Restaurant Kitchen items to clean throughout every cooking shift
- Brush grill between cooking red meat, poultry and fish
Wipe down the line and prep areas
Switch cutting boards
Change sanitizing water and cleaning rags
Empty trash bins
Restaurant Kitchen items to clean after each cooking shift (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Clean the fryers
Brush the grill
Empty sanitizing buckets
Put all cleaning rags in dirty laundry
Put all aprons and chefs coats in laundry (not with cleaning rags)
Wash and sanitize all surfaces (cutting boards, reach-in, line, prep tables)
Empty steam table and clean
Wash meat and cheese slicer after each use
Cover all bins in reach-in cooler with plastic wrap
Wash floor mats
Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
Sweep walk-in refrigerator
Daily Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning List
- Clean out grease traps
Change foil linings of grill, range and flattops
Wash the can opener
Run hood filters through the dishwasher
Weekly Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning List - these duties can be rotated throughout the week
- Empty reach-in coolers and wash and sanitize them
Delime sinks and faucets
Clean coffee machine
Clean the ovens. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instruction on this particular job.
Sharpen knives (okay, not cleaning, per se, but needs to be done)
Oil cast iron cookware
Use drain cleaners on floor drains
Monthly Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning List
- Wash behind the hot line (oven, stove, fryers) to cut down on grease build up, which is a major fire hazard
Clean freezers
Empty and sanitize the ice machine
Calibrate ovens
Calibrate themometers
Sharpen the meat and cheese slicer
Wash walls and ceilings
Wipe down the dry storage area
Change any pest traps
Restock your first aid kit
Update your material safety data sheets, which outline how to safely use any chemicals in your restaurant.
Yearly Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning/Safety List
- Check fire suppression system
Check fire extinguishes (this may need to be done twice a year, depending on where you live)
Clean hoods twice a year. There are many professional companies that specialize in hood cleaning. I highly recommend you use one rather than doing the job yourself (very messy and time consuming).
Clean pilot lights on gas kitchen equipment (Be sure to follow the manufacturers instruction).

