Just like other restaurant furniture, you have to keep your restaurant booths clean. Depending on the material they are made of, the method of cleaning them will be different. But cleaning a booth is not the same as cleaning a restaurant chair. For one thing, a booth is larger, and it also has more crevices where dirt and food can get stuck. Here are some top tips about how to keep your restaurant booths clean.
Cleaning Wooden Booths
Dust with a dry microfiber cloth or you could use a feather duster or a scratch-free fabric.
Periodically (about every three months) the wooden booths should be waxed or polished, this helps protect the wood from abrasions and gives the surface a solid finish. You could use liquid wax which is better but needs to be applied more frequently than wax paste. Apply the wax until it goes pale. Wipe off any excess wax using a clean soft cotton cloth.
Tip: Don’t use all-purpose cleaning sprays on wooden booths.
Cleaning Vinyl Restaurant Booths
Remove any obvious pieces of dirt with a damp cloth. It is best to get the dirt off as soon as possible and not let it stay there for days getting more ingrained in the vinyl.
For daily maintenance, wash down the vinyl with warm water and a little dishwashing soap using a soft non-scratch cloth. The soapy water must not be left on the vinyl as it will cause streak marks. So go over the vinyl again with a wet cloth with no soap, then finally with a dry cloth to dry the vinyl. The vinyl must be dried to avoid water marks.
To reach the stubborn crevices, like where the seat meets the backrest, put a cloth around a long thin object (like a blunt knife, toothpick, spatula, or pen) then gently run the cloth-covered object along the length of the crevice forcing any crumbs and dirt to come out. Be gentle so you don’t damage the vinyl.
Tip: If you want your vinyl booth seats to stay soft, avoid using any kind of oil on them.
Keeping Fabric Upholstered Restaurant Booths Clean
Ideally, fabric-covered restaurant booths should be cleaned daily. They are the most vulnerable type of restaurant booth, as the fabric can collect dirt and absorb stains much easier than wood or vinyl. Dust the booth surfaces with a dry cloth or soft brush daily.
At least once a week (preferably more frequently) vacuum the booth fabric. Use an upholstery attachment or screen protection between the vacuum cleaner nozzle and the fabric.
When there is a liquid spill on the fabric it needs to be handled differently depending on the color of the fabric and the type of spill. Red wine on white fabric would be handled differently than water spilled on a dark fabric.
Generally speaking, when liquid spills on a fabric upholstered booth, you should soak it up with a dry cloth. Then clean it by lightly dabbing the area with a wet cloth and detergent. Only rub the stain gently otherwise you could ruin the fabric.
Wet stains and spills will be harder to remove the longer you leave them.
Only use cleaning products that are suitable for fabric, and consult with your commercial furniture supplier about the best cleaning method.
Tip: Apply a stain guard to help repel spills and prevent stains. Some commercial upholstered furniture has already had a stain guard applied.
Maintain Restaurant Booths in Good Condition
Your booths see a lot of traffic, and over time the constant spills and stains will take their toll. But if you regularly dust and clean your restaurant booths, they will last you for years. The basic rules for maintaining restaurant booths and keeping them clean are:
- Always use a non-scratch cloth or microfiber cloth.
- Remove dust daily.
- The best cleaning product is good old-fashioned dishwashing soap diluted with warm water.
- Stains and spills are easier to remove if you do it immediately, as soon as they happen. The longer you leave dirt, spills, and stains, the harder it will be to remove them.
- Clean wooden and vinyl booths with a disinfectant at least once a week. For upholstered booths, there are special disinfectant dry cloths and powders that can be sprinkled on and vacuumed off.
