You may think you are thoroughly cleaning your bar or restaurant, but are there areas you may be overlooking? Countertops, tables, and chairs always get a good cleaning, but you shouldn't forget the areas above, such as lighting fixtures and beams, which also collect dust and grime and can lead to bacteria buildup.
Your waitstaff is your restaurant’s first line of defense against a dirty dining area. Be sure to train your staff on the necessary daily cleaning practices, as well as what areas need to be cleaned—especially those that often are "out of sight, out of mind."
Cleaning basic surfaces in your bar is no longer adequate. Attention needs to be put on surfaces not typically cleaned on a regular basis, including beams, lighting, art, bar stools, walls, and chairs.
These surfaces need to be cleaned on a regular basis, typically twice a week, with an industrial-grade disinfectant. Using a good virucide (a chemical agent that deactivates or destroys viruses) on your surfaces will kill these viruses quickly. Any USDA-approved cleaning product will work.
Here are some areas to focus on cleaning:
- Low-hanging light fixtures over tables are typically dusted, but they also need to be cleaned thoroughly because they are close to the customers while they are eating. Dust them and then wipe them down regularly with disinfectant.
- Windowsills and blinds also need to be a cleaning focus because they have horizontal surfaces where viruses can sit.
- Wall signs and other wall art are typically overlooked in the cleaning process. Wiping down these signs and art with a virucide is necessary to make sure the establishment is being cleaned correctly.
- Beams in the restaurant often go overlooked when it comes to cleaning. The tops of beams are notorious for collecting dust that overtime can lead to bacteria buildup. Beams need to be dusted at least twice a week to cut down on dust and grime buildup. First dust the area, then wipe down with a virucide for complete cleaning.
Only cleaning the basic areas of your dining room means it is not clean. Be sure you’re not overlooking any possible areas of dust, dirt, and grime buildup to help curb the spread of germs.
Brad Pierce is the owner of OSA Specialized Cleaning in Phoenix, Arizona, a company that specializes in open-architecture high dusting and food-service kitchen ceiling and wall cleaning.
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