A method for evaluating cleaning effect based on Bacillus cereus spores was developed and tested in a model system designed to resemble actual farm conditions. A test rig with four removable sampling plates was mounted in a milk line. The plates were attached at the end of T-junctions protruding either 1·5 or 3-times the milk pipe diameter from the main loop to reflect different levels of cleaning difficulty. In each cleaning test, B. cereus spores were applied to the four sampling plates to simulate soil. A series of cleaning tests was conducted at 35, 45, 55 and 65°C with six commercial chlorine-free, alkaline detergents; three liquid and three powder-based products. A commercial alkaline detergent with chlorine, a sodium hydroxide solution, a sodium hydroxider/hypochlorite solution and pure water were also tested. Triplicate tests were performed with each cleaning solution, giving a total of 120 cleaning tests. The cleaning effect was evaluated by comparing the number of spores before and after cleaning. At all temperatures, the two chlorine-based cleaning solutions gave significantly greater reductions in B. cereus spores than the chlorine-free products. All six commercial chlorine-free, alkaline detergents generally gave similar cleaning effects, with no differences in the performance of powder-based and liquid forms. The mechanical spore reduction effect with water alone was greater (1·5–1·8 log-units) than the additional chemical effect of sodium hydroxide or chlorine-free detergents (0·5–1·2 log-units). The chlorine-based solutions had a considerably more powerful chemical effect (2–4 log-units depending on temperature). In general, an increase in cleaning solution temperature up to 55°C gave a greater reduction in spores. A further increase to 65°C did not improve cleaning effectiveness.