You are assuming that visitors are showing a grimace or widened eyes in surprise, and you are imagining why that is so. Maybe they are not satisfied with your cleanliness.
Today, clients are more conscious of where they are visiting and picking up the restaurant; they do not look for the food but also how they serve, and cleanliness comes at the top of restaurant service.
You are struggling with cleaning staff leaving, failing to follow strict food and hygienic standards, no cleaning policies or no fixed and structured cleaning schedule, affecting the food service you are providing.
A well-structured restaurant cleaning schedule is the solution to this problem. With daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, your restaurant can maintain an impeccable environment for both customers and staff.
Key Takeaways:
- Importance Restaurant cleaning schedule
- Daily Restaurant Cleaning Schedule and Checklists
- Weekly Restaurant Cleaning Schedule and Checklists
- Monthly Restaurant Cleaning Schedule and Checklists
- Key factors to consider for the cleaning routine for restaurants
- FAQs
Why is the Restaurant’s cleaning schedule Key to Success?
An estimated 30% of startup restaurants are unsuccessful within the first year, and 80% shut down within the first five years, as per the National Restaurant Association. (Source: Investopedia)
Operating a restaurant is a risky business with the fact that you must be available 24 hours a day without compromising your weekends. The staff, the level of cleanliness, the client serving method and the maintenance of food and hygienic standards are all crucial in boosting the reputation of a restaurant as a 5-star.
Moreover, sustainability in commercial cleaning has become a priority. Using eco-friendly cleaning products for restaurants is now not just a choice but a responsibility, aligning with increasing customer expectations and environmental concerns.
Covering all these topics, these are all tied with cleanliness and proper cleanliness is tied with the fixed cleaning routine for restaurants.
One staff member and another go and so on. You are surrounded by hundreds of visitors at once, serving them the best.
A proper restaurant cleaning timetable is the only approach you can use to keep ultra-cleanliness at all corners of the restaurant and make yourself aware of the 20% successful restaurant businesses that are successfully operating a clean restaurant business.
Daily Restaurant Cleaning Schedule and Checklists
In your restaurant maintenance and sanitation plan, a smart daily cleaning schedule keeps your restaurant ultra-clean, maintaining its hygiene standards without affecting the visitor experience or staff operations while maintaining focus on serving visitors well.
The best you can do is divide scheduled restaurant cleanliness tasks between Front of House (FOH) and Back of House (BOH) areas.
This way, you can keep yourself away from burnout and prevent yourself from failing to do the job as expected.
Front of House (FOH) Cleaning Checklist
1. Entrance and Waiting Area Checklist
- Sweep and mop floors to remove dirt and debris.
- Wipe down windows and glass doors to remove fingerprints and smudges.
- Clean entry mats or carpets; shake out or vacuum to remove dust.
- Dust and clean any decorations, plants, or signage.
Best Time: First thing in the morning before service starts and again during slow periods (afternoon).
2. Reception/Host Area Checklist
- Wipe down podiums, menus, and digital devices.
- Sanitise guest sign-in areas and any high-touch surfaces like pens and countertops.
- Clean and organise the guest waiting area seating and coat racks.
Best Time: Early in the morning before guests arrive and again in between rushes.
3. Dining Area Checklist
- Clean tables, chairs, and booth cushions; ensure no food particles or stains remain.
- Sanitise all touchpoints such as chair backs, table edges, and condiment holders.
- Sweep and mop the floor after each service, paying attention to under-table areas.
Best Time: After each meal period (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and before reopening.
4. Bar Area Checklist
- Wipe down all bar surfaces, stools, and glassware.
- Clean beverage dispensers, refrigerators, and ice machines.
- Sanitise high-touch items such as cash registers, napkin holders, and coasters.
Best Time: After each shift, and mid-shift if necessary.
5. Restrooms Checklist
- Clean and disinfect toilets, sinks, and counters.
- Refill soap dispensers, paper towels, and toilet paper.
- Wipe down mirrors and other fixtures like light switches and door handles.
- Sweep and mop floors, focusing on corners and under fixtures.
Best Time: Multiple times throughout the day before opening, midday, and after peak hours.
6. Outdoor Spaces Checklist
- Sweep outdoor seating areas and patios.
- Clean tables, chairs, and any outdoor decorations.
- Check trash bins and replace liners if full.
- Wipe down menu boards, heaters, or fans as needed.
Best Time: Morning before service begins and after closing.
Back of House (BOH) Cleaning Checklist
Regular cleaning at the back of the house also includes pest management in commercial kitchens. This way, no pests have access to food storage or preparation areas.
1. Kitchen
- Clean all cooking surfaces, stovetops, and countertops.
- Wipe down appliances like ovens, ranges, and fryers.
- Empty trash cans, recycling bins, and replace liners.
- Sweep and mop the floor, paying attention to grease spots.
- Clean exhaust hoods and vents to prevent grease buildup.
Best Time: After each service period and before preparing for the next shift.
2. Dish Pit
- Wash and sanitise all dishwashing equipment.
- Clean the area surrounding dishwashing stations, walls, sinks, and shelves.
- Empty trash bins and sanitise bins.
- Clean and sanitise racks and dish trays.
Best Time: Throughout the day, but ensure deep cleaning at the end of each shift.
3. Storage Cleaning Checklist
- Organise and check for expired food or products.
- Wipe down shelves to remove food debris, grease, and dust.
- Ensure that items are stored correctly to prevent cross-contamination.
- Sweep and mop floors.
Best Time: Once after service ends and periodically throughout the day as needed.
4. Preparation Areas Cleaning Checklist
- Clean cutting boards, countertops, and prep tables.
- Sanitise knives, blenders, and other food prep equipment.
