Wednesday 23 April 2014

Deep Kitchen Cleaning: Maintaining Top Levels of Hygiene in Restaurants

5 Reasons Deep Kitchen Cleaning Should Not Be Just "One Off Cleans"

Many restaurant owners only decide on deep kitchen cleaning as a one-off measure – perhaps when they are taking over new premises, or at the start or end of a season. However, this type of cleaning should be built into your schedule, to guard against problems before they occur. Here is a look at five reasons why deep cleaning is essential. 

1. Daily cleaning can't reach everywhere
Even if staff are following cleaning rotas diligently, the fact is that there will be places that they just can't reach – for instance, under or behind machines and counters. This means there WILL be build-up of dirt and grease in some corners or gaps. However careful you are in cleaning all visible areas, this build-up in the areas you can't see will eventually compromise your kitchen hygiene – so it needs to be addressed regularly. 
It is also vital to remember that grease will be building up unseen in your kitchen extracts, so a proper schedule for ductwork cleaning is another part of maintaining top levels of hygiene and safety. 
2. Proactive, not reactive
Deep cleaning is sometimes seen as an "emergency" measure – reacting to a perceived or actual problem. But this isn't the right approach to safeguard both diners and the restaurant's reputation. Instead, restaurateurs need to take preventative measures, and ensure that cleanliness is maintained at a high level as a matter of course.
3. A cornerstone of good food hygiene ratings
Having an excellent food hygiene rating is being seen more and more as a competitive advantage by food businesses. Many establishments with 5 stars display their “score on the door” prominently and there is no doubt that meeting this standard helps to attract customers. Regular, scheduled deep kitchen cleaning is a cornerstone of these ratings and helps to ensure that kitchens meet the gold standard.
4. Instil pride and professionalism
Regular kitchen deep cleaning sends a powerful message to all staff that your establishment works to the highest standards. Bringing in a professional kitchen deep cleaning company to carry out this task will set the tone and tell your own staff what you expect from them. This is likely not only to boost standards of hygiene generally, but also increase a sense of professionalism. Staff who are proud of the place where they work will be more motivated – and this will translate into general customer service and attitude.
5. It doesn't have to be disruptive
Many establishments put off deep kitchen cleaning because they can't work out how to fit it in around a busy restaurant schedule. But, as professional commercial kitchen cleaners, Ingot make it easy by arranging to clean at times which will suit you. If you have any concerns about scheduling, contact us and we will arrange a visit to look at what is involved and discuss your needs with you. We will also provide you with a certificate once the deep cleaning has been done, giving proof that your kitchen has achieved the highest standards of hygiene.

As commercial cleaning contractors serving businesses across the UK, Ingot can arrange a schedule of kitchen deep cleaning which is suited to the needs of your restaurant. We can also arrange one-off deep cleans where required. The areas we serve include Ipswich and Suffolk, Norwich and Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, London and further afield.
Deep Kitchen Cleaning – Click the link for more information or call Ingot on 0800 731 7892.



Ductwork Cleaning: Ingot Services Cleans Kitchen Extraction Systems



Fire Insurers Set for Ductwork Cleaning Crackdown

When restaurants fail to carry out vital ductwork cleaning, the risk of grease build-up causing fires isn't just a theoretical possibility. It is a real and present danger and is happening more frequently, as evidenced by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). 

Its figures show that the cost to insurers of fires caused by grease and dirt in extraction systems has more than doubled, from £25 million to £65 million, over just two years. But what's behind this increase, and how should businesses respond?

Reasons to Step Up Ductwork Cleaning

Already, a ductwork cleaning certificate is mandatory for fire insurance to be valid. However, looking forward, businesses can expect insurance companies to get stricter about this. They are likely to want to see proof not only that air duct cleaning has been scheduled, but also that its frequency is appropriate to the level of use. Increasingly, insurers are refusing cover to restaurants which don't arrange adequate cleaning, and they may even refuse to pay out after a blaze if it is caused by neglecting this precaution.

There are various reasons why your schedule may need to be reviewed. For instance, if business has picked up recently, kitchen extract cleaning could be needed more frequently than the statutory minimum of once per year. This is because more cooking means a faster build-up of grease. Another factor to consider is whether your menu has altered. A change in customer demand, the season or even shifts in food fashion could mean a change in oil or grease levels. For instance, if you cook more burgers and fry-ups than you used to, that is something to bear in mind.

Your cleaning timetable may also need a rethink if the opening hours of your business have expanded. Perhaps you are staying open later or opening at weekends, or you might have added a lunch service as well as evening dining. Any of these changes will put more pressure on kitchen extract systems.

A Shift in Thinking

All businesses obviously have to consider their budgets, and therefore there may be a temptation only to do the statutory minimum when it comes to scheduling maintenance. However, companies should think less about being compliant on paper and more about protecting their businesses from the risk of fire. 
If your catering firm has to shut down temporarily because of damage to your building, the costs will far outweigh those of preventing the fire in the first place. There is also a risk that customers will go elsewhere during the shutdown and be lost for good. And, of course, no price can be put on the risk to human life posed by any fire.

All this means that professional advice is needed about the optimum frequency of duct cleaning for your particular business to ensure fire safety. The officially recommended levels are that extract ductwork should be cleaned annually if there is only light use of the kitchen, for up to six hours a day. However, if usage goes up to between six and 12 hours daily, six-monthly cleaning is needed – and if usage is between 12 and 16 hours, which is the case with many busy commercial kitchens, you need to schedule it in every three months. 

About Ingot Services

Ductwork cleaning experts Ingot can carry out inspections as well as cleaning, and can advise on whether your current schedule is adequate. This is especially important if there have been any changes in the way the kitchen is used since your schedule was agreed. We provide a UK-wide service, including London, Suffolk, Norfolk, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle. Call 0800 731 7892 or follow the link  for a free quote.