Is there anything less pleasant than walking into arestaurant to find things less than clean? After all, if the dining furniture
is dirty, how does the kitchen look? If you have already invested all that
time, money and energy to get your restaurant to look good, make sure you take
the time to keep it properly clean too. Here is a list of tasks your employees
should cover on a regular basis.

Tabletop Staples

We are going to assume that you have bussers routinely wipe
down tables, chairs and booths as they clean. However, don’t forget to clean all
those tabletop items as well. Salt and pepper shakers, sugar holders,
condiments and even vases that sit on the table should be wiped down daily.
Everyone touches these items and they must be clean, not sticky or greasy.

Art and Décor Items

Picture frames, knick-knacks and shelves should be dusted at
least once a week. Check any glass in the restaurant, whether on artwork or in
windows and on doors. Clean these several times a day if they are regularly
touched, once a week if not.

Baseboards and Corners

Vacuuming is routine, and should be done between shifts as
well as at the end of the day, but if done quickly it will miss things in the
corners. Corners should be done specifically at least once a day. Baseboards
need special care weekly, unless an accident occurs that splatters food on
them. Then they need to be cleaned immediately.

Check the Ceiling

Up here you will find air ducts, fans and light fixtures.
All of these items need regular cleaning too. Dust accumulates on them
regularly, and while you might be able to get away with periodic cleaning, you
should check them weekly. Don’t wait for dust to settle, clean them before dust
is visible.

Change any lightbulbs that burn out as soon as
possible—immediately after the current shift is ideal. Also look for spider
webs, dust bunnies and other little fuzzies that develop in the high spots of
the dining room.

Plants, Real or Fake

Both real and fake plants need regular care as well. They
both need dusting, believe it or not. If your plants are made of silk or
plastic, find out from the manufacturer what is the best way to keep them clean
and looking “real.”

Real plants must be pruned regularly so that there are no
dead or dying leaves in evidence. You might need to repot those that get too
big. Of course they also need regular watering and feeding.

Walls as Well

Don’t forget to clean your walls too. Not only is it
possible that food get splashed up on the walls, there are some areas that are
prone to getting smudged. Light switches are common areas for fingerprints and
dirt. In the bathroom you will find that the area near the dryer or paper
towels also gets dirty. And any doors and door handles that weren’t cleaned
with the glassware should be tackled several times a day.

Paying attention to the details will keep your restaurant
dining furniture in good shape and regular cleaning will encourage your guests
to come in more frequently.