Hello all,
The informative essay is a tool used to simply educated an audience on a subject, without providing opinion or attempting to persuade the reader. It's what you should think of when you consider a news report. Believe it or not, there was a time of truly unbiased reporting. Sure, it may exist today but, it is certainly not as common. I digress.
I wrote this paper a few years ago, while completing an English course. I wrote it in the form of a "How-To." Most of my young professional life, I worked in kitchens. So, I decided to approach this assignment as something of a tutorial for creating and applying a plan toward effectively cleaning a kitchen. It is based on my real world experience. Quite frankly, it is still a strategy that I use for cleaning any kitchen I find myself in.
This is: How to Clean Your Kitchen Like a Pro
The job of kitchen steward is often overlooked. Being a Chef, a cook, or a waiter is usually the most glamorous position in food service, but a quality cleaning staff is vital to a successful restaurant. While it does not require much technical skill, without a plan, the amount of work to be done at the end of a shift can be overwhelming. There is much to be learned about organization, preparation, cleanliness, and even the culinary arts from this position. To do it well can be valuable, fulfilling, and relaxing.
Over the course of several years, I have learned several techniques to be as efficient as possible closing a kitchen. In this essay, I will explain the process that I continue to use at home, including the preparation, dry cleaning, and wet cleaning stages. Whether you are starting a new position in large restaurant or it is just your turn to clean up after a family gathering, this approach will ensure that you are efficient and not overwhelmed by the task. If you do it right, you might find the experience cathartic and may even learn to enjoy yourself. At the very least, having a clean kitchen is something any good cook can appreciate.
Preparation
Before doing anything, stepping back, and taking a good look around is a smart idea. Taking a minute or two to analyze the situation and form a plan will avoid any surprises, such as finding loose dishes or forgetting about the dirty pan in the oven after you have already finished. Round up anything that needs to be cleaned and make sure all the tools you will need are readily available. Ensure that the dish rack is empty, collect a few towels, check that you have cleaning products, a broom, a dustpan, and a mop. It is also a great idea to locate a stereo or some headphones. Listening to your favorite music can really motivate you and make the job fun.
Dry Clean
The same way that a muddy floor is harder to clean than a dusty one, a kitchen mess is always easier to clean in a dry state. Make a dry pass across all surfaces to remove any crumbs. Since this plan includes cleaning the floor, you can just sweep everything right onto the floor. Ideally, you will have some help putting away any left-over food. If not, removing all the food from pots, pans and serving dishes is an important step. Scraping as much food waste into the trash as possible will ensure that your dishwater stays cleaner for longer. Once all the food waste is removed and the surfaces are clear of crumbs, sweep the floor so it is ready to be mopped. Trying to mop an un-swept floor can be extremely inefficient, so pick up anything that will go into a dustpan.
Wet Clean
Before filling the sink with dishwater, rinse the dirtiest dishes and remove any food from the sink to ensure the cleanest water possible. Nobody likes swirling their hands under the water only to be surprised by an unidentified object. For burnt, stained or otherwise difficult dishes baking soda can have softening properties when added to water. Either pre-soaking these dishes or adding a pinch of baking soda to the sink can help release stubborn areas. A splash of bleach will improve sterilization when dealing with raw meat and egg products. Starting with ceramic, glass and plastic dishes can preserve the cleanliness of the water as cookware tends be the dirtiest. Save the worst for last.
Provided the water is still warm and clean when the dishes are finished, soaking a wet sponge or cloth in it is great way to deep clean the counters and appliances. This is the time to put some elbow grease into the dried sauces or burnt food on the stove that did not come off in the dry clean stage. You may also use an all-purpose cleaner if the dishwater is not clean enough. Use a clean, dry cloth to finish the counters and appliances to help them dry faster.
At this point, you have probably dropped some water on the floor. Luckily, it has already been swept and is prepared to be mopped. When mopping the floor, it is a good idea to plan an exit strategy. You may need to leave the kitchen to empty the mop bucket. Starting in a far corner and working backwards towards the exit will keep you from stepping on your clean, wet floor. A fan can be set up to expedite the drying process. This is also an opportunity to throw out the garbage or take a break while everything dries. You earned it.
Conclusion
Most of my working career has been in a kitchen, from fast-food establishments to fine dining. Most of what I know about cooking was learned as a dishwasher. I gained invaluable experience handling pots, pans, and knives all day. Knowing the weight of a pan full of water is not much different than if it was full of food and spending so much time with culinary professionals gave me an appreciation for the dedication that goes into creating a delicious plate.
Assessing the situation, forming a plan, organizing the area, and using resources efficiently can take any task from intimidating to finished. Separating the process into dry and wet stages will keep you from making an even bigger mess. Removing as much food waste as possible before starting dishwater can make it last longer. Finally, establishing a mopping route that will allow you to leave the kitchen without walking on a wet floor will make sure it dries clean and prevent any slip and fall. Cleaning the kitchen may be an unpopular task, but it can still be done well and provide value to any restaurant or home kitchen.
Joshua Lucero
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This document should provide you with an example of my ability write informatively, while exemplifying my ability to organize and accomplish tasks. It may also show humility, as a proud former dishwasher, who can take responsibliity for simple tasks seriously. This piece should also show you an example of document formatting and the use of proper English principles.
To this day, I truly enjoy cleaning the kitchen. I cook at home so, it's quite necessary most of the time but, it has never been a chore to me. It was not uncommon to spend nearly 8-10 hours mindlessly scrubbing, rinsing, processing, and storing various dishware and kitchen utilities. It was the long, slow, uneventful mornings that were usually the most taxing. I still prefer to clean a large kitchen, as opposed to a single dish and cup every now and again. Look at me, I'm almost tempted to write some more about the zen-like state one could find in the kitchen. Maybe some other time.
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Sincerely yours,
Joshua Lucero
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