Guide: How to Keep Your Office Clean Between Cleaning Visits
A clean office often requires more than scheduled cleaning. Many businesses have a cleaning agreement where a cleaning company visits once or a few times a week. Unless your agreement includes daily office cleaning, it is useful to have simple everyday routines that keep the office tidy, hygienic and welcoming between visits.
With a few clear habits and a simple division of responsibility, you can improve workplace hygiene, employee wellbeing and the overall impression of your company. This guide gives you practical advice on how to maintain a clean office day to day, without employees spending unnecessary time on cleaning.
When several days pass between visits from your office cleaning provider, dust, waste, food leftovers and clutter can quickly build up. This affects both the working environment and the experience of being in the office.
Daily maintenance helps create:
It also makes the work easier for the cleaning staff when the workplace is kept reasonably tidy between visits. This often leads to a better overall result and ensures that time is spent on the tasks that create the most value.
Maintaining a clean office does not have to be complicated. A simple checklist with fixed routines can make a significant difference. A good rule of thumb is that employees help with daily tidiness, while more thorough cleaning of the office premises is handled by your professional cleaning provider.
A simple cleaning checklist may include:
When everyone contributes a little, it becomes much easier to maintain a clean and professional working environment.
Below, you will find inspiration for what to include in your company’s daily office cleaning routine.
Clear your desk - Papers, coffee cups and packaging quickly pile up. A tidy desk makes it easier to maintain a clean office and creates a calmer working environment. It is especially useful to make sure desks are cleared the day before scheduled office cleaning, as this gives the cleaning staff easier access to surfaces and floors.
Leave meeting rooms ready for the next meeting - Meeting rooms are often used by many different employees during the day. Tables should therefore be wiped down if there are visible spills, waste should be removed and chairs should be put back in place after the meeting. This supports more effective cleaning of your office premises and creates a better experience for the next person using the room.
Remove waste regularly - Overflowing bins quickly make shared areas feel untidy and uninviting. Make sure waste is placed in the correct containers and that larger packaging is not left by printers, coffee stations or in walkways.
Deal with spills straight away - Coffee on a table or water on the floor rarely improves by being left. A simple routine for quick clean-up helps prevent stains, odours and unnecessary wear on furniture and fittings.
Make cleaning supplies easy to access - Microfibre cloths, cleaning spray, hand sanitiser and paper towels should be placed strategically around the office. When supplies are easy to find, it is easier to respond quickly to smaller tasks.
The kitchen is often the area where clutter and poor hygiene appear first. That is why clear rules are important if you want to keep the office clean between professional cleaning visits.
Put dishes directly in the dishwasher - Cups and plates left on the kitchen counter for several days quickly create a messy impression. Make it a fixed habit to put dishes directly in the dishwasher after use.
Wipe tables and kitchen surfaces - Crumbs, coffee stains and food leftovers quickly build up in a busy kitchen. A quick wipe-down after use improves both workplace hygiene and the overall impression of the office.
Keep track of the fridge - Old lunches and forgotten leftovers can quickly cause unpleasant odours. Many businesses benefit from a fixed weekly routine where the fridge is checked every Friday.
Empty bins when needed - Waste containing food should not be left for too long. If bins fill up quickly, you may need an internal routine between each professional cleaning visit.
Start and empty the dishwasher - A full dishwasher helps no one. Consider a simple rota so the dishwasher is run and emptied regularly.
The best solution is often a clear division of responsibility. This ensures that everyone knows what they are expected to contribute and what is included in the professional office cleaning handled by your cleaning company.
Employees should typically:
Tidy up - Daily tidying is an important part of keeping an office clean. This applies to desks, meeting rooms and shared areas.
Clean up after themselves or load and empty the dishwasher - Dishes should not be left out for several days. This is a simple habit that improves both order and hygiene.
Wipe up small spills - Coffee, tea and food leftovers should be dealt with immediately instead of waiting for the next cleaning visit.
Keep track of food items - Old food in the fridge should be removed on an ongoing basis.
A cleaning company should typically handle:
Vacuuming and floor washing - These are central tasks in professional cleaning of office premises when carried out by an external cleaning company.
Cleaning toilets - Sanitary areas require fixed procedures and professional handling.
Thorough wiping of surfaces - Desks, contact surfaces and furniture should be included in regular office cleaning.
Waste handling - Many businesses choose to include emptying bins as part of their regular cleaning agreement.
Periodic specialist tasks - This may include deep cleaning, carpet cleaning or extra thorough cleaning of shared areas.
A clear cleaning agreement creates clear expectations and reduces the risk of misunderstandings between employees and the cleaning provider.
There is no single solution that suits every business. The need depends on factors such as the number of employees, the size of the office, how shared areas are used and the company’s daily routines.
For many offices, one or two weekly visits from a cleaning company are enough, provided that employees also help with daily routines. Other businesses need daily office cleaning, especially if many people share the kitchen, meeting rooms and communal facilities.
A fixed cleaning agreement makes it easier to ensure consistent quality and a clear plan for how professional cleaning should be carried out. At the same time, you can adjust the frequency if your needs change.
If you are unsure about the right frequency, you may find it useful to read our guide on how often an office should be cleaned. It covers the factors that determine the need for office cleaning and gives practical recommendations for different types of businesses.
Read our guide: How often should an office be cleaned?
A clean office is rarely the result of one large effort. It is the sum of many small habits, a well-functioning cleaning agreement and a shared understanding of how the workplace should be kept tidy between visits from your professional cleaning service.
Sources:
https://at.dk/faa-viden/siddende-og-staaende-arbejde/et-sundt-indeklima/
https://www.godtarbejdsmiljo.dk/stoej-lys-luft/rengoering-og-indeklima/tjekliste
https://www.godtarbejdsmiljo.dk/stoej-lys-luft/rengoering-og-indeklima
https://at.dk/kend-din-rolle/arbejdsgiver/arbejdsrum-paa-faste-arbejdssteder/
Guide: How to Keep Your Office Clean Between Cleaning Visits
