Restaurant cleaning can be challenging in a bustling establishment where service hours are long and customers are aplenty. However, it is a crucial aspect of running a food business to ensure the safety of your patrons and prevent cross-contamination.
If you want to cover all the nooks and crannies and maintain a high cleanliness standard, you need to establish a systematic process. Turn to this 10-step restaurant cleaning checklist to start.
10-Step Restaurant Cleaning Checklist
1. Disinfect high-touch surfaces frequently.
Regular disinfection of visible surfaces, especially those that frequently come in contact with diners and kitchen staff, helps prevent microorganism buildup. Your list should include kitchen surfaces like refrigerators and tables and those in the dining area like doors and chairs. A good cleaning product will help remove built-up grime and grease, but only a disinfectant can eliminate disease-causing germs and bacteria.
Pair Cif Professional All-Purpose Cleaner with Cif Power & Shine Multi-Purpose Anti-Bacteria Wipes to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces. Use the all-purpose cleaner to remove tough dirt from surfaces and the wipes to disinfect in one go.
2. Keep floors clean and grime-free daily.
Clean dining and kitchen floors daily to remove shoe prints, grease, dirt, or dust accumulated during service hours. Wipe spills immediately to prevent transfer and cross-contamination. Keep non-carpeted restaurant floors clean so that germs and bacteria do not flourish.
Try Cif Professional Floor Degreaser, designed to remove grease deposits and oil-based soils. The quick-drying formula leaves floors squeaky clean and without any sticky feeling. It is suitable on all water-resistant floors, including PVC, vitrified tiles, epoxy, and rubber.
3. Wash and disinfect all kitchen utensils after every use.
Wash dishes and other frequently used cooking utensils to remove food or oil stains. They should be sanitized and rid of germs to prevent foodborne illnesses. Also, disinfect utensils that touched raw ingredients as their juices can carry disease-causing bacteria.
Sunlight Professional Hand Dishwashing Liquid helps remove burnt food deposits and tough grease without leaving any residue.
4. Disinfect walk-in refrigerators regularly.
Your standard cleaning procedure should include disinfection of walk-in refrigerators. Besides arranging and organizing raw and cooked food products separately, you should also sanitize the shelving units.
5. Clean exhaust hood systems at least once every three months.
Make sure you also conduct a deep cleaning of your exhaust plenum, ducts, and roof exhaust fan. Sanitizing these items will not only remove grease but also reduce the risk of a dangerous kitchen fire. It will also improve ventilation and ensure that dust, dirt, and germs do not contaminate ingredients or cooking utensils.
6. Clean kitchen walls and ceilings weekly.
In an environment with high heat, humidity, and grease, stains and grime can accumulate quickly on walls. Ceilings can also become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Make sure to include walls and ceilings in your weekly restaurant kitchen cleaning checklist.
7. Clean the restaurant toilets.
Your restaurant’s restroom speaks volumes about your cleaning standards. To keep toilets fresh and protected against bacteria, daily restroom cleaning is necessary. Sanitize and disinfect toilet seats and other high-touch surfaces, like soap dispensers and faucets, to eradicate disease-causing germs.
Domex Professional Toilet and Bathroom Cleaner clears stains and odors effectively so your customers can enjoy a clean and fresh bathroom. You don’t even need special cleaning and sanitizing equipment when using this.
8. Sanitize mats and rugs daily.
Mats and rugs used to reduce dirt and dust brought in by guests can be breeding grounds for bacteria. If you don’t want to turn off customers by greeting them with a sticky mat, vacuum and clean them daily.
9. Change into a clean set of aprons and coats daily.
Long working hours can leave aprons and coats smelling like grease and smoke. Spills and stains are also inevitable while working in the kitchen. Ensure that your staff keeps a high level of personal hygiene by turning up for service in clean, stain-free uniforms.
10. Dispose of waste with care.
Food and litter left on the floor or near the dumpster can attract pests and vermin. They can be a headache to exterminate once they start breeding on your restaurant grounds. Kitchen staff should clean the area around the dumpster, removing debris and spills daily or as often as needed. Change bin liners frequently to prevent unpleasant odors.
When performing restaurant cleaning tasks, it is advisable to follow a step-by-step guide. Make sure you have the right tools to ensure efficiency. Also, skip regular household products and invest in proper cleaning supplies for restaurants.
As a restaurant owner, you know and value that everything in your operation must be kept “clean.” Stay ahead in the cleanliness of your restaurant with our free checklist on cleanings tasks to accomplish each day, week, and month.
Need to bring your restaurant’s cleaning up a notch? Let our partners from Unilever Professional help you in ensuring your restaurant’s hygiene and cleanliness. To find a distributor near you, click here.
