When you outsource your cleaning requirements especially for your workplace, the simplest question that arises is ”what is included in office cleaning?”
Office cleaning typically includes dusting and disinfecting desks and high-touch points, vacuuming carpets, mopping hard floors, emptying bins, and hygienic kitchen and washroom cleans, on daily, weekly, and periodic schedules.
Professional office cleaning extends far beyond basic tidying. A clean workplace directly impacts employee health, productivity, and the first impression your business makes on clients and visitors. With workplace illness costing UK businesses £21.6 billion annually and 33.7 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury, proper hygiene protocols are essential for business continuity. This guide details exactly what’s included in professional office cleaning services, with practical checklists and cost breakdowns to help UK businesses make informed decisions.
Check out our comprehensive office cleaning checklist
What is Included in Office Cleaning Packages? (Core Tasks)
A well-specified office cleaning contract sets out the tasks your contractor will perform. Below is a typical scope. Of course, every contract is tailored after a site survey.
- Desks & workstations — dusting surfaces, wiping down, disinfecting phones, keyboards, monitors, and other electronics (with appropriate products)
- High-touch points — door handles, light switches, lift buttons, handrails, meeting room touchpoints
- Floors — vacuuming carpets, sweeping and mopping hard floors, spot/stain removal
- Kitchens/break rooms — wiping worktops and tables, cleaning sinks, appliances, refrigerator interiors (on schedule), sanitising bins
- Washrooms — toilets, basins, mirrors, partitions, tiles, restocking consumables (soap, hand towels, toilet paper)
- Reception & meeting rooms — cleaning tables, dusting, internal glass, soft seating, odour control
- Corridors/stairwells — skirtings, edges, glass panels, handrails, internal windows where applicable
- Windows & glass — internal glass or partitions (external glazing often as an add-on)
- Waste management — emptying general waste, recycling bins, safe handling and disposal
- Periodic deep cleans / specialist tasks — cleaning vents, HVAC grilles, upholstery, blinds, deep carpet shampoo or hot water extraction, descaling, appliance deep cleanse
Each item above may be scheduled daily, weekly or at other periodic frequencies depending on your office’s size, layout and usage.
Daily vs Weekly Office-Cleaning Checklists
| Daily Tasks | Weekly / Periodic Tasks |
| Empty all bins and replace liners | Dust reachable high surfaces (e.g., ledges, picture frames) |
| Wipe and disinfect desks, phones, and keyboards | Vacuum upholstery and soft seating |
| Clean coffee points, sinks, and break room worktops | Deep clean washroom walls, tiles, and grout |
| Clean washrooms: basins, toilets, mirrors; replenish consumables | Clean inside windows or glass partitions |
| Vacuum or sweep traffic routes | Descalcify taps, showers or appliances |
| Spot mop spillages on hard floors | Deep clean kitchen appliances (inside fridge, microwave) |
| Clean high-touch points (handles, switches, rails) | Clean vents, HVAC registers, air grilles |
| Tidy reception and entrance floors | Clean blinds, Venetian slats |
| Dust common surfaces (shelving, low partitions) | Edge-sweep skirtings, corners |
| — | Carpet spot treatments/stain removal |
| — | Review and replace consumables stock |
| — | Cleaning audits and supervisor checks |
How Much Does Commercial Cleaning Cost per m² in the UK (2025)?
Below is a guideline (indicative only) to help you benchmark quotes. Always ask providers to show how they derive their costs.
| Office size (m²) | Frequency (visits/week) | Typical scope | Approx cost per visit* |
| 100–300 m² | 5 (daily) | Basic daily + washrooms/kitchen | £120–£250 |
| 300–800 m² | 5 | full daily + weekly deep tasks | £300–£600 |
| 800–1,500 m² | 5 or 3 | mix of daily + periodic extras | £600–£1,200 |
| 1,500+ m² | 3-5 | full service, possibly night shifts | negotiable |
Key Cost Drivers of Office Cleaning Services:
- Size & Layout: Larger spaces benefit from economies of scale, whilst complex layouts increase cleaning time requirements.
- Frequency & Scheduling: Daily cleaning offers better value than multiple weekly visits. Evening and weekend scheduling may incur premium rates.
- Scope & Specifications: Kitchen and washroom cleaning, specialist equipment, and high-security areas affect pricing structures.
- Access & Security: Key-holding services, alarm responsibilities, and restricted access procedures impact service costs.
- Consumables & Supplies: Whether cleaning materials, toilet rolls, and hand soap are client- or contractor-supplied affects monthly costs.
- Certifications & Compliance: BICSc-trained staff, insurance levels, and accreditation requirements influence service pricing.
For more accurate quotations and exact cost breakdowns, contact Inter County to get free quotes for extensive deep cleanings for your office space. We promise to get back to you in 48 hours!
Are Eco-Friendly Chemicals Really Safer for Staff?
Eco-friendly chemicals, or green cleaning products, meeting EN standards and featuring low-VOC formulations, offer significant advantages for indoor environments. These products utilise microfibre cleaning methods that reduce chemical dependency whilst maintaining efficacy.
- Benefits: better indoor air quality, fewer chemical odours, less risk of skin or respiratory irritation, and reduced environmental footprint.
- Caveats: not all “green” claims are equal. The efficacy depends on correct dilution, contact/dwell time, compatibility with surfaces, and staff training.
- UK guidance: the HSE emphasises following COSHH assessments, safety data sheets (SDS), correct PPE, and operator training, regardless of chemical type.
- Industry best practice: many BICSc-trained providers use a hybrid approach — using more benign chemicals routinely, reserving stronger agents for identified high-risk tasks (e.g., sanitising after contamination).
- Tip: In your tender/specification, require that your contractor use products certified under recognised standards (e.g. EU Ecolabel or Nordic Swan) and submit SDS/COSHH sheets for all products.
In short: yes, eco-cleaning can be safer — but only with proper procedure, training, and oversight.
Compliance, Training & Records You Should Expect
A trustworthy cleaning provider should integrate safety, standards and transparency into their operations. Here’s what to look for:
- Industry-aligned methods & colour-coding (e.g., separate cloths for washrooms, kitchens, offices) as encouraged by BICSc
- COSHH risk assessments & SDS for all cleaning chemicals, with accessible records
- ISO 45001 or equivalent health & safety management (where applicable)
- RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements) for each job
- Staff induction & ongoing training (toolbox talks, refresher training)
- Vetting, DBS checks (if in sensitive environments)
- Supervisor or QA sign-off after each shift
- Digital logs and audit trails — cleaning checklists, audits, KPI reporting, corrective actions
- Incident and complaint management — ability to track, log and respond.
Scheduling, Security & Key-Holding Protocols
Because offices often must be cleaned out of hours, security and scheduling become crucial:
- Shift timing & noise-sensitive work — many tasks (floor machines, carpet cleaning) require quiet windows
- Lone-worker policies — remote reporting, check-ins, buddy systems
- Key-holding & alarm codes — strict protocols, limited access, logging entry/exit
- Opening/locking procedures — contractor signs off to accept responsibility
- Business continuity — cover for staff absence, absence backup, supervisor visits
- Insurance & liability — ensure the provider carries public liability and property damage cover
- Clear, documented protocols help reduce risk and ambiguity in operating hours.
Business Impact: Hygiene, Productivity & First Impressions
Professional cleaning delivers measurable business benefits beyond basic tidiness. With work-related illness costing the UK economy £21.6 billion annually, prevention through proper hygiene protocols offers a significant return on investment.
Health & Productivity Benefits
- Reduced Absence: Systematic disinfection of high-touch surfaces significantly reduces transmission of common illnesses, lowering staff sick leave costs.
- Improved Air Quality: Regular cleaning removes dust, allergens, and pollutants that affect concentration and respiratory health, supporting productivity levels.
- Mental Wellbeing: Clean, organised environments reduce stress and support positive mental health, contributing to employee satisfaction and retention.
Did You Know? Research indicates that the average office desk harbours significantly more bacteria than typical washroom facilities, making regular disinfection essential for workplace health.
Professional Image Impact
Client Perception: First impressions form within seconds of entering premises. Clean reception areas, fresh-smelling environments, and well-maintained facilities communicate professionalism and attention to detail.
- Employee Pride: Staff take greater pride in their workplace when facilities are well-maintained, improving morale and company culture.
- Business Reputation: Consistent cleanliness standards support brand reputation and client confidence, which is particularly important for client-facing businesses.
What is Included in Office Cleaning with Inter County Service Group
Here’s a model of how you might present your service offering (adapt as needed):
- Site survey & bespoke cleaning plan (frequency, tasks, zones)
- Measurable KPIs, digital reporting and audit feedback
- Trained, uniformed staff supervised by on-site leads
- Eco-friendly options, controlled dilution systems, and SDS management
- Consumables management (soap, paper, hand sanitisers)
- Waste and recycling streams hare and led responsibly
- Optional add-ons: carpet & upholstery care, window cleaning, washroom hygiene services
- Coverage across Northampton, Milton Keynes and adjoining areas
- 48-hour turnaround on bespoke quotes
Be sure your contract documentation clearly states exactly which tasks are included (and which are extras) to avoid ambiguity.
Ready for a Cleaner, Healthier Workplace?
Choosing the right office cleaning provider is about more than cost per metre – it’s about clarity, compliance, consistency, and trust. Inter County Service Group delivers tailored cleaning plans designed around your people, your premises, and your priorities.
Get your free site survey and a tailored quote within 48 hours for offices in Northampton, Milton Keynes, and surrounding areas.
- Phone number: 01933 315 872
- Request a Quote Online
- Write to us at: enquiries@intercountyltd.co.uk
- Visit us at: Inter County Ltd, Brindley Close, Rushden, NN10 6EN, Monday – Friday – 08:00 – 17:30, Saturday – Sunday – Closed.
FAQs
1. What does a daily office clean include?
A. A daily clean typically involves bin emptying, desk surface wiping/disinfection, floor vacuuming or spot-mopping, washroom sanitising and restocking, cleaning high-touch points, and kitchen area wipe-down.
2. How often should an office be professionally cleaned?
A. Most offices benefit from daily cleaning. Some periodic tasks (deep cleans, vents, upholstery, window interiors) may occur weekly, monthly or quarterly depending on usage.
3. Do you supply cleaning materials and consumables?
A. Yes, the cleaning contractor normally supplies all cleaning materials, chemicals, consumables (toilet rolls, soap, hand towels) and equipment, unless explicitly excluded in your agreement.
4. Are eco cleaning products as effective?
A. They can be, provided they are properly selected, diluted, and used with the correct dwell times. The efficacy depends on correct application rather than simply being “green.”
5. Are your staff vetted and insured?
A. Yes, staff are background-checked (DBS where required), fully insured (public liability, employers’ liability), and follow documented security and key-holding procedures.