Outdoor dining is a great way to dine. Some may even say that it’s a superior way to dine, and those people probably eat all of their meals outside. Aside from the enhanced nature of the experience, eating outdoors is an excellent way to consume food. Let’s not forget that our early human ancestors pretty much always ate outside.
At some point, advanced civilizations decided to clean up after dining. This phenomena came to be for both sanitary and social reasons, and everything in between. Today, the reasons are some combination of the same. That said, let’s assume you run a business in which outdoor dining is at the core of commercial operations. Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when cleaning:
The Order of It All
Common sense tells us that the bulk of outdoor dining cleaning occurs after the actual dining is finished and your patrons have left. Beyond that it usually goes: bus the tables, push all waste, debris and garbage to the floor, sweep the floor, and sanitize table tops and chairs. Of course, all silverware, plates, bowls, glasses, and other kitchenware heads to the dishwasher or designated dishwashing station. Rinse and repeat.
Cleaning Outdoor Furniture
Cleaning outdoor furniture is as easy as brushing, wiping, and otherwise removing waste immediately after dining, and covering your furniture overnight. Food waste and other debris shouldn’t be left sitting on (and potentially soaking into) your furniture, and the best way to clean is to protect and prevent the need to clean by covering your dining furniture!
Cleaning Stainless Steel
Stainless steel, unlike other outdoor dining equipment and fixtures, needs to be cleaned at a different frequency and using very specific solutions and materials. Follow this link to a helpful guide on cleaning stainless steel by institutional experts.
Cleaning All Cooking Equipment
Outdoor dining can consist of food items and courses being prepared both indoors and outdoors. Be sure not to skip cleaning all outdoor food prep equipment. For example, grills are easiest to clean right after grilling is finished – while food waste is still hot and easy to remove from the grill. It’s a good idea to brush and scrub your grill between activities, followed by a more comprehensive cleaning once it’s cooled down after hours.
It’s Not “One Size Fits All” With Cleaning Methods & Supplies
An important thing to remember if you want to effectively clean up after dining outdoors is to never use the same cleaning solutions and materials for all cleaning tasks. In the short run it’ll visibly diminish the appearance of your outdoor dining space, and that can only hurt your business. In the long run, you’ll have to replace damaged elements that were incorrectly cleaned. For example, you should clean wood less frequently, with softer materials, and with the appropriate solution, such as a mixture of ammonia, white vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. The same won’t go for metal counterparts!
