Office cleaning: daily or weekly?

Booking office cleaning "once a week" seems enough until, by Wednesday, the kitchen is unusable. And daily cleaning can be overkill for a three-person office. These are the questions that help you get it right.

1. How many people work there each day?

This is the biggest factor. Up to 5 people, one or two visits a week are usually enough. From 5 to 20, two or three visits a week is typical. Above 20, or with shifts, daily cleaning makes sense.

2. Do you receive clients?

If your reception and meeting room are part of your company's image, as in a law firm, an estate agency or a clinic, they need to be perfect every morning, even if the rest of the office is cleaned less often.

3. Do you have a kitchen?

The kitchen and washrooms set the minimum frequency. If they're used daily, they need at least a quick clean every other day.

4. What kind of floor do you have?

Carpet and wood need frequent vacuuming; marble and tiles last longer between visits, but must be cleaned with the right product so they aren't damaged.

5. When is the best time for us to clean?

Office cleaning is normally done outside working hours, early in the morning or in the evening. That also affects the number of visits: an hour every day before opening is better than three hours on a single day.

A formula that works

In many offices the best approach is a combination: a short clean of washrooms, kitchen and reception several days a week, and a more thorough clean once a week. We'll put it in writing after seeing the office.