Restaurant Pressure Washing: Your Guide to Efficient Restaurant Cleaning
Maintaining a clean restaurant is crucial to the overall success of the business. But with so much activity day in and day out, restaurant cleaning with traditional manual methods can leave you and your staff feeling constantly behind.
The best way to turn that endless cycle of cleaning around is through restaurant pressure washing. Investing in the right equipment can shrink your cleaning schedules to a fraction of their current size.
But how does restaurant pressure washing work, and why does it help your business so effectively?
We’ll cover everything you need to know about pressure washing restaurants. To begin, let’s discuss why restaurant cleaning is so vital.
Why Restaurant Cleaning is So Important
If you have ever heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” it is vital to note that this phrase will never apply to the cleanliness of your restaurant.
Customers will run away at the first sign of a dirty restaurant, destroying your revenue. A restaurant with dirt, grease, and debris everywhere will put the health and safety of customers and employees in immediate danger. Even if some customers stick around, you risk being shut down by your local health department due to dirt and debris.
Health and Safety Standards in the Food Industry
Food safety is critical to any food service business. You must stay compliant with standards set into place by local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.
Without a proper restaurant cleaning routine, you run the risk of foodborne illnesses like salmonella or E. coli on food contact surfaces and equipment.
Impact on Customer Perception and Business Reputation
Maintaining a pristine restaurant is critical to impressing and retaining customers. Customers who walk into a clean restaurant get a positive first impression, which will influence their overall opinion of your services.
Through consistent cleaning, you can build the reputation of your eatery, garnering positive reviews, referrals from loyal customers, and repeat business.
What is the Best Way to Clean a Restaurant Fast?
While you have plenty of options available for restaurant cleaning, there’s only one way to tackle your cleaning tasks promptly without overleveraging your staff.
We highly recommend restaurant power washing. Let’s examine why pressure washing restaurants is the best option compared to manual cleaning methods.
Assessing Different Cleaning Methods for Efficiency, Safety, and Efficacy
When considering various restaurant cleaning methods, you’ll need to weigh many factors, including the time they take, material costs, safety for employees and customers, and final results.
First, traditional manual cleaning methods include mopping floors and wiping down equipment. These methods are incredibly time-intensive, so extra staffing costs can often nullify any cost savings you get. You may also find the results inconsistent and lacking since they rely on your staff’s cleaning abilities.
On the other hand, you can use chemical cleaners to clean your floors and equipment. While slightly faster than manual methods, there is a dangerous trade-off. Harsh cleaning chemicals can pose significant health risks for employees and customers, which will also pose a risk to your food safety measures.
Why is Restaurant Pressure Washing the #1 Approach?
So why is it more effective to pressure wash under restaurant equipment than manual cleaning or chemical-assisted cleaning?
Restaurant pressure washing allows you to deeply clean all the surfaces in your eatery consistently and quickly. Pressure washers can easily soak and sanitize those spaces like floors, walls, and hard-to-reach areas underneath equipment.
The deep cleaning provided by restaurant pressure washing can be accomplished without needing any heavy lifting of equipment or chemical exposure, keeping your staff healthy and happy.
Professional Cleaning Services vs DIY: Why Bringing Cleaning in House Makes the Most Sense
Restaurant pressure washing is extraordinarily effective, but you must decide between outsourcing cleaning and handling it in-house.
Professional pressure washing services can seem like a simple fix, but the costs can quickly add up. You can easily pay up to ten times the rental fee for professional services and risk professional cleaners damaging sensitive kitchen equipment.
Instead, we recommend you buy or rent a pressure washer, depending on your needs. Both options are more cost-effective, especially if you maintain a frequent routine that minimizes the need for deep cleanings.
Plus, handling your restaurant pressure washing in-house gives you complete control of staff training, ensuring everything is done precisely to your specifications and compliant with food safety standards.
So, what do you need to start pressure washing for your restaurant? Let’s discuss everything you’ll want to add to your shopping list.
What Do You Need for Restaurant Pressure Washing?
To start restaurant power washing, you’ll need to invest in a few things, whether you decide to buy or rent your equipment.
You’ll need a reliable machine suited for restaurant pressure washing. The best commercial pressure washers are created by Hotsy, a brand with over 50 years of experience and a reputation for durable and practical models.
Additionally, you’ll need to learn how to use pressure washer soap, including finding a food safety-compliant detergent that effectively removes common stains like grease and oil.
And, of course, you’ll need to find a reliable retailer to buy or rent your equipment. We’ll cover everything you need in this section.
A Commercial Pressure Washer
There are many types of power washers for commercial building pressure washing out there, each suited for specific tasks.
You’ll need a model capable of adapting to different surfaces for restaurant pressure washing. You should be able to pressure wash under restaurant equipment effectively, clear embedded oil and dirt from flooring, and even clean outdoor areas like walls and parking lots.
Depending on your layout, you can choose electric or gas pressure washers. Electric pressure washers get a slight nod since they are quieter and safer to use indoors, but a gas model may be more effective in specific cases with difficult embedded stains thanks to their extra power.
But what size pressure washer do I need?
We recommend a model with 1500 to 3500 PSI and adjustable GPM options. GPM and PSI for pressure washers stand for gallons per minute and pressure per square inch, controlling the water flow. You must adjust depending on the type of stain you are dealing with.
Detergents and Attachments
Once you’ve found a suitable model, you’ll need to figure out what kind of soap for pressure washers will work best. You want a restaurant-safe soap capable of killing bacteria and viruses and cleaning surfaces without harming food products.
