The restaurant industry can be cutthroat. You know all too well that a spotless dining area doesn’t necessarily equal a truly clean restaurant. Health inspectors, guests, and staff all share a common standard: cleanliness should be evident in every corner of your establishment.
Yet, even with a robust cleaning schedule, some spots are frequently overlooked, including:
- Underneath kitchen equipment
- Ventilation hoods and exhaust fans
- Behind coolers and freezers
- Ice machines
- Ceilings and light fixtures
- Under and around seating areas
- Washroom fixtures and grout
- Behind bar counters
- Dry storage areas
- Door handles and high-touch surfaces
This might seem like a lot—and it is. That’s why you should put your trust in a professional cleaning service. Let our experts take over, while you manage the restaurant side of things.
Don’t Forget About Cleaning These Top 10 Overlooked Spots
First impressions are everything in the business world, and restaurants are no exception. There’s often a lot that you can’t overlook. This includes food, ambiance, service, but also the cleanliness of your establishment.
You can impress people walking into your restaurant with gleaming tables and spotless floors, but what about the areas they don’t see? From odour control to bacterial buildup, unnoticed grime can make or break your restaurant’s reputation.
But there’s also more than the dining experience at stake. Health inspectors are meticulous at identifying hidden dirt, which means that staying diligent could save you from hefty fines or even temporary closure.
Our expert team specializes in restaurant cleaning services, focusing on managing hard-to-reach areas. From deep cleaning kitchen equipment to sanitizing high-touch surfaces, you can trust us to leave your business inspection-ready.
Here’s a closer look at the overlooked spots we make sure get the attention they deserve and why they matter:
1. Underneath Kitchen Equipment
Grease and crumbs are notorious for building up under heavy kitchen appliances like fryers and ovens. Left uncleaned, these can become breeding grounds for pests and bacteria, presenting major health hazards.
2. Ventilation Hoods & Exhaust Fans
Commercial hoods are grease magnets; they quickly harden and collect dust if left unchecked.
Apart from compromising air quality, dust and grease build-up in ventilation systems can lead to fire hazards. Cleaning this system can be particularly tricky, especially after a long day on your feet.
3. Behind Coolers & Freezers
Restaurants always wipe their tables and countertops, but they often ignore harder-to-reach spaces, like those behind cold storage units, which collect dust, grime, and condensation.
This can affect the efficiency of your cooling equipment and encourage mould growth, risking food contamination.
4. Ice Machines
There’s nothing more refreshing than a nice cold drink on a hot summer day.
People might inspect their glass or the drink itself to make sure there’s nothing unusual floating around. However, they rarely think about the cleanliness of the ice in their drink. That said, unpleasant odours or odd tastes immediately stand out.
Failing to clean ice machines can lead to the development of biofilms and bacterial contamination. Deep cleaning these machines is a must for hygienic, high-quality ice.
5. Ceilings & Light Fixtures
Grease particles and dust floating in the air eventually settle on your ceilings, light fixtures, and even ceiling fans. Without attention, these contaminants not only diminish aesthetics but can also potentially get into food during service.
Regularly dusting and wiping down these areas is vital.
6. Under & Around Seating Areas
Even though dining tables and the tops of chairs get wiped down regularly, the underside of tables and crevices in seating often go unnoticed. These spots are prime collection zones for gum, crumbs, and bacteria. Being thorough in cleaning these areas sends the message to customers that every detail matters.
7. Washroom Fixtures & Grout
The ambiance of a washroom makes a lasting impression, but dirty fixtures or grimy grout can undo all the effort you put into keeping your dining area pristine.
Grout, in particular, can harbour odour-causing bacteria if not regularly cleaned. Fortunately, with specialty tools, products, and an expert touch, we can keep your washrooms bright and sparkling.
8. Behind Bar Counters
You can’t avoid the hustle and bustle that happens at the bar. It’s part of the charm that keeps some restaurants exciting! At the end of the night and before service, you’ve got to tackle the chaos of the day before.
Bars are prone to sticky spills and dropped garnishes, leading to bacterial and mould growth under counters and in gaps. Cleaning beneath and behind bar equipment is crucial to maintaining a hygienic service.
9. Dry Storage Areas
Dry storage spaces might seem like the safest and cleanest zones, but dust, expired goods, or pest activity can create hygiene problems fast. Regular inspections and deep cleaning keep these areas organized and pest-free.
10. Door Handles & High-Touch Surfaces
Focusing solely on large areas can lead to neglecting small, high-touch surfaces like door handles, light switches, and touchscreens. These areas are hotspots for germs and need daily disinfection.
Take the First Step Toward a Cleaner Restaurant
Identifying and addressing overlooked cleaning areas keeps everyone happy: your guests, employees, health inspectors, and you. It’s easy to get swept away in the chaos of a lunch rush or dinner service, but neglecting even the small details can be costly.
Save yourself the headache, stress, and time, and invest in professional cleaning services with Calgary Trusted Cleaners. Let our team focus on keeping your restaurant spotless while you focus on the big picture: serving incredible food!
Connect with our team today for a thorough consultation, and learn how we help keep your restaurant in top shape.
