Office Cleaning Checklist

A Smarter Office Cleaning Checklist for Healthier Workspaces and Stronger First Impressions

The Relationship Between Cleanliness, Functionality, & Perception in Offices

While a professional office provides its employees with a place to perform their jobs; it also provides its clientele an image or expectation of the quality of service they will receive from that business.

Cleanliness of an office directly impacts employee health, employee productivity and ultimately client perceptions of the company as well. But this isn't just about how the office looks. A cluttered or dusty office causes distractions. The constant passing of germs through high touch surfaces quietly spreads illness. Poorly maintained breakrooms and bathrooms become a source of employee complaint, sick leave and first-time client dissatisfaction.

Karen's Green Cleaning uses the Office Cleaning Checklist like a performance system: clearly defined jobs; reasonable execution frequency; measurable quality standards; and cleaner products that improve the quality of the indoor air environment.

Below is an Office Cleaning Checklist that has a professional and practical approach to maintaining an office that is consistently clean - and eliminates the need for last-minute "panic cleaning" prior to a meeting.

Creating an Office Cleaning Checklist Mindset: Appearance vs. Hygiene

Most offices appear to be clean, but many surfaces that are frequently touched by employees, visitors, etc. include: door handles; elevator buttons; shared workspaces; keyboards; copier panels; refrigerator handles; faucet knobs.

In addition, the Office Cleaning Checklist separates the cleaning tasks into appearance (trash, dust removal, glass, flooring) and hygiene (high-touch surface disinfecting, and cleaning of restrooms and the break room).

Important fact: There are many EPA registered disinfectants that have specific "dwell times" that enable a surface to remain visibly wet for anywhere from 1-10 minutes to effectively kill germs based on the manufacturer's guidelines. Therefore, hasty wiping-downs may appear to be a thorough job but may not be effective in reducing the spread of germs.

Office Cleaning Checklist for Day-to-Day Consistency: Eliminate Odor, Clutter, and Germ Transfer in Shared Workspaces and High Traffic Areas

Daily routines will help eliminate clutter, odors and germ transfer in shared workspaces and high traffic areas.

Common Areas (Front Desk):

  • Empty all visible trash and replace liners as necessary

  • Clean/wipe the front desk counter and surrounding high touch points (ie. pens holder, sign-in area, etc.)

  • Clean/wipe fingerprints from glass doors

  • Clean/tidy entry mats and remove loose debris

Shared Workspaces:

  • Clean/disinfect high-touch areas (ie. desk edges, chair arms, drawer pulls, etc.)

  • Clean telephone handsets and headset stands (if shared)

  • Clean shared keyboard/mouse stations (if applicable)

High-touch disinfection sweep (daily requirement):

  • Door handles/push plates/railings

  • Elevator/intercom panels

  • Copier/printer button controls/shared equipment controls

  • Breakroom Fridge Handle and Microwave Keypad

Minimum Daily Requirements for Restrooms:

  • Clean/disinfect toilets, urinals, sinks, faucets

  • Clean/disinfect stall latches, door locks/handles

  • Restock soap, paper towels, toilet paper

  • Empty sanitary waste and trash

Office Cleaning Checklist for Weekly Cleaning Results: Where Offices Collect Dirt and Grime

Weekly cleaning is when an office appears to be "professionally cleaned", not "just quickly picked up."

Cleaning Dusty Areas & Finishing Touches:

  • Clean dust off of desks (edges especially)

  • clean window sills, ledges

  • clean/dust monitor screens (using soft cloth), phone stands/base, office supplies/desk items

High Traffic Area Baseboard Clean/Wipes:

Wipe down/clean baseboards (high traffic area)

Break Room Reset Hygiene:

  • Wipe/clean exterior of cabinets, refrigerator & all appliance tops/surfaces

  • Clean/sanitize sink basin & faucet fully

  • Sanitize/ Disinfect tables & chair backs/arms

  • Remove crumbs from toaster trays & under appliances

  • Clean quickly microwave & treat spills before they set

Restrooms - Deep Clean:

  • Clean buildup around faucets and drain areas

  • Clean/mirrors, soap dispenser, etc., and partitions

  • Mop with extra care to areas behind toilets & in corners

Floors:

  • Vacuum all carpeting (including edges)

  • Mop all hard flooring with extra care given to corners & under furniture

  • Deal immediately with stains - the sooner a stain is dealt with - the lower chance that it will be permanently damaged.

  • Monthly cleaning tasks protect your investments in floors, fixtures, furniture and ultimately save you money.

  • Upholstered/Fabric Chair Backs (accumulate dust quietly)

  • Vents and Return Air Grille Dusting (improve airflow)

  • Scrubbing Wall Scuff Marks in hallways and near doors

  • Cleaning interior glass panels and conference room partitions

Deep Cleaning the Break Room Fridge Interior (remove old food, clean shelves and bins)

Detail Cleaning Door Frames and High Contact Edges

Important Facts You Can Use:

Indoor dust is a combination of fibers, skin cells, dirt tracked into the office from shoes, and airborne particles from outside. As dust accumulates on vents, ledges, and carpets, it becomes easily stirred by movement and air flow, which is why regular dust control is important in busy offices.

