845-656-7748Cleanliness in a food establishment is not negotiable. Patrons will steer clear of your restaurant and go elsewhere if it appears dirty or poorly maintained. Research shows that over 90% of guests say that cleanliness is one of the most important factors when choosing and frequenting a restaurant.
Ensuring the safety of your guests is all part of good customer service, but maintaining restaurant cleanliness is not just about appearance, but health. According to The Center for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases.
While the kitchen is the obvious area of a restaurant that needs constant attention, here are some other very important spots that can’t be overlooked:
Bathrooms
A breeding ground for germs, customers in a restaurant expect the bathroom to be spotless. Dirty bathrooms can violate health codes, spread illness, and damage the reputation of your business.
Bathrooms should be checked and cleaned throughout the day, emptying the trash, cleaning the toilets, wiping down the sink, and cleaning door knobs and surface areas. Bathrooms require constant attention with further deep cleaning and maintenance needed on a weekly and monthly basis.
Walls
Savvy restaurateurs know that vertical surfaces like walls can attract splatters of liquid, oil, and food particles, especially near kitchen equipment and appliances. It’s crucial for restaurants to regularly wipe down walls so that dirt and grime, which could lead to bacteria and germs, don’t build up.
Drink Nozzles
Regardless if your soda fountain is customer-facing or your staff fills drinks for customers, dispenser nozzles where the liquid comes out need to be unscrewed and cleaned regularly. Failing to do so could result in the collections and growth of mold and bacteria due to the sugary drinks being dispensed.
Handles, buttons, and levers also need to be wiped down regularly.
High Chairs & Booster Seats
If your restaurant is family-friendly, it’s likely you have high chairs and booster seats available for your tiniest patrons. Without a proper plan for cleaning and disinfection, these seats can be the breeding ground for food, bodily fluid, and other germs.
These chairs come in a variety of materials such as wood, plastic, and metal that may seem easy enough to wipe down, but it can get more complicated when it comes to cleaning the restraint system that comes equipped with straps and clasps.
Take special care with high chairs and booster seats in your restaurant—the last thing you want is to make babies and young children sick from them!
Cleaning Equipment
Yes, the cleaning tools and supplies you use to clean your restaurant need to be cleaned as well. Ensure that additional germs are not spread throughout your space by making sure that sponges, rags, mop heads, cloths, brooms, etc. are properly disinfected, stored, and disposed of when they have been overused.
Soiled cleaning equipment will just spread more germs and dirt if not regularly cleaned and sanitized.
Menus
While many restaurants post-Covid are using digital QR codes to share their menus, many establishments are still using physical menus.
Studies show that germs that cause colds and influenza can last on surfaces for 18 hours or more. Because menus are handled by so many people, it’s imperative that they are disinfected regularly. Paper menus should be replaced often and laminated menus and menu covers need to be wiped down and sanitized thoroughly multiple times a day.
Surface Areas
Surfaces that are frequently touched like tabletops, touchscreens, kiosks, door knobs, handles, condiment holders, salt and pepper shakers, and basically anything on a restaurant table or countertop need to be cleaned and disinfected frequently. When surfaces are touched by many people and not properly taken care of, germs can be easily spread.
Put simply, these areas require constant attention!
We’re commercial cleaning pros in CT & NY!
Running a successful restaurant takes long hours and a lot of hard work. Unlike the food or service, which can only be executed by your team, other important tasks can be outsourced.
Keeping a spotless restaurant requires a lot of attention and time, so why not lighten your load and put it in the hands of a professional? A commercial cleaning company can ensure that the aforementioned areas, and your restaurant from top to bottom receive the attention they need.
For over 50 years, we have partnered with an extensive number of restaurants and food establishments in CT and NY to provide exceptional restaurant cleaning services. We have experience working with spaces of all sizes and ensuring that even the most complicated areas of a kitchen are meticulously cleaned.
Connect with us here or at 888-673-6010 and let’s talk about your kitchen cleaning needs!
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