How Often Should an Office Be Cleaned?

 Quick Answer:

An office should be cleaned daily in high-traffic or shared environments. Smaller or hybrid workplaces may get away with cleaning three times a week. Deep cleaning, including carpets, windows, and air vents, should be done monthly or quarterly depending on use.

Why Does Office Cleaning Frequency Matter?

Let’s be real. People notice grime. That sticky spot on the breakroom counter, the fingerprints on glass doors, the “mystery smell” in the bathroom—it all adds up. Cleanliness doesn’t just affect hygiene; it affects morale, productivity, and how your business is perceived.

And in the post-COVID world, skipping regular cleaning isn’t just unhygienic—it’s negligent.

In Melbourne, where open-plan offices, coworking spaces, and hybrid schedules are common, office cleaning frequency isn’t one-size-fits-all. But there are benchmarks worth following.

How Often Do Most Offices Get Cleaned?

Here’s a rough frequency guide based on industry norms and practical outcomes:

Daily Cleaning (5x/week)

• Large offices with 20+ staff

• Shared spaces (co-working, government, education)

• Medical or allied health admin offices

• Food-adjacent businesses (e.g., cafes with upstairs offices)

Includes:
 General surface cleaning
 Kitchenettes, restrooms
 Vacuuming/mopping high-traffic zones
 Bin collection
 Disinfection of touchpoints (handles, switches)

Why?
With dozens of people using shared spaces, germs spread fast. Plus, clients notice mess.

Three Times a Week

• Medium-sized offices (8–20 staff) with low public traffic

• Hybrid teams (office half-full most days)

Includes:
 Bathrooms and kitchens every visit
 Dusting and vacuuming key zones
 Scheduled bin emptying
 Spot-cleaning visible surfaces

Why?
It keeps things functional and hygienic without overcommitting budget.

Once a Week

• Small offices with under 5 people

• Sole traders or remote teams using an office part-time

Includes:
 General tidy-up
 Vacuum and mop
 Restock essentials (soap, toilet paper)
 Bathroom and bin reset

Why?
Minimal use means lower mess—but someone still has to clean the toilet, right?

Should You Schedule Deep Cleaning Separately?

Absolutely. Regular cleaning is like brushing your teeth. Deep cleaning is the dentist visit—it catches what daily habits miss.

Deep cleaning checklist:

• Carpet steam cleaning

• Upholstery shampooing

• Window and blind cleaning

• Air vent and duct cleaning

• Fridge interiors

• Grout scrubbing and mould checks

Frequency:

• Carpets: Every 3–6 months

• Windows: Quarterly or after bad weather

• Ducts: Annually

Pro tip: Sync your deep cleans with seasonal shifts—especially spring (pollen), and late winter (flu season).

Does Cleaning Frequency Change by Season?

Yes. Here’s how Melbourne’s seasons play into office cleanliness:

• Winter: Higher illness rates = more disinfection required

• Spring: Pollen and dust allergies spike—clean air filters, windows, and desks

• Summer: Kitchen bins need closer attention (odour risk!)

• Autumn: Leaves get tracked in—more mopping, especially near entrances

Adjusting your cleaning schedule seasonally shows foresight—and keeps your team healthier.

What About Hybrid and Flexible Workplaces?

Great question. Hybrid work has thrown a curveball into office cleaning schedules.

You can’t just go by the number of desks anymore—you need to measure occupancy patterns. For example, if you’ve got 20 employees but only 7 show up daily, you might stagger your cleaning like this:

• Mon/Wed/Fri: Full clean

• Tue/Thurs: Light refresh (bathrooms, kitchen, bins)

Some workplaces also assign cleaning duties to staff, but let’s be honest—unless you’ve got an office manager who loves scrubbing microwaves, that system tends to break down fast.

Are There Health or Legal Standards to Follow?

Yep. According to Safe Work Australia, employers are legally obligated to provide a safe and hygienic work environment.

That includes:

• Regular cleaning of shared areas

• Adequate hygiene supplies

• Safe waste disposal

• Minimising trip or slip hazards (wet floors, cords)

Failing to meet these standards isn’t just gross—it could expose your business to liability.

FAQ

Is cleaning every day too much for a small office?
Not necessarily. If you’ve got shared kitchens, bathrooms, or frequent client visits, daily cleaning adds value even for small teams.

Can we skip cleaning if the office is empty most days?
Only to a point. Dust, odours, and bacteria don’t care if you’re WFH. A weekly clean is still essential.

Should staff clean up after themselves?
Sure—but don’t expect miracles. A professional clean fills the gaps that the “who left this mess?” emails never solve.

Final Thought

There’s no magic number when it comes to how often an office should be cleaned. It’s a balance between usage, image, budget, and employee expectations. But here’s the thing—when cleaning is too infrequent, everyone notices. When it’s done well and often, no one says a word. And that’s the point.

If you're rethinking your cleaning schedule, it helps to know what is expected of an office cleaner before you cut back—or invest more.