Restaurant Cleaning in Toronto Checklist

Running a restaurant is one of those jobs that feels like it is a lot, and that is because it is, in fact, a lot. From worrying about inventory, staffing and job scheduling, to making sure the quality of the food remains great, one last thing must also be done after the customers leave at night and before door at night and before your doors open in the morning: cleaning your restaurant to meet the Toronto standard. If you operate a restaurant in the Greater Toronto you will be glad to know that in addition to the restaurant cleaning in Toronto checklist below, we are also offering one (1) month free cleaning for new clients in the Greater Toronto Area, including Peel and Durham regions. 

Top 10 things your restaurant cleaning service in Toronto must offer you

If you want to simply download the restaurant cleaning checklist for your staff, click here.

For better understanding and maximum ROI, continue reading.

Floor Maintenance: 

Sticky floors or generally dirty-looking floors are an instant turn-off for customers. Keep in mind that this is the first thing they see, before they even get to their tables to be seated.  The walk to the table and your squeaky clean floors already set the mood for a great experience, and your delicious meal and awesome customer service will do the rest. But if, for any reason, your floors are dirty, customers are already judging you before you get the chance to say hi. Their first impression of your restaurant is that it is not clean, and they cannot trust that the people preparing the food are following standard hygiene protocols. Your customer can walk out the door instead of walking to the table if your floors are dirty. Is it that big of a deal? Yes!

Clean and Sanitize All Surfaces:

From wiping down tables and counters, and high-touch points (door handles, POS systems) with 

food-safe disinfectant, your cleaning company of choice must also regularly sanitize food prep areas, unless, of course, you would rather your cooking team sanitize the food prep areas daily. We talked earlier about clean floors, but boy, I tell you, if your tables are anything but clean in Toronto, there is a 90% chance your customers will leave a bad review and probably order less than they would have ordinarily ordered, costing you significant revenue in a business that is already thin on profit margins. We recommend hiring us to do your daily cleaning services to ensure that your restaurant is the best it can be in terms of being clean and welcoming for guests. 

Washroom Hygiene:

Bathroom selfies, like it or not, can boost your sales and popularity. They can also be the reason why customers are either repeat customers or one-and-done. The fact of the matter is that nobody likes a dirty bathroom. Not in a place they're paying to eat. If your bathroom is dirty and your guests are pressed but can’t use it, they will simply leave. It is that simple. That means zero dollars ($0) in revenue, and for a restaurant operating in the Greater Toronto Area, that is an expensive risk. 

On the flip side, a clean bathroom helps customers feel refreshed, take unlimited bathroom selfies, order more food and drinks, leave good reviews, and provide great tips for your staff. The maths is really simple: invest in the best restaurant cleaning services in Toronto and get the maximum ROI we can provide, or lose revenue due to a dirty and unhygienic bathroom. The choice is yours, but I trust your overall sense of judgement to make the right choice and give us a call today.

Waste Disposal and Odour Control:

You may have a five-star chef in the kitchen and world-class wine on your menu, but if your restaurant smells like yesterday’s garbage, all of that goes out the window. The proper disposal of trash and food waste isn't just about appearance; it's about preventing the buildup of harmful bacteria, reducing pest attraction, and keeping the air fresh.

Your restaurant cleaning service should offer:

• Emptying all waste and recycling bins every night
  
  
• Use of commercial-grade deodorizers
  
  
• Sanitizing the interiors and exteriors of garbage bins
  

Odour control systems and natural air purifiers can also help reinforce a fresh and inviting ambiance. In the world of hospitality, scent memory is real, and if your restaurant smells clean, guests are far more likely to come back. This is a consumer behaviour hack; don't trust us? Read this Harvard Business Review article on scent theory and how it affects sales.

Deep Cleaning High-Traffic Areas:

Daily cleaning services are non-negotiable, but so are deep cleans on a consistent schedule. Certain zones like entrances, waiting areas, kitchen corridors, and service alleys see heavy foot traffic and accumulate grime fast.

A Toronto-standard restaurant cleaning service should deep-clean:

• Baseboards, floor edges, and corners
  
  
• Entrance mats and door tracks
  
  
• Tile grout and anti-slip flooring
  
  
• Underneath and behind appliances
  

Why does this matter? Because Toronto weather brings slush, salt, sand, and rain. If these get tracked into your restaurant and aren't thoroughly removed, they’ll stain surfaces, damage floors, and hurt your long-term maintenance budget.

Ceiling and Vent Cleaning:

Look up. What do you see?

If the answer is dusty ceiling fans, greasy vents, or cobwebs above the booths, then it's time to take action. These overhead areas are often overlooked, but they collect particles that fall back onto food prep and dining areas. Worse still, unclean HVAC systems circulate that dust, oil, and odour throughout the entire restaurant.

Your professional cleaning crew should:

• Wipe and disinfect ceiling fans and light fixtures
  
  
• Vacuum air vents and change filters when needed
  
  
• Clean any overhead shelving or ledges
  
  
• Remove cobwebs and dust build-up near surveillance cameras and speaker systems
  

It’s easy to forget these areas, but customers notice. Sparkling ceilings and clean air say you care about every inch of your business.