The best detergents for pressure washers are found under the Hotsy brand. We recommend Hotsy Carbochlor or Hotsy Citrus Clean for food safety and restaurant power washing.
Carbochlor is NSF-rated for food safety and is also used in food manufacturing plants, while Citrus Clean shines on its own as a degreaser for flooring and even has a fresh-smelling orange scent.
The attachments you choose will also have a significant impact on your cleaning ability. We recommend accessories like the Hotsy Surface Cleaner for floors, walls, and tables or the Hotsy Turbo Nozzle for intense degreasing.
Where can you get all of this equipment? If you are looking for a commercial hot water pressure washer for sale in Houston, we have just the place in mind.
Why Source Your Equipment at Hotsy of Houston?
From hot and cold water pressure washers in Houston to rentals and pressure washing trailer setup, Hotsy of Houston is your #1 source for all things pressure washing.
Our team of Houston and Southeast Texas natives have over a century of combined experience in the industry, working with the most trusted name in the business, Hotsy. We’ve helped hundreds of business owners find the perfect pressure washers for their needs, whether they choose to buy or rent.
In addition to our inventory of pressure washer trailers for sale in Texas, we also carry specialized and all-purpose pressure washer soap formulated by Hotsy.
Hotsy of Houston is also the best place for pressure washer parts in Houston, featuring everything from the best pressure washer hoses to all of Hotsy’s attachments you need to reach difficult areas.
Shopping for a pressure washer, whether you buy or rent, should be an easy and enjoyable experience. Our customer support team is here to help no matter your needs, whether you are looking for pressure washer repair in Houston or want guidance on the optimal pressure washer hose length for your model.
Tips on Pressure Washing a Restaurant Safely and Efficiently
Once you have all of your equipment, it’s time for you and your staff to learn how to use a pressure washer.
Safety First: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Procedures
While pressure washing is safer than harsh restaurant cleaning chemicals, you must take a few steps to ensure a safe experience.
Always wear protective gear, like gloves, goggles, pressure washing boots, and hearing protection. Be sure that any areas are clear of food, employees, and customers before beginning.
Optimizing Pressure and Temperature for Various Surfaces
A restaurant will contain different surfaces and materials to wash, so you must adjust your machine accordingly. Use a lower PSI and GPM on delicate materials like glass or wood and higher settings for embedded grease and oil.
You’ll also need to choose between hot water pressure washer vs cold models based on your needs. Hot water is more effective at cleaning, especially in the winter, but may be overkill on delicate surfaces.
Actually Using the Pressure Washer: Pre-soaking to Final Rinse
Start with a pre treatment for pressure washing to break down heavy grease and oils, letting it sit for some time. Begin with a low pressure to coat each surface, then gradually increase the pressure to manage embedded stains and residues.
For walls and floors, spray in sweeping motions, allowing the water to coat each area thoroughly.
Managing Water and Chemical Usage
Be sure to monitor how much water you are using. Excess water can increase utility bills and lead to environmental waste, which could put your restaurant in the crosshairs of regulatory agencies.
Effective Drying Techniques
Once each surfaced is thoroughly washed with water and detergent, inspect each area for missed spots and return as needed. Then, allow each area to dry thoroughly. You can use fans or cloth towels to speed up the process.
While everything dries, storing a pressure washer properly will ensure everything is prepared for the next cleaning session.
More Restaurant Cleaning Tips
While we covered plenty of general pressure washing knowledge, let’s discuss a few restaurant-specific tips.
Getting to Areas Your Pressure Washer Can’t
Trying to pressure wash under restaurant equipment is best done with the help of a suitable attachment. Use long-handled nozzles like the Hotsy Undercarriage Cleaner or Hotsy Surface Cleaner to avoid moving heavy equipment.
Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Cleaning Schedules
Frequent cleaning can help avoid the need for intense deep cleaning sessions, saving you time in your staff schedules. We recommend spot cleaning daily or weekly as needed with water and a light soap.
You can do deep cleaning sessions for floors, walls, and equipment once a month, allowing you to plan accordingly.
Focusing on High-Traffic Areas
Grease and dirt will accumulate quickly in high-traffic areas, like your kitchens, employee entrance/exit areas, bathrooms, and front-of-house locations. Pressure wash these areas at least once a week or more frequently as desired for optimal cleaning.
Food Safety Compliance
Ensure that all your restaurant pressure washing procedures meet the requirements of the FDA, NSF, and other regulatory agencies.
These regulations include the frequency of your sanitization, the chemical makeup of your detergents, and avoiding cross-contamination.
Staff Training
Fully incorporate pressure washer training into your staff hygiene protocols. Demonstrate how to properly and safely operate your machines, including how to maintain a pressure washer, what detergents to use, and how to keep everything food safety-compliant.
Your employees won’t need a pressure washing license in Texas, but you still want to ensure everyone is on the same page to maximize safety.
Parting Thoughts on Pressure Washing Restaurants
Overall, restaurant power washing is the most effective and safe way to keep your eatery in pristine condition. Unlike manual or chemical cleaning methods, pressure washing is fast and food-safe.
If you are looking for industrial pressure washer rental in Houston, Hotsy of Houston has you covered. Our friendly and experienced team will help you find the perfect model, food-safe soaps, and helpful accessories.
Stop by our store off the Pasadena Freeway or call (832) 968-WASH(9274) to find the perfect commercial pressure washer in Houston for your restaurant.
