8 Ways to Keep Your Restaurant Restroom Clean As the owner or manager of a restaurant, you’ve probably thought long and hard about what it takes to make your establishment a desirable place for your customers to dine. Whether it be the delicious food, unique restaurant apparel, or top-notch customer service, you know the ins and outs of creating an exclusive experience that sets you apart from the competition. However, there seems to be one particular area that is equally important and yet one of the most often overlooked parts of the restaurant: the restroom. Believe it or not, the level of cleanliness in your restrooms can greatly impact customer opinion as well as your business overall. Food and hygiene do go hand-in-hand, after all. A 2013 survey conducted by Opinion Research Corp found that a whopping 69% of restaurant patrons would refuse to dine at an establishment with unclean restrooms, and 39% reported leaving a restaurant because of the restroom’s smell. Furthermore, 55% of those surveyed said they would feel compelled to share a negative review after experiencing a dirty restroom.1 Now that you know just how important it is to keep the restroom sparkling for your customers, let’s explore some of the best ways to maintain this area to ensure a positive experience for everyone. ● Training - Making sure that your staff is meeting the requirements of proper restroom sanitization starts with adequate instruction. Bridge the gap on the subjectivity of cleanliness by providing employees with detailed step-by-step instructions for keeping the space up to food service business standards. ● Safety - While cleanliness is always top priority, so is the safety of your customers and employees. Decrease the potential for hazardous slips and falls by placing Wet Floor signs in a visible area for everyone to see both inside and outside of the restroom. ● Scheduling - Implementing a cleaning schedule provides structure and ensures that this area is being regularly maintained throughout everyday hours of operation. It also eliminates the need for hiring extra staff for custodial duties, saving your business from unnecessary expenditures. ● Trash - Keep an eye on the trash bins every half hour. An overflowing receptacle leaves your customers with two options, either tossing the trash on the floor, or worse, tossing trash in the toilet. Used items such as paper towels are also breeding grounds for germs, leading to the spread of bacteria well beyond the garbage can. ● Scents & Smells - Our sense of taste is directly correlated with our sense of smell. Imagine smelling some of the best food of your life, only to excuse yourself to the restroom and find yourself greeted by a horrific stench. There goes your appetite! Invest in scented sprays, candles, and plug-ins to eliminate unwanted odors. ● Disinfectant - Scrubbing toilet seats, faucets, and countertops with disinfectant is a nobrainer. But what about all those easily forgotten “high-touch” areas? Always remember
to wipe flush handles, toilet paper holders, light switches, door knobs, and paper towel dispensers when disinfecting surfaces. ● Mopping & Sweeping - Proper floor maintenance requires a little finesse. Start by sweeping any excess dirt on the floor from one side of the room to the other. Then use a heavy duty scrub brush to remove any grout caught between tiles and around toilets and urinals. Lastly, mop the floor to remove any leftover grime with a dual-chamber bucket to avoid contaminating the clean water with germs. ● Re-Stocking - Using the restroom only to find that there isn’t any toilet paper left is the stuff nightmares are made of. Be sure to re-stock toilet paper, paper towels, and soap dispensers frequently as part of your scheduling routine, and keep equipment and supplies clean and properly stocked at all times. By following this checklist, not only will you ensure a sanitary restroom for your patrons, but you’ll also build trust among your customers, and reduce negative reviews and complaints. Sure, it’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it!
Company Bio From restroom products to mops and dust control, Prudential Overall Supply is dedicated to providing comprehensive facility and janitorial service solutions for every need. Take advantage of their restroom services online at www.PrudentialUniforms.com or call (800) 767-5536.