Window and Glass Polishing

In a city like Toronto, where pedestrians, influencers, and food bloggers are constantly on the lookout for their next restaurant feature, your front-facing windows are your first line of visual branding.

Streaky or cloudy windows send the wrong message—especially in the winter when natural light is precious. Make sure your restaurant cleaning package includes:

• Daily window wiping (inside and outside*)
  
  
• Weekly glass polishing with ammonia-free cleaners
  
  
• Fingerprint removal from doors, display cases, and sneeze guards
  

This is especially important for cafés, brunch spots, and any restaurant with large glass storefronts or open kitchens.

Kitchen Floors and Drains

We already talked about front-of-house floors, but back-of-house floor care is a whole different beast. The combination of oil splatter, dropped ingredients, and non-stop movement creates a slippery hazard that needs attention every night.

Professional kitchen floor cleaning includes:

• Degreasing tiled surfaces with commercial-grade solvents
  
  
• Scrubbing floor mats and anti-fatigue runners
  
  
• Sanitizing floor drains to prevent pests and bad odours
  
  
• Applying slip-resistant finishes if necessary
  

In addition, restaurants in the GTA are subject to random inspections. One look at a grimy floor drain, and you're on the Health Department's radar. A good janitorial team helps you pass every inspection with flying colours.

Walls and Vertical Surfaces

Customers may not touch your walls, but they do see them. Greasy fingerprints, smudges, and accidental splashes are common in high-traffic spots like seating booths, buffet counters, and washroom corridors.

Your checklist should include:

• Wiping and sanitizing walls at the end of each day
  
  
• Spot-treating stained or marked paintwork
  
  
• Cleaning chair rails, handrails, and trim mouldings
  
  
• Sanitizing walls behind beverage stations and condiment shelves
  

It may seem minor, but clean vertical surfaces give your restaurant a polished, professional feel that guests immediately appreciate—even if they can’t put their finger on why.

Pest Prevention

Toronto’s urban core and surrounding regions have their fair share of pest issues. Rodents, cockroaches, and fruit flies are always on the hunt for unsealed food, crumbs, and standing water.

Proper restaurant cleaning prevents infestations before they start. Your cleaning service should:

• Empty and sanitize food waste bins nightly
  
  
• Disinfect under counters and hard-to-reach crevices
  
  
• Dry-mop all spills quickly to reduce standing moisture
  
  
• Clean around water lines and behind appliances
  
  

Pro tip: Schedule quarterly deep pest control cleaning with your cleaning company—even if you haven’t seen any pests. Prevention costs far less than damage control.

Supply Restocking and Inventory Check

While not a traditional cleaning task, keeping an eye on restroom supplies, paper towels, and soap levels is crucial. A restaurant cleaning company with experience in Toronto foodservice environments will go the extra mile by alerting you when:

• Toilet paper and paper towels are low
  
  
• Hand soap and sanitizer need replenishing
  
  
• Air freshener cartridges require replacement
  
  
• The cleaning supply inventory needs topping up
  

This proactive approach ensures that your FOH and BOH stay well-stocked and customer-ready at all times.

Green Cleaning Practices

Toronto customers are increasingly conscious of how their dining choices impact the environment. That means your cleaning choices matter too.

At Daily Cleaning Services, we proudly use:

• Eco-friendly, biodegradable cleaning products
  
  
• Microfiber cloths to reduce paper waste
  
  
• HEPA-filter vacuums for improved air quality
  
  
• Low-water mop systems that conserve water
  
  

A restaurant that promotes sustainability through clean operations is more likely to earn loyal, environmentally aware customers. Plus, it’s great for your brand’s reputation.

Restaurant Cleaning in Toronto: Why Choose Us?

At this point, you might be thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot of cleaning.” You’re not wrong—but here’s the good news:

You don’t have to do it all alone.

At Daily Cleaning Services, we’ve worked with some of the GTA’s most beloved restaurants, from boutique bistros to busy franchises. Our restaurant cleaning plans are:

• Flexible and customized to your hours and layout
  
  
• Staffed by fully trained and background-checked professionals
  
  
• Fully insured and compliant with local health regulations
  
  
• Scalable—whether you need daily cleaning or just weekend coverage
  

And yes—new restaurant clients get one (1) month of free cleaning services in the Greater Toronto Area, including Peel and Durham regions. No gimmicks, just professional service and sparkling results.

Final Thoughts

Running a restaurant in Toronto means managing chaos with a smile. Between the customers, the staff, the suppliers, and the food, it’s easy for cleanliness to slip through the cracks. But your cleanliness is your credibility—and that’s something you can't afford to risk.

Use this checklist to keep your operation in top shape, or let us handle it for you. From spotless washrooms to grease-free kitchens, Daily Cleaning Services is your trusted restaurant cleaning partner in Toronto.

📞 Ready to make a clean start? Contact us today for a free consultation and get your first month of professional cleaning—on us!

👉 https://www.dailycleaningservices.ca/contact