When setting up a cleaning schedule for your restaurant's front of house (FOH), focus on areas that guests will notice immediately or that could pose hygiene risks. Start by identifying what guests see first and what they touch. Tasks like wiping down tables and sanitising door handles should be top priority because they impact guest experience and safety directly.
Common misunderstanding: All cleaning tasks have the same priority.
Not all cleaning tasks are created equal. High-touch areas or those directly in guest view should be cleaned more frequently to maintain hygiene and guest trust. Lower visibility areas might not need the same frequency.
Common misunderstanding: Cleaning only needs to focus on end-of-day tasks.
While deep cleaning is important at the end of the day, maintaining cleanliness throughout the day is crucial. This prevents build-up and ensures that your space is always presentable and hygienic for every guest.
High-visibility areas in a restaurant include the entrance, host stand, dining tables, and bar counters. These areas are constantly under the scrutiny of guests. For example, ensuring that the entrance is free of smudges and the host stand is tidy and organised sets a positive first impression. Regularly cleaning these areas reassures guests about your establishment's cleanliness standards.
Common misunderstanding: If it looks clean, it is clean.
Visual cleanliness is important, but germs and bacteria that pose health risks can't be seen. Regular sanitising, not just tidying, is crucial.
Common misunderstanding: Cleaning once a day is enough for high-traffic areas.
High-traffic areas might need cleaning multiple times a day because they accumulate dirt and germs faster, especially during peak hours.
Customer toilets and table surfaces are critical because they directly impact guest perceptions and hygiene. Toilets are a private space where guests will notice cleanliness immediately, and any lapse can affect their overall impression of your restaurant. Table surfaces are constantly in use and are high-contact points, making regular sanitisation essential to prevent the spread of germs.
Common misunderstanding: As long as the toilets look clean, they are fine.
Appearance is important, but toilets need to be sanitised thoroughly, not just wiped down, to ensure they are hygienic.
Common misunderstanding: Table cleaning can be superficial between guests.
Tables should be sanitised, not just wiped. This means using the right cleaning agents and techniques to remove germs effectively, especially during busy periods.
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Weekly cleaning tasks to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the front of house (FOH) of a restaurant include: deep vacuuming of carpets, scrubbing hard floors, dusting light fittings, cleaning skirting boards, and wiping down furniture. It is also important to clean high-touch areas like chair legs and bar stools. Schedule these tasks during quieter periods or when the restaurant is closed for efficient cleaning without disrupting service.
Monthly cleaning tasks in a restaurant's front of house are important for maintaining a professional appearance and ensuring long-term cleanliness.
After each guest, it is important to reset the area promptly to ensure cleanliness.
A comprehensive daily FOH cleaning checklist should include: wiping down the host stand and resetting menus, cleaning POS equipment, polishing door glass and handles, checking and cleaning toilets with necessary supplies, restocking napkins, condiments, and tabletop items, vacuuming or mopping key walkways and under tables, emptying bins and cleaning bin lids, and spot-cleaning walls, door frames, and baseboards. This ensures the front of house is welcoming and hygienic for guests.
To encourage a culture of pride in front-of-house cleaning, it's crucial to make staff feel valued and show how their efforts contribute to the restaurant's success.
If your front of house appears clean but customers or staff report issues, this may suggest a problem with your cleaning schedule.
Assigning cleaning tasks to specific roles is crucial to ensure all tasks are completed consistently and efficiently.
To clearly write FOH cleaning tasks, it's important to provide specific and detailed instructions to avoid confusion and ensure consistency in cleaning standards.