Hygiene is the most important element of a successful restaurant. Nothing puts off clients more than a dirty establishment infested with all manner of vermin. It is important to ensure your restaurant cleaning occurs on a consistent basis and that customers always find it refreshing (in every sense of the word).
However, keeping your restaurant clean is usually a challenge, especially if it is a busy establishment with a constant flow of customers. To do it right, here are five mistakes you must avoid when cleaning your restaurant.
1. Cleaning in Front of Customers
Avoid cleaning the restaurant while customers are looking. For instance, holding a toilet brush in your hands while talking to a customer may demonstrate your establishment is clean, but far from being hygienic. While constant cleaning is necessary, doing it in front of customers is unseemly and could be interpreted to mean your hygiene standards are poor. As much as possible, clean up when customers are not around. No one fancies the idea of lifting their legs while your staff cleans under the table!
2. Leaving It to the End of the Day to Clean Everything
Rather than leave all the cleaning to the end of the day, have it done progressively throughout the day. While some unappetizing tasks such as hoovering, dusting or washing the floor should be done at the end of the day or early the following morning to avoid bothering customers, the kitchen, bathroom, and behind counters are perfect for cleaning during the day since customers rarely focus on these areas. You could also wipe or spray tables with a disinfectant throughout the day, even when there are customers. This is likely to be appreciated by customers as evidence of high hygiene standards.
3. Ignoring the Restaurant Smells
It is easy to get accustomed to the smell of your restaurant to the extent you don’t notice other disturbing smells that irritate customers. The spices may be deliciously captivating for your nostrils, but they could be too strong for some of your clients. However, a breath of fresh scent that is gentle to nostrils is highly welcome. Consider using an odour eliminator to get rid of bad smells, or smells that are too strong for your customers.
4. Using Poor Quality Cleaning Products
You need high quality, effective cleaning products to keep your restaurant hygienically clean. The right application of quality cleaning products on utensils such as pots, pans, and dishes mean less time spent removing grease. Combined with appropriate training and a cleaning roster, having your staff use quality cleaning products makes the entire exercise safe, easy and efficient. This leaves them with extra time to devote to other more important tasks.
5. Paying Little Emphasis to the Recruitment of Staff
While interviewing for various positions, make sure you ask the right questions. Their character is as important, if not more important, as their skills and qualifications. Ask them about their families and the responsibilities they have held during their lives. How they respond is an indication of whether they are trustworthy, responsible and dependable enough to join your team.
These are only five of the most common restaurant cleaning mistakes most people make, and which you should avoid. There are many more. However, these listed here should help keep your restaurant clean and your customers happy.
Nothing puts off a customer than a dirty and an unkempt restaurant. They will notice even that little stain on the floor that you think is inconsequential. They will also notice the way your staff members carry themselves; how they handle foods and drinks, and anything else in between.
