Maintaining a clean restaurant is not just about the health and safety of your workers and diners. Of course, those are key factors when it comes to running a clean dining environment for your patrons. However, a clean restaurant is also about your brand and how your patrons perceive you as a caring and appreciative restauranteur. As a restaurant manager, cleanliness must be at the top of your priority list; we’ve provided this comprehensive restaurant cleaning guide to help.
Why Restaurant Cleaning is Essential
- Health and Safety Compliance
Making sure that your patrons are protected every day from potential foodborne illnesses is paramount. Aside from getting some extra unwanted attention from your local health regulators, one bad dish can ruin your restaurant’s reputation. One infected diner can warn others or otherwise amplify their grievance and that’s a reputational stain that you just can’t clean.
That’s why you need a cleaning staff that knows how to eliminate bacteria, viruses and pests that can easily contaminate food. This means everything from utensils to cutting boards to preparation spaces must be thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis. Proactive daily cleaning will also help to impress health code regulators who will be visiting your establishment.
- Customer Trust and Overall Satisfaction
As mentioned, it only takes one infected customer for others to lose trust in your business. Perceived cleanliness is critical to a food establishment’s success, so you must always be focused on presentation. You might have an amazing menu but if your restaurant appears to be unsanitary or not well kept, then your business will suffer. A clean dining environment reflects professionalism and care for your patrons’ comfort and well-being.
These days word of mouth is no longer limited to just a single mouth. If you receive one negative review on social media or another review platform such as Yelp that goes viral or is otherwise favored by the algorithms, you could lose a significant amount of business that you might never recover. Yes, you can fix an order and make it right but you can’t fix a reputation for an unclean or unsanitary dining experience.
- Employee Morale and Pest Control
Even messy people don’t want to work in a messy environment. A thoroughly clean kitchen and food preparation area is key to keeping your employees happy and productive. This is especially true when it comes to running a restaurant. Organization is what keeps it all moving. Nothing clutters progress and frustrates employees like a messy kitchen.
Also, a messy kitchen prep space tends to be an open invitation for lingering pests. Workers and customers alike both depend on a dining environment that is free of rats, flies and cockroaches. A little sanitation goes a long way when it comes to protecting your business from possible pest infestations.
How to Establish Daily Cleaning Tasks
No comprehensive restaurant cleaning guide would be complete without creating a quick list of cleaning tasks for restaurant staff. Let’s consider how to best prioritize each area.
Dining Area
Tables, chairs and booths should be wiped down after each use. This might seem like a lot of fuss but once the routine is established, it becomes a quick and easy habit. Staff should also vacuum and sweep floors often to remove unsightly debris or crumbs.
A little shine is a great way to start your business day so you should do a thorough cleaning of your windows and glass surfaces before you open your doors. This would also be a great time to sanitize menus and, perhaps, clean those condiment holders so that they look fresh and ready to go.
Restrooms
Though often overlooked, this is a vital space for customers. An unclean restroom can negatively affect your reputation as a restaurateur. As we live in the days of “influencers” one bad review of your bathroom can have a very direct impact on your register.
Bathrooms should be disinfected every day. Sinks, toilets and urinals must be sanitized regularly. Also, be sure to replenish soap, paper towels and toilet paper as needed. Once these primary tasks are completed, turn your attention to mirrors and surfaces such as countertops and floors and be sure to empty the trash bins often.
Kitchen
The kitchen, of course, is a must-clean area even though patrons don’t see nor interact with it and it will require a good deal of attention from your staff. Often, staff can clean after each dish is prepped and that is advised to avoid potential cross-contamination issues. Sometimes a quick clean or sanitized wipe of the prep areas, such as countertops and cutting boards, is all that’s needed.
You will also need to make sure that all dishes and utensils are thoroughly cleaned by your bussing and dishwasher staff. A dirty plate or fork can create major sanitation issues directly tied to the health and well-being of your patrons. Also, empty trash bins and replace liners as needed. A busy kitchen can be chaotic but when a staff knows how to keep it sparkling, it makes for a much more satisfying workplace.
Weekly and monthly cleaning routines for all rooms should include polishing wood surfaces and fixtures, cleaning air vents, ovens and fryers as well as deep cleaning grout and tiles. Check behind heavy equipment such as refrigerators and stoves and deep clean there as well. Be sure to also keep an eye on ventilation systems and exhaust fans.
We hope that this comprehensive restaurant cleaning guide has given you a few new ideas on how to keep your restaurant in tip-top shape. If you are looking for an outside cleaning staff to help with your daily, weekly, monthly or even seasonal cleaning for your restaurant then look no further. Fernic has been on the job since 1992 and our long list of satisfied restaurateur clients will tell you that our janitorial experts know how to get the job done right the first time. Contact us today for your free quote.