- Sweep the floor and clean under the counter.
- Empty trash bins and clean them.
Best Time: After each prep session and at the end of the shift.
5. Staff Areas Checklist
- Clean staff break rooms, ensuring tables and chairs are wiped down.
- Sanitise shared items like microwaves, refrigerators, and coffee machines.
- Sweep and mop the staff areas, ensuring floors remain slip-free.
- Organise lockers and storage for personal items.
Best Time: At the start and end of each shift.
Tip: We recommend sticking to the above daily routine or hiring a professional cleaner like Innovative Cleaning Solutions for the deep regular cleaning following this routine.
Weekly Restaurant Cleaning Schedule
Back-of-house Cleaning Checklist
Kitchen & Cooking Equipment Checklist
- Ovens & Ranges: Clean oven interiors, racks, and range hoods to remove grease buildup.
- Deep Fryers: Boil out fryers to eliminate oil residues and prevent contamination.
- Grills & Griddles: Scrape and clean surfaces to maintain optimal cooking conditions.
- Refrigeration Units: Defrost and sanitise walk-in coolers and freezers; clean seals and shelves.
- Dishwashing Area: Deep clean sinks, sanitise dish racks, and descale dishwashers.
Best Day/Time: Monday mornings or after the weekend rush when the kitchen is less busy. This allows ample time to address heavy-duty tasks.
Surfaces & Fixtures Checklist
- Walls & Floors: Wash walls to remove grease; deep clean floors, focusing on grout and hard-to-reach areas.
- Ceiling Fixtures: Dust and clean light fixtures, ceiling fans, and vents.
- Storage Areas: Organise and clean dry storage shelves; check for expired items.
Best Day/Time: Wednesday or Thursday evenings during off-peak hours, so the staff can dedicate time without interruptions.
Sanitation & Waste Management Checklist
- Grease Traps: Empty and clean grease traps found under or near cooking equipment like fryers, grills, and ranges in the kitchen.
- Waste Disposal: Deep clean trash and recycling bins, including lids and bases. These are kept near the dish pit, prep counters, and sometimes at the back of the kitchen or near the exit.
Best Day/Time: Friday mornings to ensure the area is sanitised before a busy weekend rush.
Front-of-House Areas Cleaning Checklist
- Ovens & Ranges: Clean inside and outside of ovens.
- Deep Fryers: Replace fryer oil, clean the fryer, and boil out the fryers.
- Grills & Griddles: Scrape and clean surfaces.
- Refrigeration Units: Defrost and sanitise walk-in coolers and freezers and clean seals and shelves, discarding old and expired products.
- Dishwashing Area: Deep clean sinks, descale faucets, sanitise dish racks, and clean out floor drains around the dish pit and throughout the kitchen.
- Ventilation & Hoods: Deep clean hoods and vents.
Best Day/Time: Sunday after closing or early Monday mornings to ensure the dining area is spotless for the start of a new week.
Monthly Restaurant Cleaning Schedule
For a monthly restaurant cleaning, you need to take everything out of the kitchen and give it a deep cleaning.
- Throw away any expired or freezer-burned items.
- Check out all fire suppression systems and fire extinguishers in the kitchen to make sure they’re working properly.
- Clean the fans and vents above the cooking area to remove grease buildup.
- Clean fryer flutes and other spots with a lot of grease buildup.
- Make sure to clean all the hard-to-reach spots behind major kitchen appliances.
- Empty and scrub the grease traps to prevent clogs and bad smells.
- Deep clean the kitchen floor and make sure the floor drains are free from debris.
- Clean the walls and ceilings in the kitchen to remove grease and dirt.
Things to Consider for an Effective Restaurant Cleaning
While managing your restaurant cleaning schedule, consider the following things as a precaution:
- How large are your restaurant premises? The larger the facility, the stricter the need for cleaning and the tighter the schedule.
- Check out the local food safety and cleaning regulations as a top priority. In the UK, different states have different local regulations. Keep aware of all this. Visit the local council websites for hygiene regulations.
- The type of food you offer to your clients is also important. Restaurants serving specific foods or beverages might have unique cleaning requirements.
- The higher the client traffic, the more cleaning responsibility or higher cleaning frequency. This means restaurants with higher traffic, the cleaning schedule is tighter compared to restaurants with low traffic.
Bonus Tip: Add flexibility to your schedule to handle unforeseen messes during peak hours.
FAQs
How do you comply with UK restaurant cleaning laws?
Always be aware of all local restaurant cleaning laws by visiting the local council websites for hygiene regulations.
What tasks should be included in the restaurant cleaning schedule?
The tasks included in restaurant cleaning depend on daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning. In general, restaurant cleaning covers sanitising tables, sweeping and mopping, emptying trash, cleaning restrooms, wiping high-touch surfaces, washing dishes and utensils, and deep cleaning equipment and carpets.
How often should a restaurant clean its kitchen?
Cleaning surfaces, floors, and utensils should be done daily. Weekly cleaning tasks can include cleaning ovens and hoods. Monthly cleaning tasks include fryer flutes, vents, walls and ceilings, fire suppression systems, and fire extinguishers.
What are the key hygiene tasks in a restaurant kitchen?
These tasks are cleaning and sanitising all surfaces and equipment, practising good food handling, and personal hygiene (handwashing, proper attire).
Conclusion
Always prioritise your restaurant cleaning schedule on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis while keeping in mind the local regulations, level of traffic, and your premises’ structure.
Be consistent, focused, and adapt to your cleaning schedules as per the restaurant’s specific needs and peak hours.
So, what are you waiting for? Before the next health inspection or customer complaint comes across you, schedule your professional restaurant cleaning today with Innovative Cleaning Services to meet the highest restaurant hygiene standards.
