There are many places that get dirty in a restaurant, but you might not imagine that ceiling tiles would be a very high-impact area. Surprisingly, though, commercial kitchen ceiling tiles can get filthy quite quickly.
Commonly made of absorbent materials like “popcorn” finish and plaster, ceiling tiles can become discolored and warped. In some cases, they may even absorb smells, which can make your space look and feel dingy and dirty.
To combat these adverse effects, you’ve got to clean your ceiling tiles on a regular basis. The only question is how to go about restaurant ceiling cleaning.
You’ll be happy to know that it’s not as tough as it might seem. By cleaning your restaurant’s ceiling tiles once a year, you can keep your space beautiful, fresh, and welcoming.
We know because we serve as Chicago’s leading restaurant cleaning company.
Why Clean Your Ceiling Tiles?
While it seems like items around the immediate cooking surface would get the dirtiest in a kitchen, it’s important to remember that ceiling tiles sit above everything else.
This means they absorb everything in your kitchen. From fumes to oil and beyond, your ceiling tiles face dozens of adversaries every day.
When you don’t clean them, they make the rest of your kitchen look dingy. In extreme cases, they can even affect the air quality of your restaurant, become a fire hazard, or lead to failed health inspections.
How to Clean Ceiling Tiles in the Restaurant: 3 Tips
You don’t have to break your back to clean the ceiling tiles of your restaurant. Instead, just follow these tips:
1. Cover Everything in the Kitchen, First
Before you start cleaning the ceiling tiles of your kitchen, cover the surfaces below the area you intend to clean.
This includes the counters, appliances, and floors. Covering these surfaces catches falling dirt and debris and limits the amount of cleanup you’ll have to do later.
While you could buy tarps or drop cloths for this job, you can also use old sheets or butcher paper. Don’t forget to don protective eyewear before you dive in!
2. Remove Commercial Kitchen Ceiling Tiles
If you’re dealing with a drop ceiling or suspended ceiling tiles, the first step is to remove all the tiles from along the ceiling grid.
Next, grab a shop vacuum to reach remote surfaces including the vents, corners, and light fixtures of the ceiling.
For best results, add a dusting attachment to get into nooks and crannies. If the tiles are filthy, you might want to alternate between vacuuming and dusting the area with a feather duster until the tiles look clean.
You don’t want to use disposable dusting cloths on your ceiling tiles, as they’ll snag and leave behind fibers of the material, which will then catch and attract additional dirt and dust.
3. Clean the Ceiling Tiles
Once the tiles have been dusted, you’ll need to start washing them.
Create a mixture of 10 parts water and 1 part dishwashing liquid and use a wet sweeper to swab the tile’s surfaces with it.
Whatever you do, don’t over-wet the tiles, as this can cause warping and water damage. Wring your sweeper out before applying it to the tiles to avoid drips and excess mess.
When you’ve finished, dry the ceiling tiles with a lint-free cloth.
How to Handle Permanent Ceiling Tiles
If your restaurant has permanent ceiling tiles, use a static duster to banish loose dirt.
From there, vacuum hard-to-reach surfaces and use a wet sweeper dampened in your dishwashing solution directly on the ceiling tiles.
Be careful to avoid getting the sweeper too wet so it won’t drip and cause an additional mess.
Finally, use a lint-free cloth to dry the tiles.
When to Hire Commercial Kitchen Ceiling Cleaning
If you’re looking for the best restaurant ceiling cleaning, it’s smart to look into restaurant ceiling tile cleaning companies.
Not only are these companies professional and fast, but they have the tools, tricks, and staff you need to provide a thorough cleaning. This is especially important if you’re purchasing an older restaurant with a very dirty ceiling.
Commercial organizations know how to deal with suspended ceiling tiles, commercial kitchen ceiling tiles, and various restaurant ceiling cleaning challenges. They also have the skills to understand how to clean commercial kitchen drop ceiling tiles.
If you’re looking for comprehensive commercial kitchen cleaning, give our team at ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba a call!
A family-owned commercial cleaning service and disaster restoration company, we provide reliable service to all of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
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