Using Green Cleaning Products for Restaurants and Kitchens

by Center for American Progress

Using Green Cleaning Products for Restaurants and Kitchens

A common misconception that green chemicals cannot clean as effectively as other cleaning chemicals often drives away many restaurant owners from the purchase of green cleaners for maintaining the work place. However, new technologies have now made green cleaning solutions as effective and sometimes more powerful than toxic cleaning compounds. Green cleaning products work by breaking chemical bonds that hold grease, sugars, fuel oil, food residues, and other dirt residues in the kitchen together. Once the bonds are broken, it becomes easier to rinse away the dirt or remove it using pressure washers and steam cleaners. The following are some of the applications of green cleaning formulas within a commercial kitchen.

Tile Cleaning

Tile and grout can collect grease, fuel fume deposits, food spatter, and other types of deposits. In areas near the sink and pipes, soap scum, calcium deposits, and rust are common problems. Green cleaning chemicals, such as a green tile cleaner, can remove these deposits without leaving dangerous residues that might find their way into food, as regular detergents often do. Green tile cleaners are also safe for use on grout, to effectively remove stains from within grout lines.

Hard Surfaces

Floors and walls, which are often tiled, laminated, or covered in glazed enamel, ceramic, plastic, and marble often collect grease, organic compounds, and other dirt, which can be removed by non-toxic chemicals specially developed for keeping hard surfaces clean. Granite and marble countertops and shelves can also be cleaned using these green cleaners. First start by looking for specific formulas for the surface at hand, like marble and granite cleaners, tile cleaners, stove and oven cleaners, and so on. If no specific formula is available, a multi-purpose hard surface green cleaner is ideal. Green chemicals are noncombustible, so they pose no risk near stoves and ovens.

Deodorizing

Kitchens often develop bad odors due to the decomposition of food, grease fumes, and other organic or inorganic matter. You can use green cleaners to remove odors from kitchens, allowing for a cleaner and more suitable working environment. Besides breaking down odor-causing molecules, these green cleaners form a thin layer around the surface, discouraging the dirt to re-adhere.

Cleaning Stoves and Ducts

Stoves can be one of the dirtiest spots in the kitchen, collecting cooking oil fumes, food spatter, burned food residues, and many types of dirt. Stoves that are not cleaned properly and not used regularly can also lead to the growth of germs, which pose serious health risks. Green cleaners can remove grease, oils, and similar hard substances from stoves, hoods, and ducts, without leaving any odor or toxic residues behind.

Barbeques, Ovens, and Grills

BBQ grills and ovens, used on a commercial scale, can develop tough grease buildup. Besides grease, food remnants are also a problem, as they lead to the growth of highly dangerous bacteria when not in use. Green cleaners can clean grills, ovens, and similar areas without damaging the surface.

Freezers

Freezers need to keep food fresh and germ free for long periods. Another challenge when cleaning freezers is that many detergents cannot work at ultra-low, sub-zero temperatures. Green cleaning solutions specially formulated for freezers with freezing point depressants solve both problems by providing effective cleaning at very low temperatures.

Opening Drains

Clogged drains can bring all operations to a halt in the kitchen. They lead to messy water overflow, odor, and germs and can spoil the appearance of the kitchen. Green cleaners unclog drains by dissolving the blockage, often composed of hair, grease, food remnants, and other kitchen wastes.

Other Applications for Green Cleaning Products in Restaurants

Besides kitchens, ecofriendly products, such as a green carpet cleaner, can be used for keeping the dining, lounge, and bar areas clean. For complete carpet cleaning, pair a green carpet cleaner with a low-flow carpet extractor. This will remove all stains and residues from carpets, while enabling restaurant owners to begin operation as quickly as possible, as low flow systems reduce drying times to as little as 2 hours.

Opting for a steam cleaner with advanced anti-bacterial technology will also prove to be beneficial in restaurant settings, as these machines are capable of eliminating more than 99% of harmful bacteria.

Make your restaurant a cleaner and healthier environment for your dining guests; consider green cleaning solutions, carpet cleaners, and steam cleaners from today’s top suppliers.

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