What to Expect During a Professional Hood Cleaning with North Bay Restaurant Services

At North Bay Restaurant Services, we’ve built our reputation in the hood cleaning industry on consistency, professionalism, and going above and beyond. If you’re scheduling your first hood cleaning service with us — or considering making a switch — here’s exactly what to expect from start to finish when you partner with our team.

Step 1: A Seamless Intake Process with Real People Who Care

Your experience starts before we ever set foot in your kitchen. When you reach out — whether by phone, text, email, or live chat — you’ll be connected with a member of our friendly, local team (not an outsourced call center).

We’ll walk through a quick intake to learn:

• What type of restaurant or commercial kitchen you run (e.g., quick-serve, fine dining, school, commissary)
• How many hood systems you have, and where they’re located
• What your current cleaning frequency is — or if this is your first time
• If there are any upcoming fire marshal or health inspections
• Whether you’d like to bundle services like grease trap cleaning, hydrojetting, or cooking oil recycling

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all service. Instead, we listen, gather the right details, and tailor your service plan to your kitchen’s needs. And yes — if you’re not sure what kind of cleaning you need, we’ll help you figure it out.

Step 2: Customized Quotes Designed to Save You Money Long-Term

After intake, we’ll build a quote customized to your specific kitchen layout, usage, and access needs. A high-volume commercial kitchen in downtown Palo Alto is going to have very different needs than a small café in Menlo Park — and your pricing should reflect that.

Here’s what we factor into your custom quote:

• Number of hood systems and size of each
• Accessibility (is the fan on a multi-story roof, or inside a mall or campus?)
• Grease buildup and frequency of use
• Potential bundling with other services (like quarterly grease trap cleaning or monthly oil pickup)
• Whether you can be paired with other clients in the same neighborhood (Walnut Creek, Los Altos, etc.) to reduce travel costs

We always look for ways to pass efficiency savings back to you. And if you’re working on a tight budget, we’ll be upfront about what’s essential and what can be spaced out.

Step 3: Scheduling That Works for Your Hours — Not the Other Way Around

We know restaurant operations don’t pause for service providers. That’s why we offer flexible scheduling, including:

• After-hours cleanings
• Early-morning appointments
• Routine overnight visits that don’t interfere with your staff or diners

Our system is built around ease and consistency:

• Once you’re a regular client, we proactively schedule future cleanings based on your chosen frequency
• We securely keep keys, alarm codes, and roof access information on file
• You won’t have to be there when we arrive — we just show up, get it done, and send your report

If you ever need to skip or reschedule a visit, no problem — just text or live chat our office team and we’ll handle it quickly.

Step 4: A Meticulous Cleaning Performed by Trained Professionals

(Check out the video below to see our team in action during an actual hood cleaning service.)

Our hood technicians are thoroughly trained — not just in cleaning techniques, but in how to inspect, communicate, and leave your kitchen spotless.

Here’s what our hood cleaning visit typically looks like:

• Arrival & Setup – We protect all surrounding equipment and surfaces with heavy-duty plastic sheeting. Floors and counters are covered to prevent mess.
• Before Photos Taken – We document the full hood system before cleaning begins, including close-ups of fan blades, filters, plenum, and duct interiors.
• Degreasing & Deep Cleaning – Using high-powered steam pressure and food-safe degreasers, we clean:
  • Inside the hood canopy
  • Grease ductwork from top to bottom
  • The plenum and fan blades
  • Roof-mounted exhaust fan housing
• System Inspection – We check:
  • Fan belts for wear or looseness
  • Filters for damage or poor fit
  • Signs of water or fire damage
  • Missing grease containment systems on the roof
• After Photos Taken – These are included in your follow-up report.
• Polish & Final Wipe Down – Stainless steel is polished and all sheeting removed.
• Mop the Floors – We leave your kitchen in better shape than we found it.