Office Cleaning Checklist for Restrooms: The Area Employees Evaluate Most

Truth From the Cleaning Industry: Restrooms Build Trust. Although some employees may tolerate a bit of desk clutter, no employee will tolerate a dirty or neglected restroom.

Your restroom checklist should contain the following:

  • Disinfecting high-touch areas (latches, handles, dispensers, etc.)

  • Cleaning/buildup around faucets and drains

  • Keeping the floors dry and odor-free

  • Restocking supplies before they run low (never after!)

At Karen's Green Cleaning, we recommend developing a minimum inventory threshold (for example, ordering supplies when you reach 25% remaining) so you never "run out" of supplies during business hours.

Office Cleaning Checklist for High-Touch Zones: Reduce Rapid Transmission of Illness

If your office cannot complete all items on your checklist, please complete the high-touch surfaces that employees continuously touch.

Priority List for High Touch Areas:

  • Door Handles/Push Plates/Railings

  • Light Switches/Thermostats

  • Shared Keyboards/Phones/Conference Room Remote Controls

  • Printer/Copier Button Controls/Sharing Equipment Controls

  • Break Room Fridge Handles/Sink Lever/Microwave Pad

Tip: High-touch disinfecting is most effective when surfaces are clean first. Barriers such as grease, grime, and dust can interfere with the effectiveness of disinfectants.

Using "green" methods to meet the professional expectations of office cleaning doesn't have to be a compromise on quality or effectiveness — it can be an intentional choice.

An example of a professional-grade eco-friendly product kit might include:

  • Multi-Surface Neutral pH Cleaner for daily cleaning needs

  • A glass cleaner that can help remove fingerprints and create clear surfaces

  • A disinfectant registered by the Environmental Protection Agency for use on high touch areas (refer to manufacturer’s instructions for recommended dwell time for each area)

  • Color-coded microfiber cloth system for restrooms and general cleaning

  • HEPA Filter vacuum for better capturing particles

The reason microfiber cloths are so effective at cleaning is due to their ability to increase the amount of surface contact between the microfiber cloth and the surface being cleaned — resulting in excellent debris removal — improving cleanliness and aesthetics.

Accountability for Office Cleaning Checklist: Create Consistency, Not Spontaneity

Although the Office Cleaning Checklist is a useful resource, its usefulness is lost if it is only placed in a file folder. Create accountability by making the checklist visually available and tracking progress:

  • Assign areas (break room, restrooms, conference rooms, etc.) for each individual

  • Have each individual sign-off their designated area(s) daily/weekly

  • Perform a brief weekly "walk-through" audit (5 minutes is sufficient)

  • Identify patterns (not people) if certain tasks continue to be missing -- the system requires revision.

This is how Karen's Green Cleaning helps companies achieve consistent results: well-defined tasks, well-defined standards, and clear visual evidence of success or failure.

Frequently Asked Questions: Office Cleaning Checklist FAQs (Real World Answers)

Q1. How Frequently Should I Follow My Office Cleaning Checklist?

Follow the checklist daily for high-touch and restrooms, weekly for details and floors, and monthly for maintenance. This maintains the office in a clean state without having to perform large scale cleaning projects.

Q2. What is the Single Largest Error Made By Office Cleaning Staff?

Treating disinfecting as a "quick wipe". Many EPA registered disinfectants require a surface to remain visibly wet for a period of time (typically 1-10 minutes) to effectively kill germs. If the required dwell time is not provided for, the disinfectant may not effectively kill germs and could potentially spread residue.

Q3. Does an Office Cleaning Checklist Improve Employee Health?

Yes, an Office Cleaning Checklist improves employee health. The checklist reduces common hygiene vulnerabilities (i.e. high-touch areas and bathroom/breakroom sanitation). Regular dust control and cleaning of shared surfaces contributes to a cleaner-feeling workplace.

Q4. We Are Busy – What is the Minimum "Must Do" Version of the Office Cleaning Checklist?

Restrooms daily, trash daily, floors weekly, and high-touch disinfection sweep daily. This provides a minimal level of protection for health and a basic level of professionalism.

Q5. When Should We Hire Karen's Green Cleaning Rather Than Cleaning Internally?

Hire Karen's Green Cleaning when:

  • There is inconsistency in the cleaning process

  • Employees start complaining about the cleanliness of the restrooms

  • There is rapid accumulation of dust again

You want a reliable standard that your clients will feel confident in at the moment they enter the building. We do not only "clean" we establish and implement a checklist system that ensures your office is prepared to be inspected and professionally presented.

 
Princess Alexandrea DiponKaren's Green CleaningComment