Start the new year strong with a resolution to level up your commitment to a clean, safe, healthy space. A little extra dirty work will give you a squeaky-clean slate for 2026.
From front-of-house to kitchen appliances and everything in between, grease and grime are a restaurant reality. Use any downtime after the holidays to your advantage for an everything-everywhere-all-at-once blitz to get your restaurant in fighting shape for 2026.
Deep Impact
Start with a deep clean that checks all the boxes on your regular to-do list. Then go bigger! Clean under. Clean behind. Clean down (lookin’ at you, baseboards). And clean up — think walls, ceilings, vents, fans, and lighting.
Sanitize high-touch areas like handles and switches, in front-of-house as well as back-of-house — remember, winter is primetime for pesky germs like flu and RSV — disinfect those highchairs and even wipe down table bases and umbrella stands. Give bathrooms, staff areas, patios, and your merch displays the white-glove treatment. And don’t forget to tidy up your décor.
To clean with confidence, look to a brand like First Mark® for everything from protective gloves and liners to a full portfolio of cleaners and degreasers for every surface imaginable, all of which meet the rigorous health, sanitation, and cleanliness standards unique to foodservice.
Playin’ It Safe
Make a full safety sweep inside and out to protect guests, staff, vendors, visitors, and even your friendly neighborhood postal carrier.
Thinking outside your box, check railings, sidewalks, steps, ramps, fencing, lighting, and lot lines. Give gutters and downspouts a look to make sure they’re not puddling (FYI: puddles freeze). Speaking of freezing, ensure you’re prepared to handle winter weather, and that staff know where to find supplies. Eyeball your building for cracks and gaps in the foundation and around doors and windows. The goal? Keep heat and AC in, and keep all creepy critters O-U-T.
Moving inside, make sure emergency exits are clear. Double-check locks, lighting, cameras, and alarms to keep you safe from bad actors. And last — but most certainly not least — give your food safety and storage a thorough top-to-bottom exam.
To boost your food safety superpowers, check out services like Jolt for Restaurants software. Jolt was built for restaurants by restaurateurs to help protect inventory, enhance food safety compliance, and eliminate costly human error in the kitchen.
Checkup, Please!
Give your chairs and tables a quick check for wobbles — a stable seat keeps the dining experience smooth from start to finish. Repair, replace, or refresh anything that’s not up to snuff.
Safety is the obvious play, but you’ll also avoid a comfort crisis. Cast a wider net and do a thorough maintenance check on every piece of equipment and all things electrical. And give your HVAC system and ventilation a once-over for extra protection against allergens and illness.
Bonus points: An efficient HVAC system saves you money on energy bills.
All Aboard the Training Train!
Give your staff a deep-dive refresher on cleanliness and safety. Review standards for hygiene, uniforms, and phone usage (ick fact: phones are dirtier than toilet seats1). Brush up on hand washing, food handling, and food storage.
Do a primer on cough and sneeze rules and avoid the business end of cutlery and glassware when serving guests. Cover biohazard cleanup — what to do and where supplies are kept. Walk through emergency protocols so everyone is up to speed. Finally, make sure all staff are fully buttoned up on food allergens and cross-contamination.
About 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children2 have food allergies, so chances are diners want to know you have this well in hand — including what to do if an allergy exposure occurs.
You got this! Cheers to a happy, healthy, clean, and safe new year!
1 https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-your-phone-make-you-sick
2 https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-statistics