Office cleaning is a great contract to have for a commercial company. The work is regular and usually involves several members of staff. However, when clients who run corporate offices hire professionals to do the housekeeping, they have high expectations.
Having a detailed office cleaning checklist for daily, weekly, and monthly tasks is the best way to ensure consistent quality across the company and all its employees.
Clients expect the same standard of cleaning service no matter who comes in to do the job, so everybody needs to be on the same page.
Must-Do Tasks for Maintaining a Clean and Sanitary Office
The following checklists cover all the essential cleaning tasks that are the expected standard from a professional cleaning company over various timeframes.
Daily Office Cleaning Checklist
There are three main spots to concentrate on when working through a daily office cleaning checklist: the reception area, the bathrooms, and the kitchen area or breakroom.
In busy offices, these are the places with the most foot traffic on a daily basis and the most prominent risk of spreading germs.
Daily cleaning is all about keeping the general office area tidy and safe. Here is an idea of what a day-to-day office cleaning checklist should look like:
Start in the Reception and Main Office Area.
- Step One: In this article, you can find office cleaning easy steps. Empty all the garbage bins in the common areas. Sanitize the trash cans and replace the liner with a new one.
- Step Two: Dust windows, window sills, cabinets, desks, and other hard surfaces other than the floor.
- Step Three: Sweep or vacuum floors in the main area to remove excess dirt, dust, and debris, but only once you finish dusting everything else.
- Step Four: Wipe everything with a damp cloth. Clean and disinfect the area. Make sure you use a high-quality disinfectant and pay attention to the area people touch the most, for example, light switches and door handles. Regular cleaning usually includes wiping down furniture, desk surfaces, and anything people touch a lot.
- Step Five: Cleaning glass windows is the last task in the main area and requires special tools. Cleaners should not attempt to wash the glass with a dirty cloth or without the proper equipment.
Next, move into the break rooms and kitchen areas and repeat all the same steps as before, but with the following additions:
- Step Six: Clean utensils, the coffee maker, the microwave oven, and other kitchen appliances.
- Step Seven: Refill the hand soap, washing up liquid, and paper towels if necessary.
Finally, do the same thing in the bathroom, from steps one to seven. The only difference comes with step six:
- Step Six for Bathrooms: Wipe the sinks, taps, and hand dryers, clean mirrors, and then clean the toilets thoroughly. Disinfect the toilet seats and inside the toilets as well. Empty the small sanitary trash bins and disinfect them with a spray and a wipe. Stock up the toilet paper and paper towels.
When all the dust and trash are gone, the very last thing to do is disinfect and mop the hard floor surfaces.
- Step Eight: Mopping floors should always be the last step. Depending on the office layout and the time of day the cleaning takes place, it may be easier to mop each room one at a time to allow for drying time. If the office is occupied then mop and disinfect the bathroom and kitchen floors but leave the main area later. It is time-efficient to mop all the floors at the same time if the space is going to be empty for a few hours to give the clean office time to dry.
Weekly Cleaning Extras
A weekly office cleaning checklist includes everything already mentioned above, but there are a few additional tasks that should be completed once every seven days.
- Hard floor surfaces should be polished or burnished, depending on the wishes of the clients.
- Fridges, microwaves, and any other kitchen appliances that are exposed to bacteria need to be deep cleaned and completely sanitized.
- Cleaners should also disinfect headsets and office phones every week.
- Carpets and other surfaces with soft covering need to be vacuumed fully once a week, but the other days a light run-over to avoid build-up is advised.
- All tiled floors and horizontal surfaces in bathrooms or kitchens need to be cleaned with a sanitizing wipe after a vigorous anti-limescale scrub.
Monthly Cleaning Tasks (Deep Cleaning Services)
Moving on to the tasks expected on a monthly basis. The once-per-month office cleaning checklist looks a little different. Deep office cleaning does not necessarily need to happen every month, but it should not be left much longer than six weeks apart. A monthly office cleaning checklist should include the following tasks:
- Inside and outside of all windows should be professionally cleaned using the relevant specialist equipment.
- All air vents need cleaning and vacuuming.
- Any furniture upholstery should also be vacuumed and cleaned with a disinfectant solution, then left to air dry completely before further use.
- Dust the normally out-of-reach areas, including upper walls, on top of cabinets, ceiling fans, and other high surfaces.
- Go through the office equipment and paperwork to get rid of any trash and organise the drawers. Inside and storage areas also need to be cleaned. Clutter is nobody’s friend, and it can contribute to the spreading of germs.
- Polish any wooden tables, chairs, and desks.
Top Tips for Keeping the Office Clean
Stick to a Routine![]()
The checklist exists for a reason: stick to it, and all should be well! Having a routine that all employees follow ensures a cleaning company does not falter on consistency and quality across every job and every client.
Always Come Prepared![]()
It is unprofessional to turn up to a cleaning job without the necessary supplies. If the toilet paper needs re-stocked, make sure there is stock.
Bring trash bags for changing the garbage bins. Always have enough clothes and disinfectant sprays to tackle every task safely and hygienically.
Invest in Quality Equipment![]()
Professional cleaning equipment goes a long way in commercial office contracts. Specialty machines can not only produce better results, but they can also significantly reduce the time spent on one element of a job.
Modern technology has revolutionized the way people clean, both in their homes and professionally.
Go the Extra Mile![]()
Happy customers are one of the most valuable marketing tools a cleaning company can have. Affordable rates and stellar service are the two things every company needs.
The checklist is a base to work from, but it does not mean there are no other things to do to go above and beyond. Employees who take pride in their work often take extra steps to strive for excellence, and it pays off.
Final Thoughts on an Office Cleaning Checklist
Cleaning office areas are not complicated, but it does involve a lot of small tasks. A checklist helps ensure that nothing is missed and keeps a uniform approach across the entire team.
Of course, cleaning companies can adjust these lists to suit specific jobs, but the basic principle remains the same: plan ahead and stick to it!
