The OFFICE cleaning acronym to help any office cleaners
When cleaning any type of office area, it’s essential to examine the details of each specific site to provide just the right specification and cleaning service.
For example, a large office block on Colmore Row in Birmingham City Centre may involve a higher expectation of cleaning alongside other contractors and on cleaning substances, compared to a small office on the outskirts of Solihull.
However, you can still simplify things by creating an office cleaning checklist that is adapted for each scenario.
There’s a variety available, including our wider office cleaning checklist here, although here’s an even more straightforward way to look at it – six points each beginning with a separate letter of the acronym OFFICE:
1. O – Objects
Numerous items and objects will be around a typical office area that needs to be noted, such as filing cabinets and shelves, photocopiers and technical equipment, and, of course, people’s desks and workstations.
It’s critical to determine whether all of these are included in a clean and, if so, what needs doing. If not, accidents can happen, and blame can be given!
In particular, focus on people’s personal items often left on their desks or in drawers, or even coats on the coat hanger.
2. F – Furniture
Of course, this will be everywhere, including any hidden storage areas and other meeting rooms.
In addition to the obvious spots like surface wipes, check underneath desks and behind furniture. There may also be those that need special attention, like the reception desk or meeting room table.
3. F – Facilities
Clarify what facilities are included in the office cleaning specification, such as the kitchen and break-out areas and toilet facilities.
These may be the responsibility of someone else, such as the landlord and Managing Agent, particularly in a multi-let commercial office block.
Even where they are, check if regular workers will clean or at least clear them to some degree, for example, after large meetings and with external sandwiches and refreshments provided, or fill and empty the dishwasher at the start and end of each day.
4. I – Insides
Then, look at what all other inside areas of the office need addressing, such as marks and scruffs on walls and dusting along skirting boards.
Features such as glass screens and reception features may need special attention, as well as other ancillary services such as cleaning the internal (and maybe external) windows.
Also, any other related issues, such as how the refuse and bins are cleared, alongside any recycling measures, and where these are all taken.
5. C – Carpets
It often needs a good vacuum clean with a good-quality commercial machine! Watch out for issues such as spillages and cover as much area as possible under furniture or storage boxes.
Also, address non-carpet floor coverings such as mopping floors in kitchens and break-out areas and one-off rugs and floor features.
6. E – Extras
This can be a whole host of things depending upon the needs of the office business!
A good way to practically address these is to do a deeper clean less frequently, maybe every few months. This can cover in-depth cleaning of areas like walls and furniture, plus hidden ones like storage areas.
Establishing the correct office cleaning specification and checklist
Going through these above six points based on the OFFICE acronym is an excellent start to agreeing on the proper cleaning requirements for any office and commercial workspace areas.
Carefully discuss these with a good local cleaning company to ensure they are bespoke to your requirements. See if there’s any way the business itself occupying the office, or any wider landlord’s property managing agent, can be part of this to help reduce the workload and the cost, for example, providing cleaning substances and PPE and dealing with any ad-hoc services like larger meetings and events.
Contact us for any more help on this—we easily cover all aspects of office cleaning around Birmingham!
