Chemicals & Water Testing

Common Questions About Cleaning Chemicals & Water Testers

What different types of restaurant cleaning chemicals do I need?

We carry a wide array of approved sanitizers for food service, but they are not all interchangeable. Our cleaning chemicals are divided into four categories, with water testing kits and strips functioning as their own category. Floors and carpet cleaners is a category with a clear purpose – everything you need to sanitize carpet or hard flooring is there. Dish washing chemicals refers to the chemicals that sanitize your dishware, whether they are in a chemical dishwasher or in a three-compartment sink setup. The remaining category, cleaning chemicals, holds all the specialized products you need for substances such as glass cleaners, oven cleaners, and other food surface sanitizers. The specific cleansers that your operation needs depends on the nature of your establishment.

What dishwashing chemicals are available?

We carry everything from quaternary sanitizer and dishwashing detergent to rinsing aids for both high- and low-temperature dishwashers. Quaternary and steramine sanitizer tablets enable you to prepare dish cleaning solutions that meet local health department standards without using a high-temperature dishwasher. Rinsing aids support clean, dry, and spotless dishes out of the wash. These are added to the final rinse water for spot-free dish drying, which means you don't have to dedicate any time to drying and shining your dishes. Check the product specification page before purchase to guarantee you have a rinse aid that matches the temperature of your dishwasher – otherwise, the product won't work as advertised. The list of approved sanitizers for food service will vary by locale, so check with your local authorities to ensure the specific chemicals you're considering are acceptable.

Why do I need water test kits or strips?

Commercial foodservice operations are required to sanitize their equipment and dishes with either high temperatures or specific levels of cleanser, but how can you tell for sure that your processes work? This category holds pH testers, quaternary sanitizer test strips, and temperature testers so you can prove to the inspector that you are following protocol and sanitizing all your equipment thoroughly. In addition to providing documentation for the authorities, frequent testing will alert you as soon as possible if there's a problem with your sanitization. Test strips demonstrate sanitary failure much better than discovering people have gotten food poisoning at your restaurant.

What sort of floor cleaners do you carry?

The two principle types are hard floor and carpet cleaners, but we also have some specific restaurant cleaning chemicals, such as a red wine stain remover. You can even find spot cleaners and general cleaners – spot cleaners are meant to lift stains from a specific area and might be too harsh to use on the entire floor, while general cleaners are meant to clean your entire floor. Commercial establishments suffer from lots of foot traffic and floors can get dirty fast, so establishing a cleaning schedule ensures it never gets out of hand. Carpet shampoo, floor cleaners, and spot cleaners are all relatively inexpensive and can keep your restaurant clean and within regulations.