As summer approaches and restaurants prepare to receive an influx of patrons eager to enjoy outdoor dining experiences, maintaining a clean restaurant becomes paramount. The following guide will help you explore essential tips and best practices to ensure how to keep a restaurant clean, pristine, and hygienic throughout the summer season.
Strategies For Keeping A Restaurant Clean
Spruce Up Entryways And Outdoor Areas
The first thing that visitors notice while visiting a restaurant are the entryways and awnings, as these areas can get grimy after winter months or after overnight rainfall. Having dirt, debris, and leaves littered in walkway areas of a restaurant can convey the wrong message to patrons, so ensure that the restaurant’s entryways and outdoor spaces are tidy and welcoming. Regular cleaning of walkways, removal of debris, and maintenance of awnings are essential to create a positive initial impression for customers.
Adapt A Regular Cleaning Schedule
Establish and follow strict cleaning schedules for all areas of the restaurant, and this includes dining areas, kitchen, storage areas, and restrooms. Increase cleaning frequency during peak operation hours and hot weather to manage heavy foot traffic and potential messes effectively.
Concentrate On High-Touch Surfaces
Maintaining restaurant cleanliness requires cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces such as tables, chairs, door handles, condiment holders and menus with approved disinfectants. This will ensure thorough sanitation and reduce the risk of transmission of pathogens to restaurant patrons and staff.
Ensure Proper Food Storage
Hot weather can increase the likelihood of spoiling fresh produce, so we advise to regularly monitor refrigeration temperatures and implement a stock rotation system to prioritize the use of older items first.
Monitor And Maintain Kitchen Cleanliness
Cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses can develop from unhygienic kitchens, so it is essential to keep the kitchen areas clean and organized. How to keep a restaurant clean involves sanitizing all food preparation surfaces, utensils, and equipment on a regular basis and implementing a “clean as you go” policy to ensure regular sanitization of kitchen areas and tools.
Implement Pest Control Measures
Warmer temperatures during summer can lead to increased pest activity, since many pests thrive in warm and humid conditions. Pests pose a significant threat to food safety in restaurants and if pests are present, this can result in fines and legal penalties because restaurants are subject to health and safety regulations that require them to maintain a clean and pest-free environment. Implement effective pest control measures, including sealing cracks, maintaining cleanliness in food storage areas, and promptly disposing of garbage to deter infestations.
Ensure Proper Waste Management
Proper waste management is essential to prevent odors, prevent pest infestations, and to eliminate bacterial growth. Utilize tightly sealed trash bins and never leave spoiled food out, as this can emit unpleasant odors and attract insects and pests to the sights of decomposing food. In addition, schedule regular trash pickups to maintain cleanliness standards, and thoroughly clean waste bins to minimize odors.
Maintain Outdoor Seating Areas
If your restaurant has an outdoor seating arrangement, ensure that the area is clean, debris-free, and well-maintained. Sweep and clean outdoor seating areas, umbrellas, and patio furniture regularly, and provide shade and fans to keep restaurant patrons comfortable in hot weather. Also check for spider webs, bugs, and leaves around outdoor tables and doorways. It is important to additionally check rafters and shelves for dust that could potentially end up in a customer’s plate. In addition, consider that outdoor tables and chairs exposed to the elements such as rain, pollen, sand, salt air, and pool water will require more frequent cleaning and wiping.
Now that you know how to keep a restaurant clean, Regency Cleaning Services has all the tools and expertise to do all of the above for you. Contact us today to allow us to make your establishment more welcoming, immaculate, pristine, and unforgettable.
