How To Clean a Commercial Kitchen

However, with all the hustle and bustle that goes on in one of the busiest food preparation environments out there, it can be tough to keep things spick and span. But a messy, unsanitary kitchen is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, which could result in a serious health and safety threat.

In this article, we provide an easy-to-follow guide on how to clean every nook and cranny of your commercial kitchen, from the floors to the ovens. Plus, we have tips on how to maintain high commercial kitchen cleaning standards every day so that you don't have to spend hours scrubbing each week.

Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

The best way to keep a commercial kitchen spotless is to create a checklist. In this way, there is something to check on every day, and it’ll prevent your cleaning team from forgetting about a task because they’ve been too busy. When you create a checklist, it should have three columns: one for the task, one for the name of the person responsible, and one for whether it’s been done or not. This way it’s easy to spot, briefly, if a task has been done and who did it, and if it’s not been done, who was responsible for it.

Here are a few commercial kitchen cleaning procedures to follow, split into daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly must-dos:

Daily Tasks:

• Surfaces and countertops in commercial kitchens are breeding grounds for bacteria. These should be wiped down and cleaned a minimum of once a day, but ideally three or four times a day.

• Clean floors daily – remember to remove dustbins, storage bins and other items that may be on the floor to make sure you’re cleaning every surface possible.

• Sinks and basins should be cleaned daily too.

Weekly Tasks:

• Once a week, it’s important to give your stove tops, grills, ovens, ranges, fryers, and air fryers a deep clean to prevent oily build-up and grease from drying on. This will prevent bacteria from growing and keep your appliances in great working order.

Monthly Tasks:

• Unclog and degrease all your drains and pipes in the kitchen.

• Clean any limescale build-up on taps, sinks and sprayers monthly.

• Clean the ceilings and walls of your kitchen monthly.

• Clear out the fridges and freezers and give them a deep clean.

Yearly Tasks:

• Every six months or so, you should do a thorough clean of all your shelving, pantry cupboards, storage areas and anything else in your storage area.

• Every six months you should also check your pantry stock items for any that have passed their expiry dates.

• Every few months or so – we recommend between three and four months – you should do a deep clean of the air conditioning units or any central heating or cooling system you might have.

Tips For the Best Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Procedures

If you’re running a commercial kitchen, here are our top tips for getting the best out of your cleaning checklist and cleaning team:

• If any major spills or splatters occur, these should be cleaned up immediately and not left to cake or dry on.

• Your team should know that it’s better to do one task properly, than ten tasks poorly.

• Be consistent with kitchen cleaning, and never miss a day or a task.

• Pay attention to the details.

• Do regular cleanliness checking to make sure the kitchen is maintaining a high level of sanitation.

5 Must-Have Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Products

Now you know what to do, what products will help you do it right? Here are our top five must-have commercial kitchen cleaning chemicals that every kitchen should always have in stock:

• A multipurpose cleaner – this kind of cleaner can be used to clean just about every surface including floors, walls, countertops, sinks, ovens, stoves, and more. At Cleanipedia we love Handy Andy’s Cream Cleaner range of products because they leave no residue behind and give your surfaces a fresh, excellent clean.

• A bleach product – for those areas where bacteria and viruses breed the most like sinks, drains, chopping boards, and greasy surfaces. The world's number one disinfectant Domestos is a must-have product in any commercial kitchen.

• A dishwashing liquid – a good quality detergent such as Sunlight dishwashing liquid for hand washing pots, pans, and other greasy items.

• Sunlight dishwashing powders or capsules – for use in your commercial dishwasher to get your essential pieces of cutlery, crockery, and glasses clean.

• A floor cleaner – use a floor cleaning product when you wash the floors daily to get a good clean from this much-used area. We highly recommend Handy Andy’s Floor Cleaner range for this task.

Whether you run a large commercial kitchen or a smaller coffee shop vibe, use these additional tips for an even better clean. Read our blog, Kitchen Cleaning Schedule, now.

For more cleaning tips and tricks for the home, visit Cleanipedia today.