What does the guidance say?
Hygiene in catering outlets
In England and Wales, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for food safety and hygiene relating to catering businesses. They carry out inspections and rate companies out of 5 based on certain criteria surrounding food handling practices. And the cleanliness of food preparation and storage areas. Unsurprisingly, higher ratings are key to attracting and retaining customers. So here’s a brief overview of what’s expected in terms of cleaning…
In commercial kitchens, staff are expected to clean surfaces as they work and then more thoroughly between different tasks. Floors must also be kept clear of grime and debris that could cause trips or attract pests. Generally, the Food Standards Agency recommends a two-stage approach for removing food-related bacteria. The first is to wipe surfaces down with hot soapy water or another cleanser to remove dirt and debris. After which, you should apply disinfectant to kill any leftover bacteria (or reduce it to safe levels), before rinsing well.
However, 100°C+ heat can also be used as what they call a ‘Critical Control Point’ designed to eliminate disease-causing germs. Which is where professional steam cleaners come into play. In fact, research suggests that cleaning with steam can be just as effective against micro-organisms as two-step cleaning processes. And it also negates the need for chemicals. Or at the very least, reduces the concentration you’ll need to use, which is ideal for food prep areas.
Hotel sector hygiene
Meanwhile, though rules are less stringent for hotel rooms, guests still expect fresh bedding, clean carpets, dust-free surfaces and spotless bathrooms. You’re also responsible for limiting potential hazards, for instance by keeping floors and corridors clean and tidy. And remember, first impressions count…
According to a study by P&G Professional, almost 80% of hotel guests believe cleanliness is the most important factor affecting their choice of where to stay. So it’s definitely worth making cleanliness a priority to prevent dissatisfaction and the resulting negative reviews.
With that in mind, let’s explore the tools you can use to improve or maintain good hygiene levels at your catering or hospitality premises.
Hygiene in hospitality and catering: key areas & equipment
Public areas
Whether you’re running a café, guest accommodation or another customer-facing business, offering a welcoming environment for guests is crucial. This includes keeping entrances, corridors, staircases and dining areas clean, tidy and free of hazards. First up, the floors…
A wider-than-average upright vacuum like the Kärcher CV38/2 with twin motors and adjustable brush height is ideal for medium-large areas. Or if you’re looking to save even more time, then take a look at the Kärcher CV 60/2 Step-on Vacuum Cleaner. It makes light work of sizeable carpets and hard floors, yet is small enough to fit through doorways comfortably.
Meanwhile, for deeper cleaning of hard floors, why not try a walk-behind scrubber dryer like the BD 50/50 C Classic? This entry level machine has a large working width and dries floors instantly to reduce the risk slips. It can also cover up to 2000m2 on one battery charge, so there’s no need to run potentially dangerous cables. And, at the other end of the spectrum, the same goes for the compact 5/1 BP Backpack Vacuum – perfect for stairways and tight spaces.
Tip: using an outdoor sweeper can also minimise the amount of debris that enters the building.
Moving onto other surfaces, you’ll need to sanitise frequently touched door handles, table tops, front desks and more regularly. This can be done with a suitable chemical cleanser or using a steam cleaner with cloth attachment. Additionally, upholstered seating can be treated with a spray extraction cleaner to remove dirt and stains as needed. The lightweight Puzzi 8/1C with short nozzle attachment is a great choice and it won’t leave the fabric feeling damp.
Commercial kitchens
Did you know that 1 in 16 UK takeaway businesses fell below the FSA’s legal hygiene standards in 2023? To avoid this and earn a glowing hygiene rating, you need to keep your kitchen’s fridges, counters and floors germ-free. In fact, surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected regularly to remove 99.99% of bacteria and prevent it spreading.
One way of doing this is to use a pressurised steam cleaner, which can kill pathogens without the need for detergents. The small yet robust SGV 8/5 can do exactly that, with switchable nozzles for cleaning counters through to hard-to-reach crevices. It also boasts a wet-dry feature, so after removing any grease and grime, the machine will instantly dry the surface.
Kitchen tiles, on the other hand, are typically best cleaned with a high-pressure cleaner and foam nozzle. And non-slip commercial kitchen floors with grooves that collect dirt require a scrubber dryer for best results. We’d also recommend choosing one with a built-in vacuum to collect the dirty water for a safer, more hygiene clean and less chance of mildew.
The BR 40/10 C Scrubber Dryer, for example, features two counter-rotating brushes to work embedded grime out of textured flooring. Plus squeegees for rinsing and a vacuum for the excess liquid. And for heavily soiled floors, you can switch off the suction, increase scrubbing action and even use detergent if you feel it’s necessary. All in all, a really versatile machine!
Hotel rooms
Last but not least, we move onto hotel rooms. As mentioned, cleaning procedures don’t need to be quite as scrupulous in terms of specific pathogen removal. However, your rooms will face the scrutiny of paying guests, so keeping them clean and tidy is paramount.
In addition to changing beds, removing rubbish and dusting, you’ll need to vacuum after every stay to keep the carpets in good condition. Low profile models that can reach under beds and furniture are best suited to the task. And you should also look for vacuums with quiet motors. That way you can clean at any time without disturbing guests. We’d suggest either the T 12/1 ECO!efficiency or T 9/1 BP Vacuum for the job, with the latter being battery powered for ease.
If you spot a stain or notice that a heavily used carpet needs refreshing, we can help with that too. The BRC 40/22 Carpet Cleaner is perfect for medium-sized spaces and it comes with a rotatable head for negotiating obstacles. Plus you can adjust the pressure to suit the height of the fibres and the extent of the soiling. Meanwhile, curtains, chairs and other textiles can be cleaned with a quick-drying spray extraction cleaner as highlighted earlier.
Finally, to speed up bathroom cleaning and make it less laborious, we’d highly recommend a steam cleaner. Our SG 4/4 Steam Cleaner is capable of removing limescale, soap scum and other dirt – no products or scrubbing needed. And you may even be able to do multiple rooms without refilling it thanks to the expansive 4 litre tank. Otherwise, the SGV 8/5 steamer with suction feature is useful for collecting moisture and reducing the likelihood of mould growth.
Ready to improve your hospitality cleaning regimes?
Whatever your needs or budget, at Kärcher Hire, we have everything you need to boost your hospitality business’s hygiene standards. Browse our entire collection of commercial cleaning machines for hire online or call 0345 222 8000 for tailored advice.
We offer various hire periods, from short 2-day leases through to long-term 5 year rentals. Not to mention excellent servicing and breakdown support, and next-day UK delivery. Contact us now to learn more.
