Are Restaurants Sanitizing and Disinfecting Effectively?

May 12, 2016

Everyone likes to dine out from time to time, but anyone who has dined out regularly is bound to have experienced a restaurant visit gone bad. A lot of the time, it has nothing to do with the food and more to do with the with Restaurant Sanitizing and Disinfecting procedures.

People in the hospitality industry must always fight against bacteria, viruses, mold, and other contaminants that can affect their clients and workers as well as the restaurant's reputation. Even though restaurants try to tackle this problem, according to the FDA, the "Out of Compliance" percentages for contaminated equipment are very high. Let's face it, even in the fanciest restaurants, not everything gets cleaned. Just to name a few, have you ever seen the menu, the salt and pepper shakers, the food tray, or the bathroom being cleaned? Below, we have compiled a list of restaurant items to look out for.

Tables, Booths, and Chairs

Tables and booth seats are always wiped off with a cloth. Is that enough to get rid of germs and bacteria? It's sad to say that the only thing it would get rid of is a filthy appearance. Germs and bacteria remain there, waiting for a new guest to infect. The cloth that is used to clean the tables may also be something to look out for since it can be a breeding ground for germs, viruses, and bacteria.

Dirty Menus, Utensils, Condiments, and Table Items

When we go to a restaurant, we never see the staff cleaning. That doesn't mean they don't do it. Menus, condiments, and food carriers are items that are touched by everyone. They won't get dirty by being touched, but they will pick up germs and bacteria through frequent use.

Dirty Bathrooms

One of the most uncomfortable and grossest experiences is entering a dirty bathroom. So, you go in and try not to touch anything, thinking that this way you are avoiding the inevitable. The truth is that the potty should be the least of your worries. A good restaurant will always have them cleaned and sanitized. The same is not true for the door handle, faucet handles, the light switches, or even the bathroom's hand dryer. Again, they may look clean to the eye, but they are often times full of germs, viruses, and bacteria that can make you sick.

Cross-contamination

This is not a category that involves direct cleaning, but a factor that should be taken into account. If you try to clean a surface with a contaminated sponge or mop, all that you'll be doing is spreading those germs and bacteria around. Imagine if you clean a cutting board with a contaminated sponge. Then, all the food you place on that cutting board will be contaminated too, and it could lead to food poisoning.

Hand Washing

The same problem occurs here as with cross-contamination. If you go to the bathroom and don't wash your hands, or if you are handling garbage and forget to wash your hands, you will be contaminating everything you put your hands on, including yourself. So what can restaurants do in addition to their routine cleaning? Well, this is where the Germinator comes in to step every restaurant's cleaning game up with our patent-pending process to ensure a cleaner and more hygienic place to sit down and eat.

Germinator's Patent-Pending Process

Germinator has developed a patent-pending process that provides a new generation of microbial protection for commercial businesses and residents.

Germinator's patent-pending methodology is the most unique and cost-effective means of providing enhanced antimicrobial protection for businesses and residences. The company first tests surfaces for ATP using a luminometer to detect light that can come from cellular activity. This measurement immediately provides the level of clean on a surface.

The next step is the application of Germinator's Genesis surface treatment. Genesis is a one-step cleaner and broad-spectrum sanitizer and disinfectant treatment that harnesses the power of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Derived from naturally occurring minerals, Genesis not only eliminates odors at their source but kills a wide range of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and viruses including norovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus on hard, non-porous, environmental surfaces. It meets the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) germicidal spray standards for Hospital Grade Disinfection and is on the EPA's N List of products determined to meet the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. As a result, this treatment will eliminate bacteria and viruses that may reside in your environment without the use of harsh chemicals or fumes.


Following Genesis, Germinator applies its Shield, a water-based quaternary ammonium compound that imparts a durable bacteriostatic finish. It is EPA-registered as effective against mold, mildew, algae, and odor-causing bacteria. This application creates an invisible barrier that helps combat deterioration and discoloration and promotes freshness for up to three months.

The Genesis and Shield products are applied by using an electrostatic sprayer, which is the most efficient and effective means of delivering the products to the intended application sites. After Germinator's surface treatment and protectant services, the company retests ATP levels to help ensure the surfaces have achieved the intended results.

Our goal is to create a cleaner and more hygienic environment for you, your clients, and your co-workers. Fill out the form below to contact Germinator for a thorough sanitizing and disinfecting service today!

Source:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA Retail Food Risk Factor Study