When it comes to finding the right cleaning company for your kitchen, it can be a tough choice; in a restaurant, a kitchen’s cleanliness is non-negotiable. However, finding a company that can do the job right can be a challenge; not all companies have the equipment, personnel, and time to carry these tasks out, but cleaning food processing and extraction equipment as well as kitchen surfaces is a vital task. If you work or have worked in a commercial kitchen you know that it’s often necessary to call in regular cleanings.
Commercial cleanings offer peace of mind through a comprehensive cleaning process that takes a detailed approach. Still, it can be crucial to find a company with the required specialisation for extraction hood cleaning services and AC system cleaning for kitchens.
Why You Should Use Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Services
If you work in food, you know that a sanitary kitchen is not up for debate; it’s an absolute necessity to which businesses must adhere. Chefs and cooks are often passionate about their work, looking to create delicious foods, but can fall prey to the pitfall of neglecting cleaning responsibilities after a long shift. Food workers can find the necessary task of adhering to health and safety protocols somewhat taxing — and even the most diligent among them can struggle to get their kitchen to the level of cleanliness that professional kitchen cleaning crews can.
The benefits of commercial kitchen cleaning services can include cleaning high touch points in kitchens, ensuring kitchen canopy fire safety, finding effective kitchen exhaust system maintenance services, and even finding experienced kitchen cleaners well-suited for your unique needs.
What Do Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Services Include?
So, what should effective commercial kitchen cleaning services include? There are a few capabilities to consider when choosing a kitchen cleaning company. They should:
- Develop and adhere to a comprehensive and systematic program for sanitising commercial kitchens.
- In their professional kitchen sanitization programs, sanitise and clean food preparation areas, and leave the kitchen sparkling clean.
- Offer general cleaning services as the foundation of their services — such as sweeping, mopping, and dusting in addition to more specialised services like grease and oil extraction cleaning.
- Be able to clean hard-to-reach spaces where food and oil spatter can reach in high temperature cooking area cleaning, including fans, hoods, and filters.
Hard-to-reach spaces must be cleaned just like normal surface spaces. This is where specialists come in — but, with the regular commercial kitchen cleaning importance, how do you find the right team for the job?
Asking the Right Questions
You can indeed clean in-house — but you may find this approach less than cost-effective. You’ll need to shoulder costs such as for training tools and equipment in-house and devote significant energy to the task of food safety and kitchen cleanliness.
Hiring a professional cleaning company for commercial cleaning for food service areas can save you the headache, allowing you to focus on your business.
These are some simple questions to ask kitchen cleaning companies about when hiring a kitchen cleaning specialist:
Question 1: How many years of experience do you have?
When it comes to kitchens, where fire safety, food safety, and health converge, finding an experienced cleaner with the right kitchen cleaning crew qualifications often means not having to find another one the next time you’re due for a cleaning.
Question 2: What businesses have you serviced that are similar to mine?
It’s more than just about experience; it’s also about making sure commercial kitchen deep cleaning services are equipped to clean a kitchen like yours.
Question 3: Are you insured?
Kitchen cleaning company insurance verification is essential. This will offer the peace of mind that protecting both businesses brings.
Question 4: Will the same cleaner or team of cleaners be continually maintaining my facility?
In commercial kitchens, where a working familiarity with the complex equipment that must be cleaned regularly is paramount, having the same cleaner come back, again and again, can be a major benefit for consistency in commercial kitchen cleaning. With the importance of a professional team for kitchen facility cleaning, it’s important to ensure the cleaners are qualified.
Question 5: What products do you use, and are they health-safe?
In a kitchen where food is being prepared, using health safe cleaning agents for kitchens is often essential. Ask prospective cleaning companies whether the products they use may be harmful to your kitchen or the food you prepare afterwards. Companies that offer a diverse range of high-quality safe cleaning products for kitchens can ensure that you have options that can get the job done right.
Question 6: Can you provide references?
Seek references and check reviews from past customers. Were they happy with the services? Do you notice patterns of repeat complaints? Does the company respond well to negative reviews if they have any?
Question 7: Do you offer a Customer Satisfaction Guarantee?
Mistakes happen, but how do they handle it? A customer satisfaction guarantee in kitchen cleaning is essential. Ensure that any prospective cleaning company provides a customer guarantee that ensures satisfaction with each visit. Check their policy on customer complaints, and how they rectify mistakes.
Question 8: What other services do you offer?
Consider not only the services you immediately need but any other kitchen cleaning company service offerings. Often, the diversity of their offerings can be indicated by their size. A comprehensive services offering, including cleaning, inspection, maintenance, and repairs can offer you convenience in the long run.
Question 9: Are you compliant and certified?
Compliance is crucial, so ensure that they’re well-versed in applicable safety regulations and hold necessary certifications. NFPA 96 compliance in kitchen cleaning, HACCP compliant cleaning services, and IKECA certified kitchen cleaners can be vital. Ensure they’re compliant with:
- HACCP
- IKECA
- Australian Standards – Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): Relevant standards include AS 1851-2012, AS 1668.1 – 2015, and AS 1668.2 – 2012.
- AIRAH (Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating) and Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Management Best Practice Guide.
- NFPA 96 (National Fire Protection Association) Standard for Ventilation and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations.
Question 10: Can You create a tailored plan for me?
As a business, your cleaning needs are likely unique. That’s why it can be important to find a company that will tailor a plan for you — working closely with you to develop a schedule suitable. For example, tailored cleaning plans for commercial kitchens might include regular cleaning and sanitising, keeping a dedicated cleaner on site, scheduled cleans, emergency cleans, and specific areas of focus.
Question 11: Do You Perform Employee Background Checks?
Since a cleaning crew will likely be around without our supervision, a full background check can be vital, delivering peace of mind.
Question 12: Flexibility and Scheduling Availability
Ensure that a cleaning company can work around your schedule, not the other way around. If you have needs, such as ensuring that cleaning is carried out during non-business hours, this can be crucial. Do they have blackout periods? What do scheduled and emergency kitchen cleans look like? Are they available for emergency cleaning services for kitchens even outside of normal hours?
Question 13: What is your cleaning process?
Since systematic cleaning is essential to not only compliance but also consistent cleanliness, ensure that they have an established kitchen cleaning process and checklist. If they have a checklist of tasks, do their cleaners follow it strictly? Do they have an established cleaning routine for clients in your industry? Do they offer specialised task cleaning for kitchens? This can inform your approach.
Question 14: What are their Cleaning Rates?
Importantly, you’ll want to know what commercial kitchen cleaning rates look like. Check about payment processes, and when payments are scheduled for each billing cycle, as well as their terms and conditions.
Reach Out To Professionals Like Us
Are you looking for a professional cleaning company? After all, the easiest way to keep your workplace clean is often to hire professionals to come out and clean it for you — but there are a few factors to consider. Staff should be educated on any specialised needs you have — such as specific sanitising needs, procedures, or other requirements for having a presence in your place of business.
Remember, Lotus Commercial is here to help — with a strong focus on diligence and compliance. We’re HACCP certified, an IKEECA member, adherent to relevant Australian standards including AS 1851-2012, AS 1668.1 – 2015, and AS 1668.2 – 2012, follow the AIRAH and Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Management Best Practice Guide, and adhere to NFPA 96 Standard for Ventilation and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. To get started or learn more, contact us today.