Why a specification matters
Office cleaning is usually contracted to a written specification – a list of tasks by area and frequency. It makes quotes comparable, gives both you and the cleaning company a clear standard and makes it easier to sort out problems.
The tasks below are typical. Your own specification should reflect how many people use the office, how often and how.
Daily tasks
In most offices, these are done every working day or every cleaning visit:
- Emptying bins and recycling
- Cleaning and restocking toilets and washrooms
- Cleaning kitchen worktops, sinks and tables
- Wiping touch points: door handles, light switches, lift buttons
- Vacuuming high-traffic carpets and mopping hard floors
- Spot-cleaning entrance glass
Weekly tasks
These are commonly done once or twice a week:
- Dusting and wiping clear desks (following any clear-desk policy)
- Cleaning meeting rooms
- Cleaning glass partitions
- Wiping skirting boards and window sills
- Cleaning the outsides of kitchen appliances
Get quotes from local cleaners
Periodic tasks
Done monthly, quarterly or annually, and sometimes priced separately:
- Carpet cleaning
- High-level dusting of lights, vents and ledges
- Kitchen deep cleans, including inside fridges and microwaves
- Internal window cleaning
- Hard floor deep cleaning or polishing
Other things to agree
Beyond the task list, agree cleaning times, access and key holding, who supplies consumables such as soap, paper towels and bin liners, how holidays and absences are covered, how quality is checked and how you report issues. Ask for evidence of insurance.
