Restaurants provide a fun atmosphere, a chance to get away from the house, and more importantly, great food. While these are important in the food service industry, cleanliness is too.

Hundreds of people filter in and out of restaurants every day. Frequent and proper cleaning prevents food-borne illnesses, keeps staff and customers from getting sick, and reduces the spread of germs. Clean and sanitized cook stations, dining areas, and restrooms make your establishment shine and impact the success of your business.

Studies show that 90% of people consider cleanliness when deciding whether they will be repeat customers.

There are basic restaurant cleaning duties that should be done every day to maintain a clean work environment for customers and staff.

This restaurant cleaning checklist will help ensure your business is spick and span from the front of the house to the back of the house!

Restaurant Cleaning Supplies

Start with the basics, like a broom, mop, glass and surface cleaners, and rags to clean with. Aside from the more obvious cleaning supplies, a few more heavy-duty items will need to be in your “toolbox.” You’ll need commercial-grade products such as:

• Oven and Grill Cleaner
• Concentrated Cleaners
• Enzymatic Floor Cleaner
• Air Fresheners and/or Odor Neutralizers
• Griddle Pads and Rags

Restaurant cleaning can require some specific equipment and even specialization. Not all chores can be done by restaurant staff, and some jobs will need professional cleaning services in order to be cleaned correctly and thoroughly. Here is a breakdown of the different cleaning lists for your restaurant.

The Kitchen and Bar

The kitchen is one of the most important areas in a restaurant that needs to be cleaned and disinfected. Because of this, a daily, weekly, and monthly kitchen cleaning schedule is a must to maintain a sanitary environment.

• Clean cooking equipment and utensils. Tens of millions of people contract food-borne illnesses in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Having the utensils cleaned daily is a must.
• Clean all ovens, broilers, griddles, fryers, and vent hoods. These items should be cleaned and wiped down daily to help prevent grease buildup.
• Clean prep areas, counters, and high-touch surfaces. Of course, this must be done every day, multiple times a day. A daily kitchen cleaning schedule to wipe down high-touch surfaces, walkways, and utensils are essential to preventing the spread of illness and germs. Every state has its own laws and rules when it comes to food service.
• Empty, clean, and flush keg lines, soda, and coffee machines. These can often be forgotten but are very important to clean out. Any type of machine with lines should be disinfected often. These should be cleaned at least once a week.
• Wipe down walls. Wash and clean wall surfaces with a mild degreaser and wipe dry once a week.
• Clean grease traps. These are an important part of any restaurant kitchen cleaning checklist. Grease can build up and clog city sewage systems. It’s recommended that these are deep-cleaned by professionals every one to three months.
• Sanitize walk-in freezers and refrigerators. Considering this is where food is stored, it’s essential to add freezers and refrigerators to your kitchen cleaning schedule. Not only will this help your energy bill by cooling food more efficiently, but it will also help prevent the spread of germs and food-borne illnesses.
• Clean and sanitize ice machines. These can be done every quarter, but the more often, the better.

The Restrooms

Aside from the kitchen, restrooms are crucial to keep clean and sanitized. Staff and customers will all filter in and out of your restaurant’s restroom, making the perfect opportunity for germs and viruses to spread. A clean restroom also reflects on the overall cleanliness of your business. These tasks should be completed daily to keep your restaurant’s restrooms in clean condition and prevent the spread of pathogens.

• Clean and sanitize toilets and urinals inside and outside and polish the fixtures.
• Wipe down both sides of the toilet seats with a disinfectant.
• Scour and sanitize all the sink basins and polish the fixtures.
• Wipe down splash marks around sink basins.
• Wipe down the walls between stalls.
• Clean mirrors.
• Empty the trash cans and sanitary napkin receptacles.
• Wipe down all utility fixtures, including soap dispensers, hand dryers, paper towel holders, toilet paper holders, and sanitary napkin receptacles.
• Clean the door to the restrooms.
• Restock paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap, and hand sanitizer.
• Mop and rinse floors with a disinfectant.

All the Rest

Restaurants aren’t just the kitchen. The rest of the “house” needs to be cleaned on a regular schedule.

• Clean the drains. Restaurant drains can become clogged easily with the amount of use and types of products restaurants send down them. Clogged drains can be a headache with sewage issues and can cause odors to creep into your establishment. Add drain cleaning to your weekly restaurant cleaning.
• Carpets: Porous materials like carpets can trap and hold onto germs, odors, and dirt. Cleaning carpets monthly can help prevent stains and stench.
• Wipe down high-touch areas in the dining area. This needs to be done daily and in between guests to prevent the spread of germs and viruses and stay in line with many state guidelines.

Hire the Pros at Enviro-Master Services

Restaurant cleaning is no small feat! We take the burden off owners and staff to give customers the cleanest experience at your establishment. We’re experts in cleaning restaurants and offer a wide range of professional services to sanitize the front of the house and the back of the house — and everywhere in between! With years of experience cleaning in the restaurant industry, we understand how important it is to sanitize and disinfect the most utilized areas in a restaurant. Enviro-Master Services has these services for restaurants:

• Tile and grout cleaning
• Restroom sanitation services
• Electrostatic spraying for restrooms and high-traffic areas
• Drain treatment services
• Paper management with high-quality paper towels and toilet paper
• Hand hygiene products

Our products are safer-choice certified, and we offer many eco-friendly options. While you’re busy making a cleaning schedule and checklist, we can work around your schedule to find a time that is easiest for you. Submit a contact form to get a free quote for your restaurant needs.