Learning All About Cleaning Crews

Posted on: 27 April 2022

Running a great kitchen means far more than just serving delicious food to your patrons. With any foodservice business, cleanliness is of utmost importance when it comes to the kitchen. The kitchen hood is where a lot of the action happens and naturally, can be a stubborn piece of equipment to clean! Here are just a few factors to keep in mind to guarantee your kitchen's hood is kept grease-free and well-maintained. 

Equipment You'll Need

Before you begin cleaning your kitchen hood, you'll need to be sure you have all the necessary equipment. As far as cleansing agents go, degreasers will be a must! These cleansers are specially-formulated to handle the stubborn mess that grease can leave behind. Dish soap, baking soda, and access to water are also needed. When working with a metal hood, metal brushes, as well as powerful scrub brushes, are recommended to effectively clean grime. For personal protection, be sure to wear an apron, sturdy rubber gloves, and safety goggles to ensure your eyes do not come in contact with harmful cleaners. 

Work Smarter, Not Harder

While you may be tempted to go crazy with a scrub brush and degreaser solution, work smarter by first soaking the external and removable components of your hood. Filters can easily accumulate grease, rendering them ineffective over time. A neglected filter can eventually result in a rather smoky situation when cooking and at worst, can start a fire! Soak the hood's filter in a solution of warm water mixed with dish soap or baking soda. Allow to soak for up to half an hour or more depending on how caked on the grease is and start to scrub away excess grease. On the hood itself and its surrounding areas, gently scrub away grease and grime using a scrub brush. Using circular motions, go over any spots that prove stubborn. 

Creating a Cleaning Schedule

The easiest and smartest way to keep your kitchen hood looking and performing at its best is to create a cleaning schedule for staff. This will guarantee that employees are held accountable for maintaining the kitchen so that it can work at top performance. Likewise, if you have a designated cleaning crew who takes care of these duties, supplying a checklist of what needs to be cleaned can prove very helpful. It is always in good practice to do daily cleaning of all kitchen equipment when the day is finished to remove any excess oil, grease, or buildup that may hinder staff from cooking. Filters should be checked and cleaned bi-weekly as well to guarantee they remain debris-free and clear. 

For more information, contact a company like Superior Hood and Duct.