Grease Trap Cleaning Schedule Template (2026)
A grease trap that's cleaned on a calendar never becomes an emergency. Use the generator below to build your 12-month cleaning schedule, then print it and post it by the manifest folder. (Inspectors love seeing this on a clipboard. Seriously.)
Build Your 12-Month Schedule
Printable Blank Schedule Log
Prefer pen and paper? Print this page and use the blank log:
| # | Scheduled date | Actual service date | Company / technician | Manifest # | FOG depth at service | Initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | ||||||
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 | ||||||
| 7 | ||||||
| 8 | ||||||
| 9 | ||||||
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| 11 | ||||||
| 12 |
Picking the Right Interval
Start from your kitchen type, then adjust to stay under the 25% threshold:
| Kitchen type | Typical starting interval |
|---|---|
| Fast food / quick-serve (fryers) | Every 30 days |
| Full-service restaurant | Every 30–60 days |
| Pizzeria / bakery | Every 60 days |
| Café / coffee shop (light cooking) | Every 90 days |
| School / institutional cafeteria | Every 30–60 days |
Full benchmarks: cleaning frequency by restaurant type. Legal minimums vary by city and state — check the state compliance guide.
Tip: ask for your next service to be scheduled before the technician leaves, and write it on this sheet. The #1 cause of FOG violations is simply "nobody booked the next one."
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should my grease trap be cleaned?
The universal standard is the 25% rule: clean before fats, oils, and grease occupy 25% of trap capacity. In practice that means monthly to quarterly for most restaurants — busier kitchens and smaller traps need shorter intervals. Many cities also set a legal maximum interval (90 days is common). See our frequency guide by restaurant type.
Why keep a written cleaning schedule?
Two reasons: prevention and proof. A schedule keeps you ahead of the 25% threshold so you never face an emergency backup (which costs 50–100% more than routine service). And when a FOG inspector visits, a maintained schedule plus manifests demonstrates a working compliance program.
What records should I keep with the schedule?
Keep the signed waste manifest from every cleaning together with the schedule — date, volume pumped, hauler license, disposal site. Most states require records be kept at least 3 years. Use our maintenance log alongside this schedule.
Can my staff clean the grease trap instead of a service company?
Small under-sink traps can sometimes be cleaned in-house where local rules allow it, but the waste still must be disposed of legally — never in drains, dumpsters, or grease bins meant for cooking oil. Most jurisdictions effectively require a licensed hauler for anything beyond a small hydromechanical trap, and many require it outright.
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