Office Cleaning Checklist
A weekly office cleaning checklist by area: desks, kitchen, toilets, floors and shared equipment. Use it in-house or to check a commercial cleaning service.
- Typical schedule weekly
- The checklist 5 sections, 20 items
- Variables
{{week}}
Use this checklist once a week, either as the task list for whoever cleans or as a quality check of a commercial cleaning service. It covers a typical small office with desks, a kitchen, toilets and a meeting room. Daily tidying, like emptying the dishwasher, belongs in the opening and closing checklists.
Who owns it
If you use a cleaning company, the office manager owns the run and uses it to check the work against the contract. If the team cleans itself, rotate the run between people and assign each area by name. A shared "everyone cleans the kitchen" rule usually means nobody does.
Common pitfalls
- Contract scope nobody has read. Many disputes with cleaning services come from different ideas of what is included. Compare this list with your contract and agree the gaps in writing.
- Forgetting the high-touch surfaces. Door handles, light switches, shared keyboards and the coffee machine buttons are touched by everyone and are rarely on the list.
- Mixing chemicals. Some cleaners, such as bleach and ammonia-based products, release dangerous gases when combined. Keep products in their original containers with the safety sheets at hand.
- Fridge chaos. Without a clear rule, the office fridge fills up. Announce a weekly clear-out time and stick to it.
A weekly scheduled run in Runbook gives you a record per week, which helps when you discuss quality with a cleaning provider.
The checklist: Office cleaning round, week {{week}}
Desks and work areas
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Clear desks wiped with a suitable cleaner
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Shared keyboards, mice, phones and headsets wiped
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Bins emptied and liners replaced, recycling sorted
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Windowsills, shelves and radiators dusted
Kitchen
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Fridge cleared of old food and wiped inside
Announce the clear-out time in advance, so nobody loses their lunch.
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Microwave, kettle and coffee machine cleaned, drip trays emptied
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Counters, sink and cupboard fronts cleaned
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Dish cloths and towels replaced
Toilets
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Toilets, sinks and mirrors cleaned and disinfected
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Soap, toilet paper and paper towels refilled
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Sanitary bins emptied optional
Usually done by a specialised service; check that collection happened.
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Floors mopped
Floors and shared areas
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Carpets vacuumed, including under desks where possible
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Hard floors mopped
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Door handles, light switches and lift buttons wiped
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Meeting room tables, chairs and whiteboards cleaned
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Entrance mats shaken or vacuumed
Supplies and follow-up
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Cleaning supplies checked and reordered
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Damage or repairs noticed (e.g. stains, broken fittings) reported
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Deep-clean tasks due this month scheduled (e.g. windows, carpets, upholstery) optional
Checklist as Markdown
Frequently asked questions
What should be included in an office cleaning checklist?
Desks and shared equipment, the kitchen, toilets, floors and high-touch surfaces like door handles and light switches. Separate daily, weekly and monthly tasks so the weekly list stays manageable.
How often should an office be cleaned?
Toilets and the kitchen usually need attention daily, while vacuuming and dusting are often done weekly in a small office. Windows, carpets and upholstery need a deep clean less often. The right rhythm depends on how many people use the space.
How do I check the work of a commercial cleaning service?
Agree a written list of tasks and frequencies as part of the contract. Then do a short walk-through with the checklist once a week and note what was missed. Raise patterns with the provider using the dated records, not general complaints.
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