In this guide, we discuss a standard restaurant cleaning checklist, highlighting procedures for washing and sanitizing the kitchen, floors, chairs, and tables.

One of the primary considerations to make when operating a restaurant has to do with maintaining good hygiene. Now, part of this involves the process of cleaning. However, cleaning involves much more than listing the supplies needed and knowing how to sweep, wipe, dust or mop, etc.

It must be done systematically. For this to be possible, a tool known as a cleaning checklist must be followed as a guide. This strips the process of guesswork or uncertainties as you are guided to follow specific tasks thus enhancing efficiency.

This is what we seek to dwell on as we provide you with a comprehensive restaurant cleaning checklist you can begin to use immediately.

Front and Backend Cleaning Plans For Restaurants

A restaurant has two main parts; the front and backend. As the names imply, the front end includes the eating area as well as the restrooms. These are areas where clients are likely to come in contact with.

On the other hand, the backend consists of areas include the kitchen area, storage, etc.

Both the front and backend of restaurants will need to be kept clean. Our discussion will focus on these areas. A major part of our discussion will include the frequency of cleaning. That is, daily, weekly and monthly cleaning.

Cleaning Frequency?

How frequently should a restaurant be cleaned?

As stated earlier, the cleaning frequency can be divided into daily, weekly, and monthly. All of these cleaning schedules are essential to maintaining optimal hygienic conditions.

Front End Restaurant Cleaning Tasks

The part of the restaurant where customers walk in to dine is known as the front end. This also includes the restroom area. These areas of the restaurant will need to be cleaned daily.

While daily cleaning is vital, so also is weekly cleaning.

  • Daily Cleaning

A restaurant needs everyday cleaning if proper hygiene is to be maintained.

Daily cleaning involves simple, yet definite tasks. These include cleaning and sanitizing restrooms. Restaurant restrooms witness a high volume of visitors each day.

Therefore, one-time cleanup wouldn’t be enough.

Cleaning the Restroom

Multiple cleaning shifts will need to be run each day to ensure that those restrooms are kept in the best hygienic conditions. When cleaning the restroom area, a lot of disinfecting of surfaces is needed.

As a place that sees lots of people coming in and out, restroom doors (especially the knob or handle) will need to be wiped clean and disinfected.

Urinals and toilet seats should be scrubbed clean and disinfected. Other surfaces such as countertops and sink areas must be kept clean too.

What more? Empty trashcan and replace new liners. Floors should be cleaned and disinfected as well.

Sanitize Surfaces

The main dining area of a restaurant will need a thorough cleaning.

Surfaces here include tabletops, booths, bar, and chairs. These should be wiped clean and sanitized. Cleaning the dining area is an ongoing process that will need to be carried out at different intervals.

Before the restaurant opens for business, you’ll need to sweep and mop the floor. Condiment dispensers must also be wiped clean including menus.

  • Weekly Cleaning

More detailed cleaning is needed every week. This isn’t as frequent as daily cleaning because the set weekly timeframe will suffice. In other words, it serves the hygiene requirements of any restaurant. So, what cleaning tasks should be performed during the week?

One such task involves dusting. Dusting should focus on the ceiling area such as the fans, blinds as well as wall hangings. These should be cleared of any dust. The table and chair legs should also be cleaned, the same applies to floorboards.

Weekly cleaning should be enough to keep these parts of the restaurant clean.

Back End Restaurant Cleaning Procedures

Backend cleaning is as important as front-end cleaning.

Here, you’ll be involved in keeping or maintaining operational hygiene. Restaurant cleaning tasks here are divided into daily, weekly, and monthly jobs.

We’ll begin with the daily cleaning tasks to perform.

  • Daily Cleaning Tips For Restaurants

The kitchen area of a kitchen will need lots of cleaning. Here, tasks to perform include cleaning the fryers, brushing or scouring grills as well as sanitizing meat and cheese slicers. That’s not all.

Additional cleaning tasks include disposing of grease and oil correctly, clearly labeling food items, and storing them in airtight containers before placing them into the refrigerators.

All appliances must be wiped clean. This includes countertops, sinks, and all other food preparation surfaces. Cabinets must also be dusted clean. Sweep and mop all floors at the back-end area.

Consider cleaning hood filters in a dishwasher; also replace tin foil liners of grill and range.

Soda guns, sinks, and faucets must be cleaned and sanitized. Clean all grease traps and wipe down the exterior surfaces of ice machines. All rags meant for cooking should be taken for laundry. This also applies to the chef’s coat and apron.

Now, a lot of trash will be generated in a restaurant. Ensure that the trash can is emptied as frequently as necessary. Place new liners in trashcans. Floor mats should also be washed. Additional tasks to perform include emptying and cleaning steam tables.

  • Weekly Restaurant Cleaning Plan

Weekly cleaning is important for keeping your operations moving smoothly.

It is much more detailed than daily cleaning and includes tasks such as keeping the oven clean, cleaning refrigerators and coffee machines as well as flushing floor drains with drain cleaner.

Cleaning the Oven(s)

For best cleaning results with ovens, it’s necessary to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Cleaning will be much detailed and is aimed at removing grime and tough stains resulting from cooking.

Refrigerators and Reach-in Coolers

Weekly cleaning will involve emptying the contents of the refrigerator to clean the interior. This helps eliminate foul odors.

What more? Before replacing the items removed, it’s necessary to check for, food items past their expiry dates or those which aren’t looking fresh any longer.

Wash Walls

Over time, walls accumulate all sorts of dirt. These range from dust as well as stains. These should be washed each week to ensure a clean environment.

  • Monthly Cleaning Schedule For Restaurants

Monthly cleaning takes a long time to perform and is much more thorough. It targets built-up grease, the ceiling area, and freezers.

You should also inspect for pest presence such as rodent droppings. When evidence of pest presence is detected, a pest control service should be called in immediately.

This restaurant cleaning checklist includes all sorts of cleaning tasks necessary for maintaining a hygienic environment.

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