How to Ensure Your Restaurant’s Uniforms Last For Years
A restaurant is a business, and every detail plays a role in making that business successful. One such detail? Restaurant Staff Uniforms.
We don’t need to tell you that restaurant uniforms are a worthy investment. But what’s worth mentioning is that, in order to get the best return on your investment, you’ve got to protect your assets.
With a little extra care and patience, you won’t call the uniform supply store for years.
Here are our best tips on how to get the most wear out of your uniforms.
Invest in the Right Textiles
Let’s face it- not only do cheap uniforms look less than stellar, they reflect badly on your restaurant. You own a high-class establishment, and it deserves proper representation!
Rather than spending a fortune purchasing your own linens, consider working with a linen service provider who will supply you with high-quality linens, as well as laundering and delivery them for you on a weekly basis.
To ensure that your uniforms hold up as well as they look, keep an eye out for quality textiles at a discounted price.
Your restaurant’s atmosphere is also worth taking into consideration. For example, polyester uniforms may be affordable (and they might even hold up), but they’re also highly flammable. So if you plan on hosting candle-lit dinners every weeknight, then polyester is not for you.
But flame-resistant fabrics (often synthetic) on the other hand, could be the answer to your fine dining prayers.
Don’t Over-Launder
Keeping uniforms clean is crucial. But what happens if your uniforms are so overwashed and heat-damaged that you can’t wear them?
Luckily, there’s a way to maintain your uniforms without wearing them thin. For starters, have employees hang up or fold their uniform pants and encourage them to wash them every other day (uniform shirts are a different story). If you do laundry in-house, wash on cold with a mild detergent, or request that your out-of-house laundry service do the same.
If they can handle it, line dry your uniforms instead of blasting them in the dryer, and grab the steamer before touching the iron.
Handle Imperfections ASAP
They say a stitch in time saves nine, which basically means that one should solve problems right away to avoid more problems in the future. A button undone here or a loose thread there may not seem like much, but stitching up little rips and tears properly often means fewer uniform problems down the line and fewer new uniform purchases.
Pro tip: have sewing kit items readily available and accessible for employees, including needles and thread, extra buttons, safety pins, a thimble, hemming tape, and a seam ripper.
Conclusion
Restaurant staff uniforms can elevate your clients’ experiences and give your brand the professional touch it deserves. And by investing in the right textiles, monogramming, avoiding unnecessary laundering, tending to rips and tears ASAP, and having employees occasionally wear their own pieces, you’ll keep your uniforms in great condition for years to come.
By paul
How to Ensure Your Restaurant’s Uniforms Last For Years
A restaurant is a business, and every detail plays a role in making that business successful. One such detail? Restaurant Staff Uniforms.
We don’t need to tell you that restaurant uniforms are a worthy investment. But what’s worth mentioning is that, in order to get the best return on your investment, you’ve got to protect your assets.
With a little extra care and patience, you won’t call the uniform supply store for years.
Here are our best tips on how to get the most wear out of your uniforms.
Invest in the Right Textiles
Let’s face it- not only do cheap uniforms look less than stellar, they reflect badly on your restaurant. You own a high-class establishment, and it deserves proper representation!
Rather than spending a fortune purchasing your own linens, consider working with a linen service provider who will supply you with high-quality linens, as well as laundering and delivery them for you on a weekly basis.
To ensure that your uniforms hold up as well as they look, keep an eye out for quality textiles at a discounted price.
Your restaurant’s atmosphere is also worth taking into consideration. For example, polyester uniforms may be affordable (and they might even hold up), but they’re also highly flammable. So if you plan on hosting candle-lit dinners every weeknight, then polyester is not for you.
But flame-resistant fabrics (often synthetic) on the other hand, could be the answer to your fine dining prayers.
Don’t Over-Launder
Keeping uniforms clean is crucial. But what happens if your uniforms are so overwashed and heat-damaged that you can’t wear them?
Luckily, there’s a way to maintain your uniforms without wearing them thin. For starters, have employees hang up or fold their uniform pants and encourage them to wash them every other day (uniform shirts are a different story). If you do laundry in-house, wash on cold with a mild detergent, or request that your out-of-house laundry service do the same.
If they can handle it, line dry your uniforms instead of blasting them in the dryer, and grab the steamer before touching the iron.
Handle Imperfections ASAP
They say a stitch in time saves nine, which basically means that one should solve problems right away to avoid more problems in the future. A button undone here or a loose thread there may not seem like much, but stitching up little rips and tears properly often means fewer uniform problems down the line and fewer new uniform purchases.
Pro tip: have sewing kit items readily available and accessible for employees, including needles and thread, extra buttons, safety pins, a thimble, hemming tape, and a seam ripper.
Conclusion
Restaurant staff uniforms can elevate your clients’ experiences and give your brand the professional touch it deserves. And by investing in the right textiles, monogramming, avoiding unnecessary laundering, tending to rips and tears ASAP, and having employees occasionally wear their own pieces, you’ll keep your uniforms in great condition for years to come.