How should food contact surfaces be cleaned before sanitizing?

Cleaning food contact surfaces with warm soapy water is essential because it effectively removes dirt, debris, and food particles that can harbor bacteria and other pathogens. The process of cleaning is necessary before sanitizing because sanitizing agents, such as bleach or other sanitizers, are ineffective in killing germs if there is still food residue or dirt present on the surface.

Warm soapy water helps to dislodge and eliminate these contaminants. After surfaces are thoroughly cleaned with this solution, rinsing is often required before applying a sanitizer. This step ensures that any soap residue does not interfere with the sanitizing process. In contrast, relying on bleach and water mixture is appropriate for sanitizing rather than cleaning, and using just hot water without soap may not adequately remove all contaminants. Dry towels do not clean the surfaces; they are used for drying after cleaning but do not address the removal of food debris and bacteria.

Therefore, using warm soapy water stands out as the best practice for preparing food contact surfaces for sanitization, ensuring a clean start for effective sanitation procedures.