Bars and cafés rely on glass washers, fridges, ice machines, blenders and drains. A cleaning schedule sets what is cleaned each shift, day and week, you sign a checklist when done, and cleaning chemicals are always used safely.
Why it matters
Dirty equipment spreads germs and breaks down more often. A shared schedule means nothing is missed.
Key ideas
Daily and deep cleaning
Some tasks happen every shift, like cleaning the glass-washer filter. Others, like deep-cleaning the ice machine, are weekly or monthly.
Chemical safety
Read the label, dilute correctly and wear gloves or eye protection if required. Never mix chemicals; some combinations give off harmful fumes.
Clean, then sanitise
Cleaning removes dirt; sanitising kills germs. A surface must be clean first for sanitiser to work.
Step by step
- 1
Check the schedule for your tasks this shift.
- 2
Switch off and unplug equipment before cleaning it.
- 3
Remove and wash loose parts, such as blender jugs or filters.
- 4
Clean, rinse, then sanitise as directed, and let parts air-dry.
- 5
Reassemble, sign the checklist and report any faults.
Do
- Store chemicals in labelled containers away from food and drink.
- Clean the glass-washer filter at the end of every shift.
- Clear drains and bar mats so water cannot build up.
Common mistakes
- Don't pour chemicals into drinks bottles.
- Don't hose down or soak electrical parts.
- Don't leave a fault unreported because you are going home.
The situation
At the end of your shift, the glass washer is leaving glasses cloudy and smelly.
What a professional does
You clean the filter and spray arms as trained and check the detergent and rinse aid. If it continues, you log it for a technician and rewash affected glasses.
Useful phrases
“The glass washer is leaving marks. I've cleaned the filter and logged it.”
“Which dilution do we use for this sanitiser?”
Pro tip
Clean from top to bottom so dirt never falls onto finished areas.
Quick check
Why clean a surface before sanitising it?
Think about it, then show the answer
Dirt and grease shield germs from the sanitiser, so it only works on a clean surface.