Hygiene Tips for Your Hospitality Establishment

The kitchen, the counter, the restrooms, and yes, even the menu, are breeding grounds for bacteria. That's just the way it is. That's why good hygiene, especially in times of COVID, is crucial.

The Golden Rules

Those working in the hospitality industry undoubtedly have the golden hygiene rules memorized. But in case you have doubts, here's a quick refresher:

• Wash your hands regularly with soap, especially after using the restroom or touching food or waste.
• Keep your fingernails short to prevent them from getting dirty, and avoid wearing nail polish.
• If you have a wound, use a waterproof plaster. A handy tip: choose a brightly colored one so you can easily spot it if it comes off.
• Don't wear watches or jewelry, though wedding rings are, of course, allowed.
• Keep your work surfaces in the kitchen, as well as those behind the counter, clean. Don't forget to disinfect tables after customers have paid.
• Regularly wash your kitchen utensils, including knives, forks, bottle openers, corkscrews, as well as the refrigerator, freezer, and coffee maker.
• If you need to cough or sneeze, use a tissue or do it in your elbow. If you're really sick, stay home!
• If you have long hair, tie it back or put it in a bun. Those working in the kitchen should wear a hairnet.
• If something falls on the floor, throw it away immediately, wash kitchen utensils thoroughly, and disinfect them.
• When closing the doors at night, thoroughly clean your entire restaurant, including floors, doorknobs, and countertops, so you can start the next day with a clean slate.

A Digital Menu

A traditional menu gets passed from customer to customer, which isn't very hygienic, right? Nowadays, it's super simple to put your drinks and food menu online. Your customers only need their phones to scan the QR code on the table.

Want to know more about the digital menu? Unipage is happy to help! Send us a message, and you can expect a response within 24 hours.

Fresh Air

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's the importance of ventilation. This is crucial not only when the world is held hostage by a virus but at all times! You can invest in a proper ventilation system, but occasionally opening the windows also works wonders. A tip: hang an air quality monitor, so you'll know when it's time to open the windows and doors.

Electronic Payments

Cash is everywhere. It passes through countless hands, dozens of cash registers, and ATMs. It's no surprise that it carries a lot of bacteria. You may not get sick immediately, but in times of COVID, it's best to keep your hands clean. You can achieve this by allowing your customers to pay online. Payconiq, Apple Pay, Mollie, Bancontact, it's all possible.

Want to know more about online payments? Unipage is happy to help! Send us a message, and you can expect a response within 24 hours.

Typical COVID

It's -hopefully- temporary, but for now, wearing a face mask is mandatory for everyone working in the hospitality industry and for all customers older than ten years. Also crucial in the fight against COVID-19: providing hand sanitizer. Place a bottle at the entrance, at the cashier, on the terrace, and in the restrooms.