In the restaurant business, sanitation is everything. A clean and sanitary environment is not only important for the health of your customers. It’s also required by law, and it’s essential to the survival of your business— after all, no one wants to eat in a dirty restaurant that has a reputation for making people sick, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are many ways to improve sanitation in your restaurant, and four of them are listed below.
1. Implement a Strict Cleaning Schedule and Policy
One of the best ways to improve sanitation in your restaurant is to implement a strict cleaning schedule. This schedule should include daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks.
Daily tasks might include sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, wiping down dining area surfaces, and taking out the trash. Weekly tasks might include cleaning ventilation hoods and filters, washing walls and ceilings, and deep-cleaning kitchen equipment. Monthly tasks might include polishing floors and furniture, shampooing carpets, and cleaning windows.
If possible, make sure that this load is distributed among your staff so that they can all be done regularly. Create a checklist and regularly look at it to make sure that it is done, too.
2. Train Your Employees in Food Safety
Another way to improve sanitation in your restaurant is to train your employees in food safety. This training should cover topics like foodborne illnesses, proper hand-washing techniques, food storage guidelines, and more. These should be taught as part of onboarding for every restaurant.
The consequences of failing to follow food safety protocols in a restaurant can be severe. Not only can it lead to the spread of foodborne illnesses, but it can also result in hefty fines from the government. In some cases, it can even lead to the closure of your restaurant. The worst thing that could happen is for someone to be poisoned or to die because of contaminated food. So it’s important to make sure that your employees are properly trained in food safety and that you are following all appropriate food safety protocols.
Thankfully, you can find free food safety training references online or through your local health department. The FDA has many guides about food safety. There are also many videos online about food safety, too.
3. Use Sanitation Products that Meet FDA Guidelines
The third way to improve sanitation in your restaurant is to use only FDA-approved sanitation products. These products are designed specifically for use in restaurants and are effective at killing bacteria and viruses. Some examples of FDA-approved sanitation products include bleach solutions, quaternary ammonium compounds, and iodine-based sanitizers. Make sure that any products you get are food-grade and can be used in a kitchen. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using these products.
There are so many sanitation products and chemicals for various purposes. Here are some common categories that most restaurants will need:
- Oven and grill cleaner
- Deep fryer cleaner
- Cutting block cleaner
- Refrigerator and ice machine cleaner
- Drain clog remover
- Bleach and destainer
- Degreaser
- Sanitizer
- Disinfectant
- Dishwashing chemicals
- Vegetable wash
4. Invest in Sanitation Equipment
There are many different types of sanitation equipment that can be used to improve sanitation in a restaurant. Some of the most common pieces of equipment include floor scrubbers and mops, dishwashers and dish detergents, sanitizing wipes and sprays, and vacuum cleaners.
Dirt extractors are a type of vacuum cleaner that are specifically designed for cleaning upholstery, and they are extremely useful in dining areas. They have a large dustbin that can hold a lot of dirt and debris. You can spray cleaning solution or soap onto upholstery, which a dirt extractor’s powerful motor can easily vacuum. Dirt extractors are a great tool for improving sanitation in your restaurant, and they can help keep your dining area clean and sanitary.
As for your kitchen, you should invest in UV-C disinfection lights and get a UF filter for your water. UV-C disinfection lights help improve sanitation by killing microbes, and these have been used to great effect in the recent pandemic. Ultrafiltration systems and UF filters also improve your water quality and taste, making it safer to use for cooking and serving.
All of these pieces of sanitation equipment can help to improve the overall sanitation of your restaurant. Be sure to familiarize yourself with their use and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results.
Final Thoughts
Improving sanitation in your restaurant is important for the health of your customers and the success of your business. There are many ways to improve sanitation, but we’ve listed three of the most important ones here: implementing a strict cleaning schedule, training your employees in food safety, and using only FDA-approved sanitation products. By following these tips, you can help keep your restaurant clean and sanitary.
