Back-to-School Kitchen Startup: A Checklist for Food Service Managers

As another school year begins, you face the challenge of getting your kitchen ready while juggling staff training and the steady arrival of new students. Running out of critical supplies disrupts daily routines and adds unnecessary stress to an already busy time. When you plan ahead and stock your kitchen with the right products, you set your staff up for success from day one. By following a practical checklist, you can prevent shortages and keep your operation running smoothly all year.

Laundry and Warewash Products

Clean dishes, linens, and equipment set the standard for a safe and efficient school kitchen, but you only achieve this with reliable laundry and warewash products. When you use professional-grade solutions, you ensure that every item meets strict health and safety requirements, protecting everyone who eats or works in your facility. Stocking the right products ahead of time keeps your operation running without interruption, even during the busiest periods. By preparing now, you give your team the confidence to focus on serving students, not searching for supplies.

About Hillyard's Above Chemical Dispensing System

The Above Chemical Dispensing System by Hillyard is a wall-mounted, color and number coded platform that simplifies laundry and warewash operations while improving safety and compliance. Its modular design eliminates floor-stored product and reduces spill risk with sealed, inverted refills and a spill containment shield. If you are not using the Above Chemical Dispensing, these same products are also available in 1-gallon bottles and 5-gallon pails to meet your needs. You can learn more about the Above Chemical Dispensing by clicking here.

Hillyard recommends stocking these items

• HIL0001306 – Delimer – Removes hard water deposits and scale from dish machines and equipment.
• HIL0350006 – Above Dish Detergent 4 - A balanced institutional dishwashing detergent that emulsifies grease, prevents mineral buildup, removes stains, and works effectively in challenging conditions.
• HIL0354006 – Above Dish Rinse Aid 14 – Works in all temperature dish machines and glass washers to help ware dry quickly and virtually spot-free.
• HIL0353006 – Above Dish Sanitizer 8 – A liquid chlorinated sanitizer for low temperature dish machines and sinks that sanitizes without leaving residue.
• HIL0356006 – Above Pot & Pan Detergent 10 – A gentle, effective manual warewashing detergent that cleans well in all water conditions and rinses easily.
• HIL0358106 – Above Pot & Pan Sanitizer 21 – A quaternary sanitizer for hard, non-porous surfaces that sanitizes dishes and equipment without rinsing, deodorizes problem areas, and is effective against viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
• HIL0355006 – Above Dish Presoak 9 – An institutional utensil presoak that softens and loosens tough food soils for easy removal and works well in all water conditions.
• HIL0014506 – Britenz-It Hard Floor Cleaner – A no-rinse, enzyme-fortified floor cleaner that removes greasy buildup, works with cold water, and saves water and energy.
• HIL0046906 – Liquid Trapshooter - A fast-acting, enzyme-based solution that quickly clears grease and waste from traps and plumbing, reducing odors, clogs, and pump-outs with daily use.
• ANDPKI5534 – Sizzle Neutral Oven and Grill Cleaner/Degreaser – A neutral pH, biodegradable cleaner for ovens and grills that removes grease safely and effectively without leaving a film or requiring rinsing.
• ANDPKI200006 – Heatwave No Defrost Freezer Cleaner – A ready-to-use, no-rinse cleaner that works in sub-zero freezer areas, allowing safe, effective cleaning without shutting down operations.
• ANDPHK7497 – Crisp Fruit and Vegetable Wash – A food-safe wash that removes soil and contaminants and rinses away cleanly with no aftertaste.
• HIL31008 – QAC or Quat Test Strips – Test Strips that measure residual quaternary ammonium compound levels at 100, 200, and 400 ppm.
• HIL31005 – Chlorine Test Paper – Quickly measures total available chlorine from 0 to 200 ppm, making it easy to check sanitizer strength in foodservice settings.

Janitorial Supplies

Before the school year starts, you need to take stock of your janitorial supplies and confirm that you have everything on hand. By making these preparations early, you reduce last-minute emergencies and free your team to concentrate on essential cleaning tasks. A well-supplied kitchen not only keeps operations efficient but also helps maintain a safer, healthier environment for staff and students alike.

Stocking Checklist for Janitorial Supplies

• Matting – Entry Matting, Kitchen Safety Matting, and Anti-Fatigue Safety Matting
• Floor Scrubbers
• Microfiber Cloths
• Microfiber Mops
• Microfiber Frames
• Gloves
• Sanitizer and Cleaning Buckets (red and green)
• Mop Buckets
• Squeegees (floor and counter)
• Hand Soap
• Hand Sanitizer
• Paper Towels
• Trash Receptacles and Dollies
• Can Liners
• Broom and Dust Pans
• Scouring Pads
• Hillyard Quick and Clean Stainless-Steel Cleaner & Polish
• Scrub Brushes
• Arsenal One Dilution Control System
• Utility Carts
• Wet Floor Signs
• Rubbermaid Commercial Two Step Stepstool
• Hillyard Crème Clean Multi-Purpose Cleaner

Hillyard Can Help

With cleaning experts positioned across the United States, Hillyard offers guidance that reflects a deep understanding of school facility needs. When you invite our team to evaluate your cleaning program, you gain access to practical recommendations and product options tailored for your operation. Our approach focuses on helping you clean more effectively while reducing overall costs, so you get results you can measure. If you complete the “I’m Interested” form below, a representative will contact you to discuss how we can support your goals for the year ahead.