The Dirtiest Places in Restaurants

The Dirtiest Places in Restaurants

Restaurant cleanliness is of paramount concern for the health and safety of diners and staff, and there are visible signs when it has been neglected.

The Dirtiest Places in Restaurants - Palmdale, Lancaster, Bakersfield, Fresno, Valencia

Judging Restaurant Cleanliness

Restaurants, due to their very nature, commonly find themselves on display when breakdowns in cleanliness and hygiene occur.

Quite often, the neglected areas are immediately obvious, directly impact the diner's experience, and, in regards to odors coming from the kitchen or bathroom, pervasive.

While the local Health Department can be unforgiving towards establishments that violate health and safety codes, upset customers can do far more damage online and through word of mouth.

According to The Back Burner;

A recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive reveals that 88% of people who encounter a dirty restroom at a restaurant think this reflects poorly on the sanitation of the rest of the establishment, including the kitchen and food preparation areas.

Of those, a full 29% said they would never come back to a restaurant whose restroom they found to be very dirty.

Dirty Restaurant Restrooms Say Dirty Kitchen

Given the amount of money American families spend on dining out, as well as their well-documented responses when they encounter an unsanitary facility--lapses in cleanliness and hygiene can quickly translate into closed doors and another failed restaurant.

 

 

The Dirtiest Areas in a Restaurant

Restaurants have several areas that communicate undesirable signals to prospective diners and send them running long before they enter the establishment, including:

  • Dirty trash-strewn parking lots.
  • Dingey lights and smudges on the windows, and;
  • Sticky entryways--both walkways or floors and door handles.

While those areas indicate outright neglect, they do not typically represent immediate threats to the public health and safety--unlike:

  • Filthy restrooms, which have been shown to turn away more than 90% of restaurant-goers.
  • Ice machines, which studies have shown are home to more bacteria than toilet water.
  • Unsanitary kitchens, which have resulted in devastating Yelp reviews that can turn away 75% of diners, and;
  • Poorly cleaned tables, chairs, and counters, which are often home to a plethora of E.coli and other fecal bacteria.

 

Cleaning Restaurants for Health

Based on customer feedback online, there are several apparent areas restaurant managers and owners should keep an eye on, including:

  • Keeping the parking lots and walkways free of debris, garbage, and cigarette butts.
  • Cleaning the windows as needed, especially on the inside adjacent to tables.
  • Removing high dust and insects from light fixtures as required.
  • Keeping floors clean and hygienic by cleaning up spills immediately, sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming at least once per day, and deep cleaning--either scrubbing and recoating or shampooing--at least once per year, depending on foot traffic and damage.
  • Assigning a dedicated cleaning porter to the dining areas and restroom to ensure high levels of sanitation.
  • Scrubbing kitchens and bathrooms with a no-touch high-pressure sprayer and vacuum scrubber at least once per day.
  • Wiping down all surfaces with an EPA-registered, or EWG certified cleaning product and a microfiber towel.
  • Disinfecting every surface from top to bottom at least once per week with an electrostatic disinfection appliance.
  • Implementing strict cleaning protocols to prevent cross-contamination, and;
  • Training all staff members and cleaning teams on the safe handling, use, mixing, disposal, and emergency response procedures for each chemical stored and used in the restaurant.

 

References & Resources

 

Takeaway

Restaurant cleanliness has a direct and often immediate impact on the health and safety of the diners as well as the success and longevity of the business.

More Americans are spending an increasing portion of their monthly food budget on dining out, and emerging demographics are seeking experiences along with their meals--a concept that can quickly be erased by malodorous smells coming from the restroom and kitchen, disgusting dining areas, sticky menus, and obviously neglected facilities.

Outsourcing to an experienced service provider is a proven method for ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene while maintaining cost controls and predictable service delivery.

If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance cleaning and disinfection services, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!

In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253

In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059

In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253

In Palmdale CA, or Lancaster CA, call (661) 371-4756


Vanguard Cleaning Systems of the Southern Valley

Vanguard Cleaning Systems of the Southern Valley