Quality Restaurant Cleaning Supplies Make All the Difference

It’s hard to believe, but it’s summertime already! That means sunshine, vacations and another busy season for restaurateurs, especially those with businesses in busy areas like vacation and tourist spots. With the kids out of school, and families looking to get out and about, having the best restaurant cleaning supplies readily available is important for keeping your establishment looking its best to welcome all of those guests.

As every restaurant owner is surely well aware, the cleanliness of their business reflects greatly on the expectations that customers have of the place. When floors look greasy and carpets are stained, that lack of cleanliness can have customers questioning the quality of the food, among other things. So can a dirty restroom.

Even if the serving ware is spotless and the silverware shined, people tend to notice a lot more about where they choose to spend their money to eat. This is why every restaurant owner must make sure they are using the highest quality restaurant cleaning supplies.

Recent polling of restaurant customers indicates that the in this weakened economy, tighter their dollars are, the more they expect from their dining experiences, and to have a pleasant experience wherever they choose to go out to eat. Appearance and odors strongly affected these opinions, placing heavy importance in good cleaning, as much as the preparing good food. In order to keep up with the competition, little details like more thorough cleaning are going to make the difference.

Essentially, people did not have good feelings about places that seemed unkempt or dirty, and there is really nothing wrong with that! Who wants to eat someplace where there is a lack of pride and procedure that allows the establishment to remain not quite clean enough?

When considering these poll results, as well as the health concerns for both patrons and employees, it definitely pays to have the best restaurant cleaning supplies and equipment. Not only will the job be easier for your employees when they are using quality products, making it more likely for them to do a thorough job, but the difference will show in the odor-free, clean look of your restaurant.

See our extensive selection of high quality restaurant cleaning supplies to keep your restaurant sparkling clean by browsing the Complete Supply Company online catalog. Whether you need cleaning chemicals, brooms, mops and buckets, we have it all, including a large selection of green products as well.

The Detergent Debate: Powder Vs. Liquid

Laundry is one of the most common household tasks. It is estimated by water conservation analysts that about 2.5 loads of laundry are done per person per week in the US. That is a lot of water and a lot of detergent. With rising costs and ever increasing options it is important to know which detergents to buy to keep your costs low and your clothes clean. Considerations can include cost, effectiveness, and environmental, and with so many options it can be difficult to know which to choose. That is why Complete Supply Company has created this brief and easy to read review of what people are saying about powder vs. liquid detergents and which are the best.

           Some people think that powder detergents are going the way of the dinosaur. This is because if too much is used they can leave a powdery, gunky residue on clothes causing people to switch to liquid based detergents. But is that the right choice? There are many advantages to powder detergents over liquid detergents with few disadvantages. First and foremost, powder detergents tend to be less expensive than most of their liquid counterparts. They can also be bought in bulk much easier than liquid detergents. As reported in a study done by Good House Keeping, powder detergents are more powerful and have shown to be more effective when fighting stains. More effective means you can buy less of it. Another significant advantage to powder detergents is their shelf life. Most of the active chemicals in detergents are more stable in powder form allowing for a longer shelf life. This means that when bought in bulk there is little concern for waste. Less waste is better for the planet. There are other factors that make powders a greener choice. They use considerably less packaging, saving you money and saving the environment plastic waste. They also have fewer sudsing chemicals that cause fish gills to absorb less oxygen and can lead to population die offs.  These are things to consider when purchasing your next detergent.

            Despite all the pros, powder is not without it’s cons. As mentioned before, it can leave a residue on clothes if too much is used requiring an extra rinse cycle, which uses a lot more water and costs money. Powders tend to work better with warm water; again this uses more energy and costs more money. The powders can cause septic system trouble from the chemicals that keep them in powder form. They also tend to have more chemicals in them then do liquid alternatives.

            Even though powders have a few cons they have more pros and with some careful measuring when using powders and ensuring they won’t damage your septic system, they seem to be the right choice. However, liquid detergents do have their place and are not without merit. First of all, liquid detergent dissolves much better in water regardless of temperature. This means that liquid detergents do not leave any kind of residue on clothes and can be used with cold water. Another significant and very useful advantage to liquids is their ability to pretreat a stain. However, this is where the pros to liquid ends and the cons begin. Liquids are essentially pre-diluted powders, which means that people are paying for a process that can be done inside the washer. Liquid detergents are not as effective as powder detergents and more must be used. According to consumer reports liquid detergent measuring caps are not effective and often cause over use, which can glum up the washing machine over time. They have environmental cons as well. Liquid detergent means big heavy plastic containers, which do not break down easily. Liquid detergents also have more sudsing chemicals that, as mentioned before, can cause serious problems for marine life. Even though liquid detergents leave no residue and can be used to pretreat, they are host to a number of other problems and with a little diligence are not needed. There are certain exceptions however. Some people report powder detergents irritating their skin where liquid does not. Liquid may also be appropriate if your septic tank is damaged by powder.

           Both styles of detergent have their place and after reading this review, hopefully it will be easier to choose which one is best for you. To make the choice of brand a little easier, Green Housekeeping performed a study to find the most effective detergents and this is what they found. Powder is more powerful and the best brand to get is Ultra Tide Plus Bleach powder. However, if liquid is the choice for you then they reported Gain Dazzle & Shine With Bleach Alternative a close second. No matter your choice, Completesupplyco.com has all your options.

Which to Do First: Dust or Vacuum?

Deciding whether to dust or vacuum first is a valid cleaning concern. It seems reasonable to assume that because dusting may send a certain amount of dust to the floor it is better to dust first and vacuum second. On the contrary, some believe vacuuming stirs up dust, then settles on furniture. No matter the sequence of your dusting/vacuuming, Complete Supply Company has all the necessary supplies to keep your space clean.

In order to perform a thorough dusting, you need to remove all clutter and unnecessary items. Next, dampen a dust cloth with furniture polish. You should begin dusting at the highest points in the room first. This is essential because any dust that falls down to a lower surface can be swept up as you work downwards. You may also choose a direction-either clockwise or counter clockwise and stick to is as you move throughout the room to ensure you don’t skip any areas. When you notice your dust cloth beginning to accumulate dust, be sure to shake it off onto the floor if you plan on vacuuming next or get a fresh new dust cloth. You may prefer a feather duster over a cloth. This may allow you to dust those hard to reach spots. To dust hardwood floors, swiffer sweeper mops work great.

Before you begin to vacuum, it may be beneficial to do a quick inspection of your vacuum. Check the vacuum belts, wheels, and the vacuum brush for any repairs. It is also important that you replace the vacuum bag frequently. It is recommended you change the bag every month. Next, pick up any debris that your vacuum can not suck up such as paper clips, shedding plants, small objects, anything that is obvious. Start vacuuming the corner that is farthest from the door and work toward the door, using gliding, even strokes. Find the grain of the carpet and work with it. You may also want to use a carpet deodorizer to freshen your space. It is recommended to vacuum carpeted surfaces at least once a week. This will help to control allergens.

Again, whether you dust first or vacuum first, as long as you are cleaning your area, you’re better off than before you started. The sequence doesn’t really matter; it’s the cleanliness of your area that counts!

Complete Supply Company is a Michigan based janitorial and restaurant supply company.

For more information or to browse our products visit www.completesupplyco.com. Or for more interesting articles and updates on products visit the Complete Supply Co. blog at http://blog.wwwcompletesupplyco.com/.