September is always a turning point. Schools are back, university campuses are filling up, offices are busier and hospitality venues return to full capacity. For kitchens and canteens, it marks the moment when demand shoots up after a quieter summer. That makes it the perfect time to reset hygiene and compliance with a thorough deep clean.
Daily routines can keep on top of surface mess, but the hidden build-up of grease, food debris and bacteria needs more attention. A kitchen deep clean restores hygiene standards and reduces the risks that can creep in unnoticed during the summer lull.
“Every September we see the same pattern – kitchens preparing for the busy months ahead but not realising how quickly hygiene can slip. A proper deep clean at the start of the season is the best way to get ahead of compliance and avoid unpleasant surprises later on.” – Liam Hodgson, Client Services Manager at BCS
Why September is the right moment
Staffing pressures, holidays and lighter service often mean kitchens take a different pace in July and August. As soon as autumn arrives, the volume goes up – especially in schools, staff canteens, universities and hospitality. A deep clean now ensures your kitchen is ready to cope with full service levels without cutting corners on safety or compliance.
Keeping compliant with EHO standards
Environmental Health Officers can inspect at any time, and the Food Standards Agency makes it clear that food businesses must keep premises clean and maintained to avoid contamination. A deep clean helps protect your hygiene rating and reputation while also tackling issues that aren’t visible day-to-day.
“Kitchen compliance isn’t just about how things look – it’s about removing fire and food hygiene risks that are hidden from view. Even the best-run kitchens can fall behind without a proper reset.” – Mark Biffin, Director at BCS
What’s at risk if you delay?
Postponing a deep clean can create a chain of problems, from higher fire risks to invalidated insurance. Here are some of the most common issues we see:
| Risk if Deep Clean Delayed | Impact on Business |
|---|---|
| Grease build-up in extraction systems | Higher fire risk, non-compliance with TR19 |
| Poor food hygiene standards | Risk of EHO enforcement, loss of Food Hygiene Rating |
| Pest attraction (flies, rodents, cockroaches) | Health hazard, reputational damage |
| Missed insurance compliance | Potential invalidation of cover in the event of fire or claim |
Plan ahead with PPM
Autumn is also the ideal time to set up your Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) for the months ahead. With national coverage and no extra charges for travel, BCS teams provide kitchen deep cleaning to EHO standards and TR19 extract cleaning wherever you are in the UK.
Each clean comes with full certification and reporting, giving facilities managers and business owners confidence that compliance is covered and documentation is ready if it is ever needed for inspection or insurance.
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This September schedule in a deep clean for Autumn – that is more than a box-tick. It gives your kitchen a safe, compliant foundation for one of the busiest times of year. If you want peace of mind before the autumn rush, this is the time to get it done.
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