How to Clean Stainless Steel Countertops in a Commercial Kitchen
Stainless steel countertops and work surfaces are an industry standard for commercial kitchens. They’re durable, heat-resistant and, most importantly, exceptionally easy to clean. Because each commercial kitchen needs to maintain a high level of cleanliness, stainless steel countertops are the perfect surface to use in order to meet these food health safety guidelines. In this guide, learn how to clean stainless steel countertops in your commercial kitchen, so your establishment can keep everyone healthy.
Supplies You'll Need:
Cleaning Procedure
To clean the countertop, take a microfiber cleaning cloth and wipe down the surface with warm or hot water and a mild detergent when necessary. Take the microfiber cloth and clean parallel—or with—the grain of the stainless steel. For tougher stains and food debris, use a nylon scouring pad while following the grain line. Once clean, rinse and wipe down the surface.
Sanitizing Procedure
Your stainless steel countertops need to be sanitized frequently. To sanitize, choose a commercial-grade, food-safe sanitizing solution. Follow the directions on the sanitizing solution and use the proper recommended ratio. Remove any large food particles from the countertop surface and apply the sanitizer. If the sanitizer you’re using requires you to rinse the countertops, rinse the surface well. Remove excess moisture with a clean, sanitized squeegee, followed by a clean microfiber cloth.
How to Maintain Stainless Steel Countertops
On top of keeping your stainless steel countertops clean and sanitized, there are steps you should take to maintain these surfaces to ensure they last. Here are some tips to maintaining your stainless steel countertops:
- Don’t use harsh, abrasive materials—Never use steel wool, wire brushes or scrapers on your stainless steel countertops. These items can damage the protective coating on the stainless steel and cause eventual rusting and scratches, which can hold food particles and make cleaning difficult.
- Always wipe away moisture—Excess moisture can lead to water spots and cause damage to the protective layer on the stainless steel. Be sure to wipe down your countertops.
- Avoid cleaning with hard water, if possible—If you are able to, investing in a water softening system will significantly help with the cleaning process, especially if you’re in an area that has hard tap water. If such a system isn’t feasible, make sure that you consistently wipe down moisture from stainless steel surfaces.
For more cleaning and restaurant tips, check out our other articles on proper equipment shut-down procedures and even a commercial kitchen cleaning checklist.