Are your hard-to-get spots clean?
Recently, I went to get a haircut, and I received a very relaxing wash before they started trimming. With my head back in the sink, I had a perfect view of the salon’s ceiling. One ceiling tile was filled with a sign reading “Pamper Yourself.” It was kinda nice. However, right next to this was the ceiling vent, which looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in quite some time.
There was heavy dust buildup and dark streaks all over. While the ad speaks the language of clean, calm, and premium, the vent screams, “nobody looks up here.”
Later that day, my seven-year-old son asked me to tell him how to brush his teeth. “Brush your teeth,” I said. But that wasn’t what he was looking for. “Tell me to brush my teeth like I’m a robot.” Ok, I got it now. “Pick up tube of toothpaste with your right hand. Use your left hand to open the cap. Move tube of toothpaste over to the toothbrush on the counter.” You get the point.
While we may like to assume that taproom staff know exactly what to do, having standard operating procedures in place hurts no one (similar to the, “would you like to take any beer to-go?” question). Sometimes staff need the robot version.
So, I started to think of all the little spots in a taproom that need to be cleaned…
Look Up
HVAC vents and return grilles
Ceiling fan blades
Light fixtures and pendant tops
Ceiling tiles above the bar and seating
Tops of TVs and speakers
Hanging signs and banners
Guest Eye Level
Tap handles and the faucet area around them
Menu boards and chalkboard edges
Windowsills and window tracks
Picture frames and wall decor
Door glass
Light switches and outlet covers
Look Down
Baseboards
Bar rail and footrest
Undersides of tables and bar top edges (gum, sticky spills)
Chair and stool legs
Floor drains
Corners behind doors
Restrooms
Behind and around the base of toilets
Top of the paper towel dispenser
Hand dryer vents
Door handle on the inside (the one everyone touches last)
Wall behind the trash can
Bar Area
Drip trays and the space underneath them
POS screen and card reader
Menu holders and table tents
Water station and cup dispenser
Outside
Entry door frame
Patio umbrella tops and undersides
Planters and window boxes
Exterior signage and light fixtures
In less than 3 minutes I came up with over 30 spots that deserve regular cleaning. Are these on your checklist?
Takeaway: Look up. Look up at those spots we may not typically think about. Look down and see what you spot in the darkest, forgotten corners of your taproom. Put yourself in the shoes of a guest. If you were enjoying a nice pint of seemingly crisp and clean lager, then saw a grimy vent, how would it make you feel?
As soon as you finish reading this, re-evaluate your cleaning checklist. Do you have one? Are staff completing it? Is the frequency right? Is anything missing? Don’t overwhelm your team with 30 areas to clean. Split them into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
Once a month, sit in every seat in your taproom, including the restroom, and see what you notice.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration to get in the checklist groove, I recommend reading The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande.
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