How to Maintain a Clean Bar Area

Apr 3rd 2024

How to Maintain a Clean Bar Area

Operating a successful bar is often the pathway to profit for restaurants. In addition to accounting for roughly 25% of sales on average, alcoholic beverages often increase food sales. Thanks to the large markup on alcohol, the low cost of labor behind a bar versus in the kitchen, and the long shelf life of alcohol reducing the chances of waste, it is often one of the biggest moneymakers in a venue.

While mixing cocktails may seem straightforward, there is a lot of work that goes into making your bar a success.

At the heart of every knockout bar operation is cleanliness. No matter how great your staff is or how much you invested in having a mixologist craft superb cocktails, if your bar is not well maintained, all of your other efforts will be overshadowed.

From ensuring your bar supplies and equipment are properly cleaned and stored to

ensuring your bar area is always clean and sanitary, your bar will shine with these tips!

First, let's take a step back to talk about how vital staffing your bar with reliable employees is. Not only are they the ones interacting with your guests, but they're also the ones that are responsible for many of the tasks that will help you maintain a clean bar area.

It is important to train your staff properly on cleaning procedures and make performing specific tasks a part of their daily responsibilities.


Let's start by touching upon the tasks that need to be done throughout the day to ensure your bar area is in tip-top shape.

  • Emptying trash cans as needed - A bar's busyness is often in flux; it can be extremely slow at times and then bustling with thirsty patrons minutes later. Your staff should be keeping an eye on the trash cans to ensure it never reaches overflow territory! A great way to do this is by training your staff to take out the trash when it is about 3/4 full. Check out our selection of trash cans.

  • Keeping an eye on inventory - You got us; this one isn't about cleaning. However, it's very important, and your team should be using any lulls to replenish items that are running low. Whether it's drink mixes, garnish, or glassware, by grabbing those items before they're empty, your staff will never be caught behind a slammed bar searching for things they need!

  • Wiping down surfaces - This one is critical because your surfaces are visible to guests. Your team should be wiping up messes as soon as possible, even if it just means a quick wipe while making drinks until they get a second to clean the area properly. Equally important is sanitizing the bar area after guests leave. This will instill confidence by showing that you take the health and safety of your customers seriously. These microfiber cloths are great for keeping your bar area clean.

  • Equipment checks - Encourage your team to check water lines and wipe down your bar equipment regularly.

  • Breaking down boxes - You know what a customer does not want to see while sitting at your bar? Bartenders tripping over piles of empty boxes? Remind your staff to break down boxes and bring them out for recycling regularly, so you don't experience any pileups!

  • Always be clearing - Dirty dishes, that is! Your team should be removing any empty glasses and dishes as soon as possible to eliminate clutter on the counter. This is an easy task to encourage additional team members to help with. Encourage your servers to scan the bar for items needing to be bussed, especially when they see the bar team slammed. If they have free hands, they can use them to bring some dirty dishes back to the kitchen.

To maintain a clean bar and ensure all of your bar supplies are properly taken care of and stored, certain tasks must be completed every night as a closing procedure.