Hi Demo placeholder subscriber first name,
This is the first ArcLight newsletter. Once a month we'll send one useful cleaning idea, one seasonal reminder and one job from the past few weeks. If it isn't useful, tell us and we'll fix it.
This month's tip: build a "second list"
Most kitchens already have a daily list: wipe the line, clean the slicer, empty the traps. The trouble starts with everything that isn't on it. Hood filters, rack frames, sheet pans, cart wheels, shelf legs, the back of the fryer. Those parts don't get dirty fast enough for anyone to notice, so they slide until the buildup is baked on.
Try a second list. Walk the kitchen once and write down every metal surface that isn't on the daily sheet. Next to each one, put how often it actually needs attention: weekly, monthly or quarterly. Then pick one item per week. In a quarter you've covered the room, and nothing has had time to turn into a weekend project.
The FDA Food Code puts it simply: nonfood-contact surfaces should be cleaned often enough that soil doesn't build up (FDA Food Code 2022, section 4-602.13). The second list is how you keep up with that without thinking about it. There's a printable version in the Regular Cleaning Guide.
Seasonal: before the holiday rush
November and December mean longer hours on the line and more grease in the air. If your exhaust system is due for its inspection soon, book your exhaust cleaner before the busy weeks rather than in the middle of them. Fire code sets that schedule by how much and what you cook, from monthly for solid-fuel cooking to annually for low-volume kitchens (NFPA 96 summary, Markel). The same timing works for deep-cleaning the grates and flat tops underneath.
What we cleaned
Demo placeholder one real job from the past month, shared with the customer's permission. Before and after photo, the item (for example a set of cast-iron grates), what was on it, and roughly how long it took. No customer name unless they agree in writing.
One question to think about
What's the one piece of equipment your team quietly avoids cleaning? That's usually the best place to start.
Next step
If you'd like a second set of eyes on something on your list, reply with a photo. We'll tell you honestly whether laser cleaning is a good fit or whether a scrub brush will do.
Demo placeholder sender first name ArcLight
Demo placeholder mailing address and unsubscribe line, required for commercial email