Cleaning Restaurant Floors

You'll need the following items (and perhaps other specialized items) to clean your restaurant floor.

1. Mops: A good mop is a must! Here is a list of available mops and sizes.

2. Brooms: You should have a large sweeping broom for pre-cleaning, a "standard" broom for cleaning in smaller spaces and during shifts, and a bristle brush that can scrub the floors and agitate when you are using a cleaning solution.

3. Buckets: In addition to the mop bucket, you may need some other large floor buckets to hold cleaning solution or to rinse the floor.

4. Cleaner: You will need floor-cleaning chemicals. You will want a standard cleaning solution, a degreasing solution and a deodorizer on hand. Depending on your situation, you may need chemicals that are more specialized as well. It's important to keep these items stocked and ready, so that you don't miss cleaning one night because you're lacking supplies. You'll also want to consider buying additional equipment, so that you can use one set of supplies with the restaurant floor and one set with the kitchen.

Clean floors, properly done, are safer than dirty floors. They also look better. So where to start?

1. First, make sure you have the proper tools for the job. You'll need a mop, floor cleaner, bucket and broom at minimum. You may also want to put out "Wet Floor" signs if the area will be in use during the process.

2. Prepare the floor for cleaning. Have someone sweep the floor free of debris, as much as possible, before you begin treating the floor with any cleaners or chemicals. This will make your cleaning solutions more effective.

3. Prepare your cleaning solution. Depending on the type of restaurant and environment, your choice of solution will vary. Dilute the solution according to the instructions found on the bottle.

4. Coat the floor - either by pouring, mopping, or spraying - with the diluted solution over the previously swept areas. If you have a slow drainage system, it is better to use a mop. In the kitchen, where a larger drainage system may be in place, a hose or pouring may be more time-efficient. If you spray or dump the solution, go back over the area with a mop to spread it evenly.

5. Allow the cleaning solution time to sit and do the job! The floor cleaning solution bottle will have directions for how long the solution should sit. This will vary depending on solution, as well as how dirty the floor is. Many solutions require you to agitate the floor with a bristled brush while they sit.

6. Rinse or mop the floor clean. Change the water regularly to ensure that it's clean and you aren't just re-coating the floor with the cleaning solution.

These tips may seem like common sense, but every restaurant owner has to start somewhere! Always remember - no guide is perfect. Your floor or restaurant may require a different procedure. A clean floor doesn't just look great - it helps prevent kitchen injuries and other mishaps. Stock up on your restaurant floor cleaning supplies today, here at US Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies.