How To Create a Cleaning Schedule for Your Office

When you’re running a business, it’s easy to forget office cleaning duties. While you’re busy hustling through projects, dust is accumulating on your desk, dishes are stacking up in the sink, and crumbs are gathering on the floor.

An unclean office is not only unsightly, it’s unhealthy. Your employees are less productive and your business isn’t making a good impression. Not to mention the safety and sanitary concerns!

The best way to combat workplace uncleanliness is to create a cleaning schedule for your office. It may sound like a daunting task, but creating a cleaning schedule is simply about managing your needs and making a plan.

There’s a lot to consider in creating an office cleaning schedule. Here are a few tips to get your started from the professionals at Cascade Building Services.

What Type of Cleaning Services Do You Need?

Every business is different. Office cleaning needs vary by business too. The first step is to figure out what kind of cleaning services you need and how often. For example, janitorial services are often performed nightly, while carpet cleaning may only happen occasionally.

Here are a few common cleaning services for office buildings:

• Janitorial Services
• Carpet Cleaning
• Floor Maintenance
• Property Maintenance
• Recycling
• Window Cleaning

Janitorial Services

When many business owners think of cleaning services, they think of janitorial services. Janitorial services include cleaning floors, windows, desks, kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Most janitorial services also include basic property maintenance, like light bulb replacement or limited plumbing work.

Carpet Cleaning

Most business owners view carpet cleaning as a hassle, but experts say it should be done twice a year. Make sure your cleaning provider uses a non-toxic cleaning agent and a low-moisture system. With this approach, your carpet can be dry in as little as two hours. You can even schedule your carpet cleaning on a weeknight without missing a beat.

Floor Maintenance

Floor maintenance is about more than mopping or sweeping. Proper floor maintenance can boost your company’s image and help you avoid costly flooring replacements. Floor maintenance providers not only remove dirt buildup from your floor, but also restore and protect your floors from future damage.

Property Maintenance

If you’re a hands-on business owner, you might not mind getting your hands dirty. That doesn’t mean you should! When it comes to property maintenance, it’s best to leave the dirty work to the professionals. Grounds maintenance, electrical work, plumbing, and more can be outsourced so you can focus on your business.

Recycling

Just because your area or building doesn’t offer recycling pickup, doesn’t mean your business is out of luck. Commercial recycling services make it easy for your business to go green. Especially for companies with a lot of paper needs, recycling is a great way to reduce your trash bill and help the environment. Plus, your cleaning provider can help you comply with local regulations.

Window Cleaning

Is it dark outside or do your windows need cleaning? Professional window cleaning removes grime from office windows without leaving streaks or smears. Window sills, tracks, and ledges need to be cleaned too.

Cleaning Schedule Considerations

There are a few specific considerations you should make before you create an office cleaning schedule.

Company Size

How big is your company? Both small and large companies need cleaning services, but their needs and schedules will look different based on size. It’s likely that a business with only a handful of employees will need a less ambitious cleaning schedule than a larger company.

Typical Output

In addition to the amount of cleaning required, it’s also important to identify the type of output that requires cleaning. Does your office generate a lot of paper? Cardboard boxes? Food waste? Be sure to take your output into consideration when scheduling a cleaning service.

Seasonal or Quarterly Events

Some offices hold occasional events that can affect the cleaning services needed. Such events could include meetings, parties, workshops, networking events, and more. Any event that brings in more people than usual will typically create the need for more cleaning than usual.

Consider whether the events you hold are sporadic one-time events, or more regularly scheduled. Be sure to adjust your cleaning schedule accordingly and let your service provider know in advance.

Safety & Sustainability

Not all cleaning products are created equal. For your safety and the safety of your employees, we recommend using non-toxic cleaners. Harsh chemicals can be harmful to you and the environment. Make sure your cleaners are using safe, healthy products that are free of allergens too.

What Areas of Your Office Need Cleaning?

Most business owners don’t realize just how much space they have that needs cleaning. Office cleaning goes far beyond tidying desks and taking out the trash!

All of these common office areas need regular cleaning:

• Private Offices
• Employee Workstations
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens, Lunchrooms or Breakrooms
• Reception & Customer- or Client-Facing Areas
• Conference Room

Pay special attention to customer- or client-facing areas. Nothing blows a first impression quite like a dirty workspace. Also, don’t forget areas like kitchen and bathrooms require extra care for health and safety.

How Often Should You Schedule Office Cleaning?

As you can see, your office cleaning schedule is determined by a variety of factors. Take your own circumstances into consideration to create a cleaning schedule that’s right for your business.

Offices commonly schedule cleaning at these frequencies:

• Nightly
• Weekly
• Biweekly
• Monthly
• One-time visit

Large office buildings likely need nightly cleaning services, while smaller business might be able to get away with scheduling cleaning as needed. Work with your cleaning service provider to come up with a schedule that suits your needs.

What Time Should You Schedule Office Cleaning?

It’s not common for a cleaning company to work during business hours. The last thing you need is the sound of vacuums while you’re trying to work! That’s why cleaning companies hold flexible hours.

For example, Cascade Building Services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Typically office cleaning is done during the evening, night, and weekends. It’s really about what’s most convenient for you and your business.

Take The Next Step: Get A Quote

No matter how you create a cleaning schedule for your office, the first step towards making it happen is to get a quote.

You can get a free, no-obligation quote from Cascade Building Services today. If you’re located in the Portland or Vancouver metro areas, we’d love to show you how we can help with all your office cleaning needs.

If you have any questions about creating a cleaning schedule for your Pacific Northwest business, give Cascade Building Services a call at (503) 850-0710. We’re here to help!