One evening, I was visiting a hotel kitchen where I’d been preparing for a three-compartment sink station staff training session scheduled for the next morning. I’d filled the sinks with hot, soapy water, measured the sanitizer solution and established a plan for how my training would take place.
Crisis in the Kitchen
As I unplugged the sinks to drain them, I heard a gushing sound coming from under the first sink. To my dismay, the grease trap piping couldn’t take the pressure from the water draining out of the sinks; it sprang a major leak and began flooding the kitchen.
Since it was late at night, there was no one around to come to my aid. So, I threw some towels I found hanging nearby onto the floor while frantically searching for any tools I could use to mop up the mess.
Crisis Averted by Having Cleaning Tools Handy
On the other end of the kitchen, I found a small utility room that turned out to be a lifesaver. It contained all of the equipment I needed. There were plenty of mops, hung neatly on holders, along with two mop buckets and even a squeegee I could use to pull water into the floor drains. I cleaned the floor in no time.
Thankfully, a major disaster had been averted. I had a new appreciation for having proper cleaning tools handy whenever and wherever they're needed—not only for emergency situations, but for everyday use.
Be sure you have a designated space away from food preparation/storage areas to store all:
- Brooms
- Mops
- Mop buckets
- Squeegees
- Deck brushes
- Floor signs
When it comes to storing cleaning tools in a commercial kitchen, the old adage "a place for everything, and everything in its place" really does apply. Maintaining a proper storage area for all your cleaning tools helps ensure that you’re fully stocked and prepared for any cleaning situation or mishap you may encounter.