When you start a janitorial business, you are probably developing many processes such as a cleaning checklist for your employees. 

Why Is a Commercial Cleaning Checklist Important?

Your clients want to know your company is keeping the promises made to them. Like any other job, the quality of work is important, and your business needs to stand out above all the rest. When you do great work, you will build your customer’s confidence. 

When you clean commercial sites, you are probably very detailed. By developing a commercial cleaning checklist, you can also ensure your employees follow the same processes you do. 

The cleaning checklist also ensures there are few errors and will help your employees follow your standards. You can also discuss and show your cleaning checklist to your potential clients when bidding on jobs. 

What’s Included in an Office Cleaning? 

When creating your checklist, ensure you develop a specific checklist for each client. We will give a detailed template for cleaning, but you should determine what is also important for your client.

Along with your checklist, you should present other key factors to your client. For example, they should understand how a thorough cleaning with your checklist helps their employees and their assets. Present all the advantages. There is a direct correlation between a clean work environment and employee health. A clean and sanitized environment can help reduce employee sick days. They may already know this, but it is important they know you know this. 

When they hire you, they may have a list of specific areas or items they want cleaned that isn’t included in your checklist. Therefore, highlight any specific needs they request on the cleaning checklist. 

For example, if they own a building with medical equipment, you want to ensure you meet their cleaning and sanitizing standards. Some offices or buildings are inspected by outside agencies too, and you want to ensure they meet all inspection requirements in which your business is involved. 

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What Should a Cleaning Schedule Include?

You should develop a schedule for daily, weekly, and monthly needs. If your client doesn’t have high traffic areas, you may not need to clean those areas as often. Likewise, if an area has more high traffic, you may need to clean more frequently. 

Here are the top areas in every building:

Reception Area Commercial Cleaning Checklist

Daily schedule:

• Clean and disinfect all desks, waiting room tables, chairs, and any hard surfaces.
• Dust and clean front doors on both sides, door handles, and if they are glass, ensure there are no fingerprints or smudges. 
• Dust window shades and fans. 
• Empty all trash cans and replace liners. Also, ensure you clean up any spills or dirt in the trash cans.
• Replenish water cups at the water cooler, bring in a new water tank if needed.
• Throw out old coffee and filter, rinse, and wipe down the coffee pot.
• Dust any railings, signs, and tops of picture frames. 
• Organize and wipe off the tops of any books in the lobby. For magazines, ensure they are in good shape, tidy, and organized.
• Clean and dust windows and windowsills if there are any fingerprints or smudges.
• Disinfect areas where people touch such as phones, lamps, TV remotes, buttons, door handles, etc. 
• Vacuum carpets, sweep, and mop floors.
• Clean doormats and straighten them. 

Weekly schedule:

• Clean and dust windows thoroughly and the borders around them.
• Dust all edges and crown molding on the walls. Eliminate cobwebs.

Monthly schedule:

• Shampoo carpets once a month. 

Offices or Cubicle Areas Commercial Cleaning Checklist

Daily Schedule:

• Clean and disinfect all desks, chairs, shelves, and any hard surfaces.
• Dust window shades and fans. 
• Dust computer monitors and computer equipment.
• Empty all trash cans and replace liners. Also, ensure you clean up any spills or dirt in the trash cans. 
• Dust any railings, signs, and tops of picture frames. 
• Clean and dust windows and windowsills if there are any fingerprints or smudges.
• Dust HVAC vents.
• Disinfect areas where people touch such as phones, lamps door handles, etc. 
• Vacuum carpets, sweep, and mop floors.
• Clean doormats and straighten them. 
• Collect and clean any kitchen items and return them to the kitchen.

Weekly schedule:

• Clean and dust windows thoroughly and the borders around them.
• Dust all edges and crown molding on the walls. Eliminate cobwebs.

Monthly schedule:

• Shampoo carpets once a month. 

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Kitchen or Break Room Commercial Cleaning Checklist

Daily Schedule:

• Empty refrigerator of old food. Notify employees ahead of time. 
• Wipe down refrigerator shelves and disinfect. 
• Wash any coffee cups or leftover dishes.
• Clean and disinfect counters, chairs, tables, and any hard surfaces. 
• Clean and disinfect the sink, faucets, and cooking appliances.
• Dust window shades and fans. 
• Empty all trash cans and replace liners. Also, ensure you clean up any spills or dirt in the trash cans.
• Dust any railings, signs, and tops of picture frames. 
• Clean and dust windows and windowsills if there are any fingerprints or smudges.
• Dust HVAC vents.
• Disinfect any other areas where people touch such as door handles. 
• Vacuum carpets, sweep, and mop floors.
• Clean doormats and straighten them. 

Weekly schedule:

Clean and dust windows thoroughly and the borders around them.

Dust all edges and crown molding on the walls. Eliminate cobwebs.

Bathroom Commercial Cleaning Checklist

Daily Schedule:

• Disinfect all sinks, paper towel dispensers, hand dryers, hard surfaces, and anywhere else someone touches. 
• Disinfect toilet seats. Clean and disinfect the toilet bowl, and the sides of the toilet bowl. 
• Clean any mirrors.
• Refill toilet paper, paper towels, and soap dispensers. 
• Ensure hand dryers work properly. Also, notify maintenance or management if something is broken. 
• Empty all trash cans and replace liners. Also, ensure you clean up any spills or dirt in the trash cans.
• Dust any railings, signs, and tops of picture frames. 
• Dust HVAC vents.
• Disinfect any other areas where people touch such as door handles. 
• Mop and disinfect the floors thoroughly.
• Clean doormats and straighten them. 

Weekly schedule:

• Dust all edges and crown molding on the walls. Eliminate cobwebs

Exterior Commercial Cleaning Checklist

If there is an exterior area to the office, take some time to clean outside the door. It is the first area that customers see, and it should be presentable. 

Daily Schedule:

• Sweep any leaves, branches, or debris that is near the front door. Clear the walkway of debris.
• Clean the welcome mats and straighten them. 

• Clean glass doors and windows.
• Empty outdoor trashcans and ashtrays. Ensure there are no smells.  
• Notify management of any area or anything that needs to be fixed, bushes need to be trimmed, or flower beds need to be weeded.

For All Hallways and Other Areas Not Mentioned

• Clean and disinfect hard surfaces.
• Clean and dust any doors, windows, windowsills, and shades.
• Empty all trash cans and replace liners. If the cans are dirty or liquids have spilled, ensure they are cleaned too. 
• Throw out old coffee and filter, rinse, and wipe down the coffee pot.
• Dust any railings, signs, and tops of picture frames. 
• Disinfect areas where people touch such as door handles. 
• Vacuum carpets, sweep, and mop floors.
• Clean doormats and straighten them. 

Final Thoughts on Developing Your Commercial Cleaning Checklist

If you are unsure of the location your employees are working, you can track all your janitorial staff members with the ezClocker janitorial time clock app. Furthermore, there is a GPS function to verify they are on the job site. You will know instantly who is at what location and if they have clocked in and out as well.

When touring a facility in which you will bid, note all areas and think about the little things that may be easily missed. Once your checklists are finalized and your employees start working, conduct pop-up inspections when it is getting close to the end of their shift. Ensure your bid and your promises are kept to the client. Once you have great processes in place, those clients will tell other clients about your exceptional service.

Author: Kimberley Kay Travis

Kim Travis has over 20 years of experience in business, human resource management, and leadership roles. She has specialized knowledge in employment law, employee relations, recruiting, management consulting, small business growth, leadership development, workplace safety and health programs, and writing business content.

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