image of 8 vans of Kitchen Guard lined up in a parking lot
Professional & Certified

Premier
Commercial Kitchen
Exhaust & Hood Cleaners

Our Guiding Lights

Kitchen Guard’s Mission,
Vision & Values

Kitchen Guard is a disruptive new B2B franchise business revolutionizing the commercial kitchen exhaust and cleaning industry (KEC).

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Devotion

Committed to delivering the best for our clients.

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Resourcefulness

Finding innovative solutions to complex challenges.

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Resilience

Staying steadfast in our mission, no matter the obstacle.

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Accountability

Owning our actions and their outcomes.

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Customer Service

100% satisfaction, 100% of the time.

Our Journey

Headquartered in San Diego, Kitchen Guard (formerly Green Guard Services) was founded in 2009 and has dominated the Southern California market and has since grown into a multi-million-dollar business.

The company was purchased in 2023 by EverSmith Brands and is currently being franchised throughout the United States.

image of Kitchen Guard van side view parked on street
Closeup image of pipes of a kitchen vent system
image of Kitchen Guard service sticker on a stainless steel appliance close up
image of a stainless steel commercial kitchen showing the stove adn the air fryers and pans
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Compliance & Credentials

The Standards We Hold Ourselves To

International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association (IKECA) member logo

Cleaner and safer kitchens is our mission — and a mission like that only means something if someone other than us defines the finish line. So Kitchen Guard is built around published, third-party standards: NFPA 96 for what has to be clean, and the ANSI-accredited work of IKECA for how it gets clean.

IKECA defines how that cleaning is actually done

Kitchen Guard is a corporate member of the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association, the ANSI-accredited standards developer for this trade. Membership is how we stay current as those standards are revised — and it is why our work is measured against a published method rather than a company opinion.

ANSI/IKECA C10-2021 is the method we work to

C10 is the consensus standard for cleaning commercial kitchen exhaust systems. It defines how cleaning frequency and necessity are established through inspection, which cleaning methods are acceptable, and the level of cleanliness required when the work is finished. NFPA 96 says what has to be clean. C10 says how it gets clean.

Trained by IKECA-certified specialists

Our training program is led by instructors who hold the Certified Exhaust Cleaning Specialist (CECS) credential from IKECA — an exam covering system design, fire code, cleaning methodology and inspection. Every technician we send to your kitchen is trained against that standard, by people who have passed it.

Every visit leaves you with dated documentation and photographs you can hand to an inspector or an insurer. Read more about the standards behind this work

Meet the Crew

  • Tim Breen

    Brand President / Leader
    Read Full Bio
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    Ryan Hall

    Senior Training Manager
    Read Full Bio
  • Cory Ring

    Training & Development Specialist
    Read Full Bio
  • Sevdalina Carr

    Franchise Onboarding Manager
    Read Full Bio
  • Josh Shores

    Josh Shores

    Business Operations Manager
    Read Full Bio
  • Skylar Schmidt

    Skyler Schmidt

    Franchise Advisor
    Read Full Bio
  • Brad Williford

    Brad Williford

    Franchise Advisor
  • Alejandro Diaz

    Alejando Diaz

    Director of Sales Support
    Read Full Bio
  • Molly Lombardo

    Brand Marketing Manager
    Read Full Bio
The Vision Behind Kitchen Guard

Professionalism, Care and Customer-Centricity.

Nathan Leathers

Founder

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Don’t Just Take Our Word for It

Recognized Excellence in
Commercial Kitchen Cleaning

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The Tools That Set Us Apart

Cutting-Edge Equipment

  • Surface Cleaner Shown as Part of Kichen Guard Lineup for Efficient Kitchen Cleaning Solutions
    Surface Cleaner
    Operates at up to 275 Degrees at 4000 PSI, minimizing spatter while maximizing cleanliness. This is commercial grade and not the one’s available at the hardware store.
    Surface Cleaner

    Operates at up to 275 Degrees at 4000 PSI, minimizing spatter while maximizing cleanliness. This is commercial grade and not the one’s available at the hardware store.

  • Mag Scaper Tool Image from Kitchen Guard Designed for Commercial Kitchen Maintenance
    Magnetic Duct Scraper
    Essential for ducting longer than 5 feet, this tool delivers the force needed for proper cleaning.
    Magnetic Duct Scraper

    Essential for ducting longer than 5 feet, this tool delivers the force needed for proper cleaning.

  • Duct Cleaner Used by Kitchen Guard Illustrating Equipment for Maintaining Commercial Kitchens
    Duct Spinner
    We invest in high-end equipment that complies with Insurance and NFPA 96 CODE, reducing your fire risk.
    Duct Spinner

    We invest in high-end equipment that complies with Insurance and NFPA 96 CODE, reducing your fire risk.

  • Green Steam equipment close-up photo
    Commercial Pressure Washing
    This tool is vital for cleaning any commercial kitchen and surrounding areas properly. This is a high quality commercial washer that gets the job done right the first time.
    Commercial Pressure Washing

    This tool is vital for cleaning any commercial kitchen and surrounding areas properly. This is a high quality commercial washer that gets the job done right the first time.

image of a Kitchen Guard employee cleaning commercial kitchen filter