There are few places in the country or state growing as rapidly as Asheville. The region’s rapid expansion was evident before the global pandemic, but since 2020, the population has boomed exponentially. You can see it in the ever-changing skyline and plethora of new neighborhoods in and around the city. This was not what people might have expected when the world first began shutting down.
Like many other towns and cities across the United States, Asheville was greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses in the area were forced to shut down or greatly reduce their operations, resulting in significant financial losses and job losses. However, many businesses in the area have managed to survive the pandemic and have even thrived since.
Restaurants, for example, found creative solutions for reaching their patrons. As customers were worried about going out, many businesses in Asheville started offering curbside pickup and delivery services to make it easier for customers to safely and easily access their products and services.
With indoor dining restrictions in place, many restaurants in Asheville began offering outdoor dining options. This allowed them to continue serving customers while also complying with public health guidelines.
Taking steps to ensure they could reach their customers didn’t just allow them to survive. Many expanded their operations, opened new locations, and have had some of their best years.
Still, things have not been easy for businesses in the area. Restaurant owners and managers still deal with all the same difficulties of running a restaurant, plus a whole host of new challenges. In this article, we’re focusing on helping you make a plan to tackle one of your most nagging, ongoing issues: keeping your bathrooms clean.
Challenges of Running a Restaurant
There’s a reason keeping the bathroom clean can prove to be difficult at your restaurant. It’s just one part of a long list of issues that need your attention every moment of every day.
Running a restaurant can be a challenging and difficult task. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration, such as menu development, staffing, marketing, and financial management.
- One of the biggest challenges is managing costs, as the margin for profit in the restaurant industry is often very slim. In addition, restaurants are highly competitive, and standing out in a crowded market can be difficult.
- Another challenge is staffing and managing a diverse team. Finding, hiring, and retaining skilled and dedicated employees is crucial to the success of a restaurant. Keeping staff motivated, trained and satisfied is also important to maintain the quality of service, food, and atmosphere of the restaurant.
- Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the restaurant industry dramatically, leading to closures, reduced capacity, and increased sanitation and safety measures. These have resulted in additional costs, decreased revenue, and uncertainty.
Overall, running a restaurant requires a combination of hard work, dedication, and a strong understanding of the industry. It can be a challenging and difficult task, but for those who are passionate about the industry, it can also be a rewarding experience.
Nevertheless, a lack of cleanliness in any part of your restaurant, including your bathrooms, can sink your entire operation.
The Importance of Keeping a Restaurant Clean
Keeping a restaurant clean is essential for both the health and safety of customers and staff, as well as the overall reputation of the establishment. A clean and well-maintained restaurant can help attract customers and create a positive image, while a dirty and poorly-maintained restaurant can drive customers away.
One of the main components of keeping a restaurant clean is proper sanitation. This includes regularly cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, equipment, and utensils, as well as ensuring that food is stored, prepared, and served safely. This can be done by implementing proper food handling and storage procedures and by regularly checking food temperatures to ensure that they are at safe levels.
Another important aspect of keeping a restaurant clean is proper pest control. This includes regularly inspecting the restaurant for signs of pests, such as droppings or gnaw marks, and taking steps to eliminate them if they are found. This can be done by using pesticides, trapping, or by sealing off potential entry points to prevent pests from entering the restaurant.
In addition to these measures, it's also important to keep the restaurant's physical appearance clean and well-maintained. This includes regularly cleaning floors, walls, and windows, as well as ensuring that all equipment and fixtures are in good working order.
How to Keep Your Bathrooms Clean
Here are ten tips for keeping your bathrooms clean:
1) Make Cleaning the Bathrooms Routine
Set a specific schedule for cleaning the bathroom, such as every hour or every two hours. Make sure someone is responsible for setting the schedule and holding the team accountable.
2) Make Employees Accountable for Bathroom Cleaning
Assign specific tasks to different employees, such as cleaning the toilets and sinks, restocking supplies, and mopping the floor.
3) Systematize Bathroom Cleaning
Use a checklist to ensure that all tasks are completed during each cleaning session. Don’t allow there to be any mystery about whether the bathroom is considered clean by management.
4) Use the Right Bathroom Cleaning Products
Use appropriate cleaning products and tools, such as disinfectant sprays and paper towels for surfaces and gloves for hand hygiene.
5) Know What Needs The Most Cleaning
Pay attention to high-touch areas, such as door handles, toilet handles, and faucet handles, and make sure they are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
6) Make Sure Bathrooms are Regularly Inspected by Management
Bathroom cleaning is something you will want to make sure is done properly. It is important for management to develop a schedule for examining the bathrooms. Also, regularly inspect the bathroom for any issues, such as clogged drains or broken fixtures, and address them promptly.
7) Get Ahead of the Game on Bathroom Cleaning
Consider installing hands-free fixtures, such as automatic flushers and faucets, to reduce the spread of germs.
8) Make Sure Bathroom Supplies are Well-Stocked
Provide ample supplies for guests, such as toilet paper, paper towels, and soap, and make sure they are well-stocked at all times. Customers will associate a poorly-stocked restroom with uncleanliness.
9) Train Employees On Your Bathroom Cleaning Expectations
Cleaning the bathrooms might seem like a common sense task, but it is too important to allow differing opinions on what could be considered clean. Train employees on proper cleaning techniques and safety precautions. Make sure everyone understands the process and expectations.
10) Evaluate and Improve Your Bathroom Cleaning
Regularly evaluate the cleaning schedule and make adjustments as needed to ensure the bathroom is always clean and well-maintained. If there are any gaps in your process or improvements to be made, it is important to be willing to adjust your policies and procedures.
Consider Professional Restaurant Cleaning
Professional restaurant bathroom cleaning is an essential aspect of maintaining a clean and hygienic environment for guests. It involves regular cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces, fixtures, and equipment in the bathroom, as well as restocking supplies and addressing any issues that may arise.
We’ve written more in-depth about professional restaurant cleaning here.
You might have the best food in town, the best wait staff, and the friendliest hostess, but if your restaurant isn’t clean, your business will likely suffer. Greenlife Professional Cleaning understands that, unlike any other local business, the restaurant industry relies on a clean, visually appealing environment.
Our restaurant cleaners go through a rigorous screening process, ongoing training, and safety protocol to ensure that our customers receive the most proficient, dependable restaurant cleaning crew available.
When cleaning the bathroom, it is important to use appropriate cleaning products and tools. This includes disinfectant sprays and paper towels for surfaces and gloves for hand hygiene. High-touch areas, such as door handles, toilet handles, and faucet handles, should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to reduce the spread of germs. Having a professional touch here can make all the difference.
Greenlife Professional Cleaners Restaurant and Bathroom Cleaning
Greenlife Professional Cleaning staff is experienced and highly trained to excellent standards in restaurant cleanliness. We focus on all the details. When you hire us to clean your restaurant, we’ll cover the following:
✔ Dining room/lobby - Sweeping; mopping; dusting; sanitizing tables and other surfaces; washing walls and ceilings; cleaning windows
✔ Bathrooms - Scrubbing and sanitizing all surfaces, including toilets and countertops; sweeping and mopping floors; removing the trash; and refilling soaps and paper products
For more information about our restaurant cleaning services, reach out to the professional team at Greenlife today