
- Releases CO₂ gas, so indoor work needs airflow.
- More logistics cost than soap-and-water.
Is dry ice blasting better than sandblasting?
- Dry ice: no grit to sweep, gentle on substrates, great for food/packaging lines and fire cleanup, minimal downtime.
- Sand/other media: more aggressive and cheaper for rust and thick coatings.
- Pick based on the surface and soil type.
What are three things you should never do with dry ice?
- Seal it in a closed container.
- Handle with bare hands.
- Use it indoors without ventilation or gas monitoring.
Is dry ice blasting messy?
Much less than other blasting. The ice vanishes to gas; only the loosened dirt/paint drops. We lay tarps and HEPA-vacuum to collect waste—useful for condos, plazas, and plants across the GTA.
Do you need special equipment for dry ice blasting?
Yes: a dry-ice blaster, a high-CFM air compressor, pellet supply, and PPE (eye/ear/skin protection). Indoors we add ventilation and CO₂ monitors. That’s why most Toronto sites hire a certified crew.
Does dry ice blasting remove mold?
It removes mold staining and the top layer from wood or masonry fast. For safe remediation, combine with containment, negative air, and HEPA vacuuming. Use by an IICRC-trained team if it’s a building-wide issue.
Can you hire a dry ice blasting machine?
Rentals exist but are rare and costly, and you still need a large compressor, pellets, and safety controls. In Toronto it’s usually cheaper and safer to hire professionals for a day rate.
Will dry ice blasting remove paint?
Rentals exist but are rare and costly, and you still need a large compressor, pellets, and safety controls. In Toronto it’s usually cheaper and safer to hire professionals for a day rate.
What are the disadvantages of dry ice blasting (the method)?
- Higher cost than pressure washing.
- Not ideal for heavy rust/thick coatings.
- Logistics (pellet supply, compressor).
- Indoor gas management required.
- The trade-off is speed, no residue, and protection of the base material.
Will dry ice blasting remove powder coat?
Last Updated on October 19, 2026 by Mike Sethi
