How to Clean a Commercial Kitchen Floor: Guide to Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Floors

Try as you might, there’s no avoiding the constant messes in a commercial kitchen. From ingredient spills to grease spatters, foot traffic, and more, there are so many sources of soil. 

You can spend hours cleaning your flooring only to be met with the same conditions the following day. This means coming up with the most efficient cleaning process is an essential task for managers and owners. 

Traditional brooms and mops won’t cut it when productivity matters. You need a more advanced cleaning solution, and we’ll introduce you to the #1 approach in this guide on how to clean a commercial kitchen floor.

Investing in a commercial floor sweeper machine or an industrial floor scrubber machine can trim hours off your cleaning process while achieving a superior clean. These are essential pieces of equipment in your cleaning arsenal. 

Here at SweepScrub, we carry the top machines from the most trusted brands to help you elevate your cleaning standards and efficiency. So, get in touch today and we’ll help you find the perfect solution for your kitchen’s unique needs!

Why Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Floors Can’t Be Taken Lightly

Keeping your commercial kitchen flooring clean isn’t just about maintaining an appealing working environment, although that is one aspect. This is a matter of compliance and safety.

Slips and Falls

Spills, grease, and food debris are common in commercial kitchens, and all of these can create slick surfaces that increase the risk of accidents. A single slip or fall can lead to serious injuries for employees, resulting in lost workdays and potential liability issues for the business. 

Regular cleaning and immediate attention to spills ensure a safe working environment. Implementing non-slip mats in areas prone to spills can also reduce the risk of accidents.

Hygeine Considerations

We probably don’t have to remind you of the importance of hygiene in your kitchen, where you’re preparing food and contamination risks are high. Dirty floors can harbor harmful bacteria, viruses, and pests, which can lead to foodborne illnesses.

Regular, thorough cleaning of kitchen floors helps eliminate these hazards, ensuring the environment remains sanitary. This not only protects the health of customers but also upholds the reputation of the establishment. 

The Compliance Side of Things

Speaking of hygiene, maintaining a clean commercial kitchen can be the difference between keeping your doors open and getting shut down by health inspectors. 

Regulatory bodies enforce strict standards to keep food service settings safe and sanitary. Failure to comply with these standards can lead to fines, closures, and a damaged reputation. 

Regularly cleaning kitchen floors is an essential step in compliance. Health inspectors frequently check the cleanliness of floors, among other aspects, during routine inspections.

What Do Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens Use to Clean Floors?

There’s no overlooking the importance of cleaning commercial kitchen floors, but your main focus should remain on preparing food. After all, that’s what impacts your bottom line. So, what is the best way to clean restaurant floors in the most efficient, effective manner? 

While the traditional approach has been brooms and mops, these are antiquated methods. Not only do they lack efficiency, they’re downright ineffective. We’ll show you a better way.

Why Brooms, Mops, and Other Traditional Methods Don’t Cut it in a Bustling Commercial Kitchen

Traditional cleaning tools such as brooms and mops have been the go-to method in the past - but while these methods are inexpensive and readily available, they aren’t our recommendation. 

Brooms can scatter dust and debris, often missing finer particles that settle into cracks and crevices. Mops, on the other hand, spread grease and dirt rather than removing them entirely, leaving behind a residue that can build up over time. 

To make matters worse, mopping with dirty water can reintroduce contaminants to the floor, sometimes doing more harm than good in terms of hygiene. 

Commercial Floor Sweepers

Commercial floor sweepers are designed to overcome the inefficiencies of manual sweeping. These machines use powerful brushes and vacuum systems to effectively collect dust, dirt, and debris, delivering a more comprehensive clean. 

They come in various models, including walk behind floor sweeper machines and industrial ride-on floor sweepers, allowing for flexibility based on the size and layout of the kitchen. 

The advanced dust control features in commercial sweepers also help improve air quality by trapping fine particles that manual sweeping often misses.

Commercial Floor Scrubbers

Commercial floor scrubbers take cleaning to the next level by combining the functions of sweeping and mopping into one efficient process. So, why is scrubbing the floor better than mopping?

These machines apply cleaning solution, scrub the floor with rotating brushes, and then vacuum up the dirty water, leaving floors dry and spotless. They’re really good at removing the grease and grime commonly found in commercial kitchens. 

Similar to sweepers, you can chose from a commercial walk behind floor scrubber or an industrial floor scrubber ride on depending on the size and layout of your kitchen. Either way,, kitchens can achieve a deeper clean with less effort and time compared to traditional mopping.

Chemical Cleaning Solutions

Whether you use traditional push brooms and mops or a more advanced floor sweeper or scrubber, you still need chemical cleaning solutions to sanitize the kitchen floor and remove deep stains.

The specific solution you need will depend on your messes. There are solutions specifically formulated to break down grease, remove stains, and disinfect surfaces.

When combined with commercial sweepers and scrubbers, chemical cleaners enhance the effectiveness of the cleaning process. They not only keep your floor looking cleaner but also remove bacteria and pathogens that could compromise food safety.

Let SweepScrub Help You Optimize Your Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Arsenal!

Whether you need a floor sweeper, scrubber, or even a hybrid floor sweeper scrubber, SweepScrub has the top-tier equipment and supplies you need to supercharge your commercial kitchen cleaning regimen.

We’re the most trusted brand for all things commercial cleaning as we’ve curated a collection of the most sought-after models from the most trusted manufacturers in the industry. With our years of experience and world-class customer service, you can count on us to help you come up with the best way to clean restaurant floors.

We encourage you to reach out today if you’re looking to learn how to clean a commercial kitchen floor well with as little time and effort as possible. You can tell us about your kitchen and the challenges you face in keeping it clean. Then, we’ll help you weigh your options so you can put the stress of maintaining optimal conditions in the past once and for all.

