If you run an office, employing a commercial cleaner will probably be high on your list of priorities. It’s an essential service that building managers and office managers all say you need, but why?
What exactly do you get for your money when you employ a commercial office cleaning company?
If you’re planning to change your cleaner or have just taken over a new office, it may help to know what’s involved in commercial office cleaning.
Every company will approach office cleaning slightly differently, but it should include most of the following:
Table of Contents
Cleaning reception and guest areas
First impressions count, so it’s vital your reception and any guest waiting areas look their best.
Cleaning reception and guest areas will include vacuuming floors, clearing and dusting all surfaces, emptying of bins, cleaning of seating areas, cleaning art or installations and ensuring every surface has been thoroughly cleaned.
It can also include refilling drink and snack areas and ensuring everything is ready for guests when they arrive.
A cleaner can also hygienically clean all areas to minimise the risk of infection, including from COVID.
Desk area cleaning
The cleaning of workspaces and desks is at the heart of commercial office cleaning. It’s where staff spend most of their time and usually, make the most mess.
A commercial cleaner should clear away used mugs, cutlery, plates and other items. Then wipe down desks. Any monitors, keyboards and mice may only be flick dusted over but they should offer a specialist clean for your tech too.
They should also empty bins, help recycle paper, plastic and other recyclables within your own or the buildings’ recycling programme. They will vacuum under the desk and in all work areas, dust window sills, ledges and skirting.
Cleaners can also wipe down all surfaces with antibacterial solution
Conference and meeting room cleaning
A competent commercial office cleaner will spend as much time and effort ensuring meeting and conference rooms will also be thoroughly cleaned.
That will usually involve the same tasks as desk area cleaning. Clearing all surfaces, emptying bins, wiping down desks, chairs and any other furniture and all phones or conferencing equipment where possible.
The cleaner can also replenish water, cups, glasses and other refreshment items if required.
Office kitchen cleaning
Office kitchens are high traffic areas that go through quite a lot on the average day. That makes them especially vulnerable to bacteria and infection.
A commercial office cleaner should spend a lot of time thoroughly cleaning the office kitchen.
That should include cleaning all worktops and surfaces, emptying bins, clearing used plates, mugs and cutlery and washing them or adding to a dishwasher.
It should also include wiping down any kettles, microwaves, cookers and appliances, clearing out the refrigerator and monitoring use by dates on products and refilling consumables, from paper towels to tea and coffee.
Finally, all surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down using an antibacterial solution to tackle those infection risks.
Office washroom cleaning
Office washroom cleaning is another area a commercial cleaner will spend a lot of time and effort. Like the kitchen, the washroom is a high traffic area with potential for infection.
Ideally, your commercial cleaning company will clean and disinfect all toilets and urinals, clean and disinfect sinks and changing areas, refill consumables, empty bins and receptacles, ensure spaces for soap and toilet roll, clean any wall and flat surfaces and mirrors are thoroughly cleaned.
A good cleaner will also test all flushes and any hand dryers in each bathroom. Any reports can be made to the facilities manager for proactive fixes if necessary to prevent downtime.
A professional cleaning service provider will also supply you with any relevant washroom services, such as feminine hygiene sanitary bins, air fresheners and related washroom services.
Then the floor will be cleaned of debris and mopped using antibacterial solution to ensure full protection against bacteria for the day ahead.
Extra cleaning tasks for offices
Depending on your location and building, there are other tasks commercial cleaners can provide should you need them to.
Regular cleaning tasks will likely include spot cleaning dirty areas, wiping down door handles, windows and other surfaces with antibacterial solution, detailed cleaning of appliances, cleaning doors and partitions, refilling hand sanitiser.
Extra tasks can include cleaning of outside areas, window cleaning, litter picking, cleaning of staff canteen, refilling of vending machines, cleaning coffee machines, specialist IT cleaning tasks, emptying of outside ashtrays, clearing of smoking areas and vacuuming of external mats and surfaces.
There are also specialist tasks such as cold fogging, deep cleans, COVID cleaning, emergency cleaning for spills, floods or disasters.
Commercial office cleaning
All these cleaning tasks will differ depending on the office, the client and the provider. We have listed the most common tasks, but the list is by no means exhaustive.
A good commercial cleaning company will be able to perform all of these tasks.
A great commercial cleaning company will tailor a cleaning contract to deliver the highest quality clean for your office, including any and all tasks you require.
