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How To Clean and Sanitize Your Restaurant In 5 Easy Steps

How To Clean and Sanitize Your Restaurant In 5 Easy Steps

It is more important now than ever to have a clean and sanitized restaurant for your diners. Especially since the Covid-19, diners need reassurance that it is safe to eat in restaurants.

Effective restaurant cleaning and sanitizing are essential to the success of your business. They help maintain a positive image, reduce the risk that diners may be exposed to dangerous pathogens, and it also helps prevent cross-contamination.

There’s no right or wrong answer regarding the restaurant’s cleaning and sanitizing procedures. However, ensuring your restaurant is safe for diners and staff is fundamental.

Continue reading this article to learn how to clean and sanitize your restaurant in five easy steps. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the industry, following these steps will help keep your restaurant sparkling clean and safe for your diners and workers.

Creating cleaning and sanitizing checklists

Several types of disinfectants are available, each with advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most common disinfectants:

Create or update your cleaning checklists for front- and back-of-the-house staff, and assign task items for each high-traffic surface (doors, chairs, tables, etc.), each surface that comes into contact with food, and any supplies or equipment used throughout the day.

Maintaining a daily, weekly, and monthly restaurant cleaning and sanitizing checklist can prevent the spread of diseases and guarantee a hygienic dining experience.

Choosing the right cleaning and sanitizing products

Choosing the right cleaning and sanitizing products is important for maintaining a clean and sanitary restaurant environment. Because using the appropriate products can effectively eliminate harmful bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants that can cause foodborne illnesses.

Always go for cleaning products specifically designed and safe to use in food service environments. These products will effectively remove grease, oil, and other food residues while being safe for use on surfaces that come into contact with food.

Work with your supplier to find the products that meet disinfection criteria and also ensure that the restaurant staff understands the usage requirements, such as:

  • The right cleaning product for the right surface
  • How long to leave the cleaning product on the surface
  • Host training sessions with your staff so employees feel confident in their sanitization tasks.

**Thinking about purchasing restaurant cleaning products? Then invest in the “Reckitt Pro Solutions - Hospitality Bundle.” A discounted bulk purchase feature - enabling you to forget about frequent restocking and running out of critical supplies during busy periods with a constant supply of cleaning products. These savings can reduce the overall cost of cleaning and sanitizing your restaurant.**

Cleaning and sanitizing process

Cleaning removes dirt, dust, and other visible contaminants from surfaces, and sanitizing reduces the number of bacteria and other harmful pathogens on surfaces.

Follow this five-step process to clean and sanitize your restaurant effectively.

Scrape

Before cleaning and sanitizing, remove any food particles or other debris from the surfaces by scraping them off with a scraper, brush, paper towel, or cloth. Ensure all residue is removed from the surface before proceeding to the next step.

Wash

Wash away any leftover food residue or dirt with the help of a cleaning cloth or brush and a cleaning solution made from an antiseptic liquid. Be sure to cover all areas of the surface and pay special attention to areas that are frequently touched or come into contact with food.

Rinse

Rinse off the surface thoroughly with water to remove any remaining cleaning solution.

Sanitize

Use disinfectant spray or liquid to reduce the remaining germs and bacteria on the surfaces. Follow the instructions on the product label to ensure you use it correctly. Leave the product on the surface for the recommended time before properly wiping it off.

Dry

Allow the surface to air dry completely before using it again. This step is important to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold, which thrive in moist environments.

Cover all your bases

The cleaning and sanitizing process is incomplete without covering both ends of the restaurants (front and back of the house).

Front-of-the-house
  • Door handles
  • Stair railings
  • Lift buttons
  • Tables and chairs
  • Flush handles
  • Dispensers
  • Hand dryers
  • Sinks
Back-of-the-house
  • Walls and cupboards
  • Grill, griddle, range, flattop, and fryer
  • Coffee makers, microwaves, toasters, and meat slicers
  • Prep area surfaces and cutting boards
  • Refrigerators, freezers, and storage areas
  • Waste disposal area and trash cans

Have staff practice good hygiene

If the restaurant staff isn’t practicing good hygiene, then they won’t be able to do a good job in helping the restaurant maintain cleanliness standards.

Restaurant staff can adopt the following hygiene practices to maintain a clean and sanitized restaurant, ensuring the safety and satisfaction of diners.

  • Regular hand washing with antibacterial soap or liquid hand wash helps prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses that causes illnesses.
  • Using gloves when cleaning, sanitizing, and handling food prevents cross-contamination. In addition, changing the gloves frequently, especially between tasks, is advised.
  • Maintaining good personal hygiene, including showering regularly, wearing clean clothes, covering mouth while sneezing or coughing, etc. Staff who are sick should stay home to prevent the spread of illness.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it. Effective cleaning and sanitizing of your restaurant using those steps are essential for building customer trust.

Can I use the same cleaning products for all surfaces in my office?

Keeping your restaurant clean and germ-free helps establish an atmosphere where they can relax, enjoy their food, and not worry about the public health crisis because they know you’ve got their back.

FAQs

How to implement cleaning and sanitization changes in your restaurant?

Here’s how you can implement cleaning and sanitization changes in your restaurant:

  • Introduce any new change through group meetings and explain the new procedure, cleaning material, and reason for the latest changes.
  • Highlight the proper use of cleaning supplies. Improper cleaning supplies or methods can pose a risk to your diners.
  • Supervise the staff to ensure compliance, and if you notice someone struggling with certain changes, hold a meeting to clear up any points of confusion.

Which is the most important place to clean and sanitize in the restaurant?

The kitchen is the most important place to clean and sanitize the restaurant. This area is exposed to various bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms that can lead to foodborne illnesses.

Can I use natural cleaning products to sanitize my restaurant?

Some natural products like vinegar and baking soda can be used as effective cleaning agents.

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