Hefty restocking and cleaning duties are among the challenges involved in maintaining a bar. While bar cleaning checklists are usually a full page of tasks, there are a few areas around which all the tasks revolve.

Wells

Bartenders and bar backs dispose of empty bottles in accordance with local requirements and restock the bar's wells. Each bottle of liquor must be removed from the well, the well wiped down thoroughly with a sanitized bar rag and the bottle wiped down and replaced. Depending on local sanitation laws, the bottles may need to be covered in plastic wrap before leaving for the evening.

Glassware

The bartender or bar back disposes of broken glassware and restocks the shelves and hangers with the necessary number of glasses. Dirty glassware is washed in accordance with local sanitation laws, which typically involves hot water and a strong cleaner. The bartender or bar back then hangs the glassware in the bar to air-dry and sanitizes the wash area.

Mixers and Garnishes

The bartender throws out or stores garnishes in accordance with local sanitation laws and company policy. Premade mixers are wiped down, labeled with a "day dot" to ensure freshness and refrigerated. Fresh mixers are dumped and the containers cleaned. Typically, the bar back pulls fruit for the garnishes and fresh-made mixers to store in the bar's refrigerator, ready for the next shift.

Floors

Large rubber mats line the floor of the bar and become sticky and foul-smelling from spilled beer and cocktails. Each night, the mats are moved outside where they are rinsed thoroughly with a high-pressure hose. The tile floor in the bar is washed, scrubbed and run over with a squeegee-broom to push the dirty water into the drains built into the floor. The mats are air-dried and replaced in the morning before the first shift begins.

Tables and Bar Top

Each table and all of the bar top is cleaned last. All trash is tossed and the surface wiped down with a rag soaked in a cleaning solution according to local regulations to clean and sanitize. Condiments and sugar caddies are also wiped down with the rag soaked in sanitizing solution. Wood along the bar is treated with an appropriate wood cleaner while brass, stainless steel and other metals are cleaned with a metal cleaner. Mirrors are wiped down with a paper towel and glass cleaner until they are streak free.