Keeping a small office clean is easy to let slide. Everyone’s busy, nobody’s job title includes “cleaner”, and before long the kitchen is a mess, the bins are overflowing and the washroom is putting off visitors. A simple cleaning schedule solves most of that.
This checklist breaks office cleaning into daily, weekly and monthly tasks. Use it to organise your team, or to agree a clear scope with a commercial cleaning company.
Daily tasks
Kitchen and breakout areas
- Wash up or load and run the dishwasher
- Wipe worktops, tables and the sink
- Empty food waste bins
- Wipe the microwave and kettle exterior
Washrooms
- Clean and sanitise toilets and basins
- Check and refill soap, toilet roll and hand towels
- Empty sanitary and general waste bins
- Quick mop if needed
Workspaces and reception
- Empty general waste and recycling bins
- Wipe reception desk and high-touch points
- Tidy meeting rooms after use
Weekly tasks
- Vacuum all carpets, including under desks where accessible
- Mop hard floors in kitchens, washrooms and entrances
- Wipe desks and surfaces (clear desks make this far quicker)
- Sanitise door handles, light switches, phones and shared equipment
- Clean inside the microwave and wipe fridge shelves
- Clear out the fridge — bin anything out of date
- Clean glass doors, partitions and mirrors
- Dust window sills, shelves and skirting boards
- Deep clean washrooms, including descaling taps
Monthly tasks
- High-level dusting — tops of cupboards, ledges, light fittings and vents
- Clean inside kitchen cupboards
- Descale the kettle and coffee machine
- Wipe chairs, including bases and arms
- Clean internal windows
- Wipe radiators and skirting boards thoroughly
- Check and clean extractor fan covers in washrooms and kitchens
Every six to twelve months
- Carpet deep clean (£30 per room with Nestro)
- A full commercial deep clean to reset the space
- Upholstery cleaning for chairs and soft seating
In-house or outsourced?
Many small businesses handle the daily basics themselves — washing up, wiping the kitchen, emptying bins — and bring in a professional cleaner for the weekly and monthly work. That split keeps costs down while making sure the deeper cleaning actually happens.
Outsourcing makes the most sense when:
- Cleaning tasks keep getting skipped
- Clients or customers visit your premises
- Staff are spending time cleaning instead of working
- You want consistent standards without managing it yourself
Agreeing a clear scope
If you do bring in a commercial cleaner, a checklist like this one makes it easy to agree exactly what’s included, how often, and when. We schedule cleans early morning, in the evening or at weekends so there’s no disruption, and invoice monthly.
Don’t forget the less obvious areas
- Shared keyboards, mice and phones — some of the most-touched items in any office
- Lift buttons and stair handrails in shared buildings
- Printer and copier areas — paper dust builds up quickly
- Under desks — cables collect dust that’s easy to ignore
- Entrance mats — they trap dirt, but need regular cleaning themselves
- Plants — dust the leaves and clear up fallen soil
Making it easy for your team
Whatever you keep in-house, make it simple. Put a short checklist in the kitchen, agree who empties the dishwasher each day, and keep cleaning supplies somewhere obvious. Small habits between professional visits make a big difference to how the office looks and feels.
Handling a one-off reset
If the office has slipped and the regular routine can’t catch up, start with a one-off commercial deep clean (from £120) to get back to a good baseline. From there, a regular schedule keeps it that way with much less effort.
Wondering how often your office needs a professional clean? Read how often should an office be cleaned?
Signs your current routine isn’t working
- Staff regularly complain about the kitchen or washrooms
- Bins are overflowing by the end of the day
- Dust is visible on desks, sills and skirting boards
- You feel the need to tidy before visitors arrive
- Carpets look grey in walkways and around desks
If two or more of these sound familiar, it’s usually time to increase cleaning frequency or bring in a professional for the deeper weekly and monthly tasks.
Quick answers
How much does office cleaning cost?
Our small office cleaning starts from £90. The final price depends on the size of the space, how often you want it cleaned and what’s included.
Do you clean outside working hours?
Yes — early mornings, evenings and weekends, so your team isn’t disrupted.
Do we have to sign a long contract?
We offer one-off cleans as well as regular weekly, fortnightly and monthly arrangements. Ask us about the options.
Do you provide products and equipment?
Yes, we bring everything needed for the clean.