Restaurants and other food businesses need to prioritize food safety to ensure that their customers are satisfied, kept safe and protected from foodborne illnesses. The best way to ensure food safety is to get all the restaurant employees a food safety certification.

All food businesses in Canada are legally obligated to comply with federal and provincial food safety regulations to maintain a clean and sanitized environment.

Here’s a cleaning checklist that restaurants can use to ensure that they are following hygienic practices.

Daily Chores

Food businesses must ensure that certain activities are carried out daily following to comply with food safety regulations and prevent food contamination. These daily chores are:

• Wiping down the walls of the restaurant to remove food splatters
• Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces in food preparation areas
• Cleaning and sanitizing all sinks and storage containers
• Sweeping, mopping and disinfecting the floors before the restaurant opens
• Sweeping, moping and disinfecting walk-in refrigerators and storage areas
• Emptying garbage cans and disinfecting the waste disposal area
• Disinfecting high touch points such as phones, door knobs, handles, tablets and keyboards
• Thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing equipment in the kitchen such as grills, fryers, and ranges
• Wiping down and sanitizing equipment that’s used regularly, such as coffee makers, microwaves, toasters etc.
• Washing and sanitizing utensils, glassware, and flatware after each use
• Filling up soap dispensers and replacing paper towel rolls
• Washing and disinfecting aprons, uniforms, towels and rags used for cleaning
• Cleaning and disinfecting bathrooms in the dining area as well as the kitchen (bathrooms should be checked hourly and as needed)

Weekly Chores

There is some restaurant equipment that should be cleaned weekly, including:

• Cleaning lines from faucets and sinks
• Sanitizing walk-in refrigerators and freezers
• Using drain cleaner to clean floor drains
• Cleaning the ovens and the deep fryer
• Cleaning behind equipment and hard to reach areas

cleaning checklists help ensure all tasks are completed

Monthly Chores

Both the restaurant’s exterior and interior require a deep cleaning once a month. This should include washing the walls and the ceiling, cleaning the vent hoods and the refrigerator coils. In the dining area, clean walls, lights, shades, blinds and other hard to reach areas.

Other Daily Chores

It’s also essential to clean the restaurant’s dining area to ensure customers come into, safe, neat and tidy atmosphere. Wiping down walls, countertops, dining tables, seats, and benches is extremely important. Disinfecting high touch points diligently is vital for everyone’s safety.

One way to ensure your customers keep coming back and contribute to your business’s prosperity and growth is to enroll employees in food handlers courses in Canada. SafeCheck offers food and safety certificates online, along with workplace safety training. Ensure your restaurant is a safe and hygienic establishment with our online courses!