Spring cleaning is a time to reorganize your belongings and get rid of what no longer serves us. To bring this practice into your workplace, clean out and organize your commercial refrigeration units. Use the following best practices in your kitchen to ensure you’re optimizing your space and storing items properly.

How to Keep Your Commercial Refrigerator Clean

1. Label Everything

Your shelves and products should all be labeled to help you find items quickly during work hours. Come up with a labeling system that you can introduce to your employees, so everyone is on the same page. Product labels should also include information such as the date of preparation and use-by date to limit food waste.

2. Keep Items Off the Floor

Keeping food elevated off the floor is a health code requirement that's necessary for the safety of your business and customers. Food items can easily be contaminated by bacteria, debris, or moisture on the floor, so hang items when possible or install shelves in your unit.

3. Space Properly

Spacing out your items while they're being refrigerated helps keep the cold air circulating efficiently, so avoid cramming products together to prevent hot spots and uneven cooling. To do this, keep track of how much food you go through and make your orders as accurate as possible to avoid getting more than you can store.

4. Store Meat Low

Keep the meat stored on the lowest shelf to your walk-in refrigerator to prevent potentially harmful cross-contamination. Any items that come into contact with the meat or liquid byproduct will need to be thrown away, so storing on the lowest shelf reduces the risk of contact.

Universal Refrigeration in Auburn, WA, has specialized in residential and commercial refrigeration services since 1985. Their customer-oriented approach focuses on installation, maintenance, and consultation to help extend the longevity of their clients’ appliances and assure their units are working efficiently. Visit their website to learn more about how they can improve your commercial refrigeration, or call (253) 939-5501 to schedule a service.