Hot Mess to Spotless: Ultimate Restaurant Cleaning Checklist

Like it or not, some tasks are eternal. Unsurprisingly, keeping an entire restaurant clean is one such task. So, if you feel burnt out by the process, that’s totally valid. But with the health of your customers and staff at stake—and food inspectors making surprise appearances at the absolute worst times—your restaurant’s success hinges on your ability to maintain hygiene standards. The best way to do that? A restaurant cleaning checklist that outlines exactly what needs to be cleaned, when, and who’s responsible.

Now, if you don’t have one yet, don’t panic. We’ve created a comprehensive checklist with industry-leading procedures and processes to help you keep your restaurant in tip-top shape.

Why every restaurant needs a cleaning list.

Whether you’re dishing out streetside eats from a food truck or managing a bustling urban bistro, having a restaurant cleaning checklist is an absolute must-have. Here’s why it’s essential to the health and safety of your customers, your team, and the long-term success of your business.

1. Health and safety compliance.

Staying on top of health and safety regulations is absolutely crucial when it comes to handling food. It’s so important that health inspectors routinely conduct surprise visits to ensure restaurants are complying with local standards, even when they aren’t expecting an inspection. A restaurant cleaning checklist ensures your team stays on top of their cleaning duties, so regardless of when an inspector pops by, you’ll pass with flying colors.

2. Prevent foodborne illnesses.

No restaurant wants to be the reason someone ends up in the hospital, but according to the CDC, restaurants cause 60% of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States. How does that happen? Most often, it’s due to cross-contamination and unsanitary conditions. Pretty gross, right? A cleaning checklist maintains a safe environment for your guests by keeping your team on top of their daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning duties.

3. Boost productivity and organization.

If you’ve ever attempted to cook a meal in an unfamiliar kitchen, you know just how much time can be wasted looking for something as simple as a spatula. Cooking the same meal in your own kitchen is quicker because you know where everything is located. The same principle applies to commercial kitchens. When everything is in its place and surfaces are clean, it saves time and reduces the risk of accidents. But with multiple cooks in the kitchen, you need consistent standards to ensure nothing is missed—and a restaurant cleaning checklist is one of the best ways to do that.

4. Enhance customer experience.

When choosing a restaurant, 44% of Americans prioritize cleanliness above all else, even more than cost and customer service. Not only that but keeping your restaurant consistently clean can turn 52% of customers into repeat patrons. So, in addition to making your restaurant look good, maintaining cleanliness also ensures customer satisfaction and encourages loyalty, making it a crucial factor for the long-term success of your restaurant.

5. Maintain equipment.

Let’s be real, commercial kitchens take a beating. Without regular cleaning, grease and food residue can build up quickly, which can cause equipment to malfunction and leave you on the hook for costly repairs. A cleaning checklist ensures that your ovens, fryers, and grills are kept in top condition—helping you avoid costly repairs and extend the life of your equipment.

6. Avoid legal troubles.

Whether unintentional or not, failing to comply with food safety laws can result in lawsuits, fines, and even the loss of your business license. Maintaining cleanliness with a cleaning checklist keeps everyone safe and helps you avoid the legal hangover of an unintentional foodborne illness outbreak.

7. Promote employee health and morale.

Poor sanitation doesn’t just affect your customers, it can also harm the health of your hardworking team. A clean workplace boosts morale, reduces sick days, and creates a happier, more productive team.

What is the procedure for cleaning a restaurant?

While every restaurant may have its own cleaning protocol, there are several essential guidelines that all should adhere to. Here are a few of the most important ones:

1. Wash those hands.

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that proper hand hygiene is the first line of defense against spreading germs. To keep your patrons healthy, ensure all employees wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling food, using the restroom, or touching surfaces that could be contaminated—like doorknobs and POS systems.

2. Follow dtate laws.

Each state has specific laws regarding cleanliness and sanitation in food establishments. Get familiar with the local regulations in your area and stay up-to-date on any changes to ensure your restaurant remains compliant and avoids penalties.

3. Food storage safety.

Safely storing your food is key to avoiding contamination and spoilage. Diligently separate raw and cooked foods and ensure they’re stored at proper temperatures to avoid cross-contamination. Don’t forget to label items with expiration dates to ensure you’re using fresh ingredients.

4. Cleaning supplies storage safety.

It’s essential to have cleaning supplies on hand, but they should always be stored in a designated area, away from food or food preparation areas to prevent accidental contamination. So, keep them close—but not too close.

5. Dedicated employees for dedicated tasks.

With shift changes and separation between the front and back of house, certain cleaning tasks can easily be overlooked. Assigning specific cleaning tasks to your employees ensures nothing slips through the cracks—helping you maintain a consistent cleaning routine and fostering accountability among your team.

6. Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning checklists.

While tables and bathrooms should be cleaned daily, other tasks like checking ventilation systems can be done less often. Creating daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning checklists will ensure less frequent cleaning tasks aren’t missed and keep your restaurant in top condition year-round.

What are the 7 steps in a cleaning process?

Walk into any public restroom and you’ll quickly realize that people have very different definitions of clean. But, when it comes to food hygiene, you can’t afford to have inconsistent standards. Include this seven-step cleaning process in your food safety training to maintain consistent hygiene standards from front to back of house.

Scrape: Begin by scraping off any leftover food, grease, or debris from surfaces and equipment using a brush or cloth.
Rinse (first time): Rinse the surface with warm water to remove any leftover residue.
Apply Detergent: Once you have a fairly clean surface to work with, apply a suitable detergent or cleaning solution. Make sure to cover all areas thoroughly.
Rinse (again): Rinse off the detergent with clean water until all soap and remaining debris are washed away, leaving the surface prepped and ready for sanitizing.
Sanitize: Apply a sanitizing solution to the surfaces. This kills any remaining bacteria and other pathogens, ensuring the area is safe for food preparation. Don’t forget to read the instructions, as most sanitizers need to sit for several minutes to be effective.
Rinse (last time): Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining sanitizing solution and prevent it from coming into contact with food.
Dry: Depending on the surface you’re cleaning, you can either dry it off with a clean towel or allow it to air dry. This prevents the growth of bacteria and mold—so don’t skip out on this last step.

How to maintain cleanliness in a restaurant.

Without a consistent cleaning schedule, keeping your restaurant clean can feel like wiping down a revolving door filled with finger-painting preschoolers: impossible. While including cleaning protocols in your restaurant’s training process can help, nobody’s memory is perfect. That’s why it’s important to use a restaurant cleaning checklist to keep each department’s cleaning responsibilities clear and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Worried you’ll miss something? We’ve got your back. Our comprehensive checklist covers daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks for your entire restaurant. Relax (at least a litte) knowing your team has wiping, santizing, and polishing under control.

Download your free restaurant cleaning checklist here: Restaurant cleaning checklist

Serving up HR with a side of simplicity.

Need a hand with more than cleaning, like staying on top of those endless summer PTO requests? No shade here. We know restaurant HR isn’t for the faint of heart. That’s why we make it easy to set time off restrictions and share them with your team at the touch of a button—so you can 86 the hassle and focus on what you do best.