A clean space is a requirement by many laws and regulations, but it’s also important for consumers. More than 90% of diners in an Ipsos and P&G Professional study said cleanliness is one of the main reasons they would choose to return to a restaurant. That’s a big opportunity for things to go right or wrong in a restaurant. As an owner or manager, you’ll want to go beyond clean — you’ll need to sanitize your restaurant. With a proper restaurant sanitizer, customers will be coming back for another bite of your business.
What Are Restaurant Sanitizers?
Restaurants deal with food in almost all areas of the facility, and the sanitizers need to be at a certain safety level where food is present and consumed. Food-grade restaurant sanitizers are commercial kitchen sanitizers that are free of harmful toxins and safe to be around food but are able to kill harmful viruses and bacteria. These cleaners should be used anywhere food might be — from the tables it is served on to the surfaces it’s prepped on and to the places it is disposed of. These special types of cleaning products help kill bacteria and viruses that can be spread from contact with food or through people. According to FoodSafety.gov, a few examples of health risks in restaurants include:
- Salmonella
- coli
- Hepatitis A
- Norovirus
Of course, other infections, such as COVID-19 and influenza, can be spread in any enclosed space. The illnesses caused by these viruses and bacteria can cause hospitalizations and even death. It’s essential that a restaurant sanitizer can rid your space of these harmful pathogens.
What to Look for in a Restaurant Sanitizer
It can be hard to know if the sanitizing company you’ve hired is using the proper cleaners. There are a few things to look for to make sure the right restaurant sanitizer is used. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pesticides, which is what sanitizers are. The four approved and most common ingredients in commercial kitchen sanitizers are:
- Chlorine
- Peroxyacetic acid
- Iodine
- Quaternary ammonium (known as “quats”)
If you don’t have a chemistry degree, the EPA has logos showing approved products safe for use. Look for an EPA Safer Choice Program, EcoLogo, and/or Green Seal. The EPA also requires registration numbers to be on the bottles of disinfectants. A food-safe electrostatic spray service is EPA approved and rids surfaces of food-borne illnesses and other disease-causing agents.
What Are Good Sanitizers for Other Areas of Restaurants?
While the areas food touches are the most important to keep clean and sanitized, restrooms and unseen surfaces need to be tackled as well. Most of your patrons and all your staff will use the restrooms in restaurants. Restrooms become breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses that can not only make people sick but also cause odors. A regular restroom hygiene service stops these grimy germs in their tracks.
An enzyme-based, bio-active drain cleaner can eat away tough grease and other buildup common in restaurant drains. Keeping drains clean and clog-free reduces odors.
Your staff handles all the food heading to and from the kitchen and deals with customers directly. Hand hygiene is not only important to maintain a sanitary restaurant, but it’s required by law. The code requires your employees to wash hands after using the restroom, touching raw meats, and handling utensils or surfaces that have been contaminated. Antibacterial and foaming hand soaps will decontaminate hands, while approved hand sanitizers will help keep germs and viruses at bay between washings.
Enviro-Master Services Has What You Need
We offer a wide range of services for your restaurant. Our top priorities are keeping a sanitary space and the safety of your customers and staff. Enviro-Master Services uses only EPA Safer Choice products to ensure a safe clean. Our products have been tested in harsh environments, and our Health and Safety technicians are trained to handle our commercial-grade products. We schedule around your hours to fit your needs. To learn more about our electrostatic spraying service, restroom hygiene service, drain treatment, or hand hygiene products we offer restaurants, contact us.
