Many commercial cleaners used for high-level cleaning, especially in places like restaurants, have special storage requirements because of how heavy duty they are. In your home, the normal over-the-counter stuff you buy to handle your family's dirt and grime can be kept under the sink, or stored with minimal consideration for how potentially hazardous the chemicals are. If you are wondering how you should be storing cleaning products in a restaurant, below are 4 tips to help you out.
Never store chemicals near food
It is never a good idea to store cleaning products anywhere near food, or food preparation areas. If something inadvertently leaks out onto a preparation area, or worse yet, into raw ingredients, you may end up seriously harming a customer and have a large lawsuit on your hands, along with an injury on your conscience.
Always store chemicals in their original containers
It is one thing to buy a generic spray bottle for your home and fill in with an unknown blue cleaning liquid, but it is an entirely different matter when you are dealing with the public and, more importantly, with high level cleaning products. Things like industrial strength detergents, and cleaning agents for bar dishwashers, are dangerous and people need to know exactly what they are dealing with when around them.
Don't store chemicals near heat sources
Volatile chemicals, especially things stored in metal aerosol containers, should never be kept close to heat sources. You should never walk into a restaurant kitchen to see metal containers full of high level cleaning products sitting directly below the grill or fryer. In an enclosed space with so many flammable liquids in the vicinity, you are asking for disaster.
Always use safety posters to illustrate proper storage and use procedures
Get placards or posters with storage and safe-use directions for the cleaning products you use, and place them around the restaurant, in places employees frequent most. This will ensure your staff know how to handle and store the high-level cleaning products they’re working with.
Heavy duty industrial cleaning products are no joke and should be treated with a lot of respect. This means properly storing them so that they are safe to use and do not present a hazard to people working around them. Keep the above storage tips in mind and ensure that your restaurant, the customers and the employees are protected at all times.
FAQs
When they are not in use, cleaning products should be stored up and out of sight and reach, away from children, pets, and food. Close container caps securely. Many products come with child-deterrent packaging. If these are not closed properly, it could present a tempting target for your child.
How should cleaning products be stored? ›
When they are not in use, cleaning products should be stored up and out of sight and reach, away from children, pets, and food. Close container caps securely. Many products come with child-deterrent packaging. If these are not closed properly, it could present a tempting target for your child.
What are the 5 ways on the proper storage of cleaning equipment? ›
You should store your equipment and supplies in a clean, dry, and secure place that is away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. You should also keep them organized and labeled to make them easy to find and use.
Where should cleaning chemicals be stored in a restaurant? ›
Store chemicals away from food storage and contact areas. Chemicals can easily get into food or spill onto food-contact surfaces if they are stored incorrectly. A separate area should be used for chemical storage to make sure your food and equipment stay safe. Label all chemicals clearly.
Where should cleaning supplies be stored in ServSafe? ›
CLEANING TOOLS AND CHEMICALS should be placed in a storage area away from food and food-preparation areas. Make sure chemicals are clearly labeled if removed from the original container. Keep Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for each chemical in a location to all employees on the job.
How should all products be stored correctly? ›
For example, you must:
- observe temperature controls in all storage areas, including display cabinets.
- store dried food off the floor.
- observe use-by dates.
- ensure all areas are clean.
- avoid overloading refrigerated units - if they become too full, air doesn't circulate properly, causing food to deteriorate.
Store in well-ventilated areas, away from HVAC intake vents. This helps prevent any fumes from spreading to other areas of the facility. Store no higher than eye level, and never on the top shelf of a storage area. Do not overcrowd shelves and include anti-roll lips to avoid falling containers.
How to organize and store cleaning supplies? ›
"Store like-items together in clear bins, so you can see clearly what you have. Separate and label floor cleaners, bathroom cleaners, and kitchen cleaners; get these containers off the floor, onto shelves, or in a cabinet," Lubega says.
What are 2 safety rules to follow when storing cleaning agents in the home? ›
Store household cleaning products in secure overhead cupboards. Use cupboard safety locks. Keep products in their original containers with the labels on. Always replace lids on products after you've used them.
What are the ways of cleaning the storage areas? ›
Dust Everything
Use a vacuum to remove dust and cobwebs from the walls, especially in the corners. Then, use a towel or cloth and cleaning spray to wipe shelves, cabinets, and other surface areas. Don't forget to dust the items you've temporarily taken out of your garage, too!
All chemicals must be stored in a safe, secure location. Hazardous chemicals must be stored below eye level. Do not store chemicals on the floor, window ledges, or balconies. Keep containers closed unless you are dispensing a chemical or adding to the container.
Where are the SDS kept in your restaurant? ›
SDSs can be stored electronically or as paper copies. SDSs must be stored in a location that all staff can access during work hours (not behind a locked door or on a password-protected device to which they do not have the password). SDSs must be stored in the work area (not far away or in another building).
What are the safety tips for cleaning chemicals? ›
Sufficient ventilation (airflow) when using cleaning chemicals. Protective clothing, gloves, and safety goggles, when needed. Labels on containers of cleaning chemicals. Training on the hazards of cleaning chemicals you are using and safe work practices.
What is the cleaning ServSafe answer? ›
Cleaning removes food and other dirt from a surface. • Sanitizing reduces pathogens on a surface to safe levels. How Cross-Contamination Can Occur. Pathogens can spread to food if equipment has not been cleaned and sanitized correctly.
How do you handle and store cleaning products? ›
How to Properly Store and Handle Cleaning Chemicals to Ensure Safety
- Read the Labels and Follow the Instructions. ...
- Keep Chemicals in Their Original Containers. ...
- Store Chemicals in a Cool, Dry Place. ...
- Keep Chemicals Separated. ...
- Wear Protective Clothing. ...
- Keep Chemicals out of Reach of Children and Pets.
Across the board, cleaning supplies should be stored in a cool, dry area with good ventilation. You'll want to keep bottles away from anything hot or potentially flammable. They should never be kept where pets or kids can grab them.
What is the proper way of storing household products? ›
❹ Storage of Household Products
Store products in a cool dry place. Store household cleaning products in the contain- ers in which they were purchased. Don't remove products from their original containers or store them in unlabeled containers that lack the caution statements that appear on the original product labels.
Is it safe to store cleaning products in the garage? ›
What safety precautions should I take when storing cleaning supplies in the garage? Ensure that cleaning products are stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Use a separate storage unit within the garage to maintain stable temperatures.
Should cleaning products be stored under the sink? ›
Items not recommended to store under the sink
Harsh chemicals, bug spray, paper towels, waxes, carpet shampoo, drain cleaners, polishes and paints. Even some cleaning products, including dishwasher pods and colorful spray bottles, can be dangerous and entice curiosities for paws or tiny fingers.
