I've learned a simple way to clean out my chill plate after each batch by simply hooking up the garden hose to the wort in and out with quick disconnects. HOWEVER, at the start of a new brew day, I also place the unit in with the H2O (liquor) I heat for the mash. The purpose of doing so is to kill off any bad guys that might still remain from the prior batch. Well ... I found out the hard way that the plates stay HOT for a long time. Couldn't figure out why the unit wasn't cooling, and I ended up killing off a batch of yeast. I will henceforth recirculate StarSan in a closed-loop set up to cool the plates prior to hooking up the unit between the kettle and fermenter.