That being said, we’ll walk you through cleaning a commercial kitchen floor below to show you how quick and easy the process can be when you empower your team with the right machines!

How to Clean a Commercial Kitchen Floor: Step-by-Step Guide

The idea of constantly cleaning your commercial kitchen flooring doesn’t have to be something you dread. With the right equipment and supplies, it can be a simple, straightforward process that elevates the standards of your business and keeps morale high. Here’s how to clean a commercial kitchen floor step-by-step.

Start By Sweeping

Begin by removing all loose debris, dirt, and food particles from the floor. Use a commercial floor sweeper or a broom to effectively capture and contain debris. 

This step prevents larger particles from interfering with the subsequent cleaning stages and ensures that the floor is prepared for deeper cleaning. Make sure to sweep under appliances, counters, and in corners where debris tends to accumulate. 

Because cleaning your kitchen’s floors is just one piece of the puzzle, think about where this step sits in the context of the rest of your cleaning process. 

It usually makes sense to wipe down countertops and hoods first, as this will knock down addition food matter and debris onto the floor. You can then clean it all up with one pass.

Prepare and Apply a Chemical Solution

Choose a cleaner that is specifically formulated for commercial kitchen floors, ensuring it is effective at breaking down grease and grime while being safe for use in food preparation areas. 

For example, fats and natural oils are best removed with a hot alkaline solution. These messes are very common in commercial kitchens as a result of dairy, poultry, and meat processing.

On the other hand, mineral deposits that come from faucets and other types of equipment using water can be removed with an acid-based cleaner or de-limer solution.

As for grease and lubricating oils, we suggest using a strong surfactant with an acid or alkali to loosen the bond these messes have on your flooring.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for dilution to avoid damage to the floor and ensure effective cleaning. Apply the solution evenly across the floor using a mop, a sprayer, or better yet, your scrubber. 

If you’re dealing with really tough messes, you may want to let the solution sit for a few minutes to loosen any stuck-on dirt and grease. Do not let it dry on the surface, though.

Scrubbing the Floor

As we’ve said a few times so far, the best way to clean a restaurant floor is by using a commercial floor scrubber, like those available here at SweepScrub. These machines are equipped with rotating brushes that agitate the solution, lifting dirt and grime from the floor. 

However, you may need to use a hand scrubber or a brush for areas that are difficult to reach with a machine. Whatever approach you take, be sure you’re focusing on high-traffic areas and spots where grease and food particles tend to accumulate. 

Letting the Floor Dry

Now that all the hard work is done you just need to put out your wet floor signs and let the floor air dry before restoring foot traffic access to the kitchen.

Again, using a scrubber streamlines this as these machines are integrated with a vacuum that picks up dirty water as you work, leaving a brilliant shine behind with little moisture remaining.

If you opt for a mop instead, you’ll need to do extra work at this stage. This includes manually mopping up the solution with clean water, and then, using fans to speed up the drying process to prevent mold and mildew from forming.

More Tips on Keeping Your Commercial Kitchen Floor Clean

There you have it - how to clean a commercial kitchen floor. But you know what they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, to help keep your routine cleanings as quick and easy as possible, here are some tips on keeping your flooring neat and tidy in the first place.

Quick Daily Cleaning Tasks

Daily - or even twice a day - cleaning can prevent dirt and grime from building up. We recommend sweeping the floors to remove loose debris at the end of each shift. Spot clean any spills immediately to prevent stains and reduce the risk of slips. 

Run your floor scrubber or mop high-traffic areas with a mild detergent solution to keep them free from grease and food particles. Regularly empty trash bins to avoid overflow, which can lead to spills and increased cleaning needs.

Proper Maintenance of Cleaning Equipment

Regular maintenance of sweepers, scrubbers, and mops is crucial to ensure they operate efficiently. After each use, clean the equipment thoroughly, removing any trapped dirt or debris from brushes and pads. 

Check for wear and tear and replace worn-out parts promptly. Ensure battery-operated machines are charged and well-maintained. We have all the parts you could need for floor scrubber and floor sweeper repair.

Proper equipment storage, away from damp areas and in a clean environment, will also prolong equipment lifespan and maintain effectiveness.

Investing in Floor Mats

Place grease-resistant mats in areas where spills are most likely, such as near cooking stations and sinks. Anti-fatigue mats can help in areas where staff stand for long periods, providing comfort and reducing fatigue while also trapping dirt and moisture.

These are easier to clean than the floor themselves, as you can simply take them outside to hose them off and then let them dry in the sun. Meanwhile, you can keep the business running indoors.

Parting Thoughts on the Best Way to Clean Restaurant Floors

Keeping commercial kitchen and restaurant floors clean is a matter of safety, hygiene, and compliance with health regulations. While it doesn’t directly contribute to your bottom line, its importance still cannot be overstated.

Daily sweeping, proper use of chemical solutions, and thorough scrubbing ensure floors remain spotless and safe. Don’t work harder when you could work smarter, though. Investing in quality cleaning equipment like that we offer at SweepScrub can elevate your productivity tremendously, all while achieving a superior clean.

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Remember, though, whether you need the best industrial floor sweeper, floor scrubber, or cleaning chemicals, SweepScrub is your one-stop shop. We’ve curated a catalog with only the best brands and models to supercharge your commercial kitchen cleaning regimen. With unbeatable prices and industry-leading customer service, what more could you ask for? 

Now that you know how to clean a commercial kitchen floor, it’s time to put these guidelines into practice, starting with investing in superior cleaning equipment. Get in touch today to learn more about the best way to clean restaurant floors!