An ozone cleaning system includes a cabinet defining a cleaning space, and an ozone generator disposed in fluid communication with the cleaning space and configured to produce and introduce ozone therein for cleaning items with ozone. An ozone neutralization unit is attached to the cabinet and includes an inlet and outlet tube each disposed within the cabinet. The ozone neutralization unit includes a heater/blower assembly in fluid communication with each tube and operable for heating and recirculating the ozone within the cleaning space. A method of operating the ozone cleaning system includes receiving an input to commence an ozone cleaning cycle, and then producing and introducing ozone into the cleaning space. The method proceeds by determining if the ozone cleaning cycle is complete, and then initiating and executing an ozone neutralization cycle to accelerate the rate of ozone neutralization after the ozone cleaning cycle is complete.
