When you hire a professional cleaning company, you expect a clean office. But what exactly does that include? Understanding what’s covered in a standard office clean helps set proper expectations and ensures you’re getting the value you’re paying for. At Abels Cleaning & Restoration, our standard office cleaning services in Hobart follow comprehensive protocols that cover all essential areas while remaining flexible enough to meet your specific needs.
A standard office clean differs from specialty services like carpet shampooing or window washing. Think of it as the regular maintenance that keeps your workplace consistently clean, presentable, and hygienic between more intensive deep cleaning sessions.
Reception and Entry Areas
First impressions matter tremendously. Your reception area receives attention that reflects its importance as the face of your business.
Standard cleaning includes vacuuming or mopping all floor surfaces, dusting and wiping down the reception desk and counters, cleaning glass doors and windows at entry points, removing fingerprints and smudges, emptying rubbish bins and replacing liners, dusting window sills and any decorative items, wiping down chairs and seating areas, and spot cleaning any marks on walls.
Reception areas often accumulate dirt quickly due to foot traffic from outside. Professional cleaners pay particular attention to entrance matting and the immediate area inside doors where dirt concentrates. During wet weather, this area may require additional attention to manage moisture and prevent slippery conditions.
Workstations and Office Desks
Workstations represent where your team spends most of their time. Standard cleaning respects personal spaces while maintaining cleanliness.
Cleaners empty individual desk bins and replace liners, dust desk surfaces and remove crumbs or debris, wipe down phones and keyboards if accessible, clean computer monitors and screens, dust shelving units and filing cabinets, vacuum around and under desks, and spot clean any visible marks on desks.
Professional cleaners respect personal items and paperwork. They won’t move documents, reorganise desks, or clean inside drawers unless specifically requested. This maintains privacy while ensuring the visible workspace stays clean and presentable.
Shared Office Areas
Common areas require thorough attention as they’re used by everyone and create lasting impressions on visitors.
Standard services include vacuuming all carpeted areas throughout the office, sweeping and mopping hard surface floors, dusting window sills, ledges, and horizontal surfaces, wiping down communal tables and shared workspaces, cleaning glass partitions and interior windows, emptying all rubbish bins and recycling containers, and spot cleaning marks on walls and light switches.
Meeting rooms receive special attention before business hours, ensuring they’re pristine for client meetings or staff gatherings. This includes wiping down tables and chairs, cleaning whiteboards, vacuuming or mopping floors, and arranging chairs neatly.
Kitchen and Break Room Cleaning
Kitchens can quickly become unhygienic without proper attention. Standard office cleaning provides comprehensive kitchen maintenance.
Services include wiping down and sanitising all benchtops and counters, cleaning the exterior of appliances including fridges, microwaves, kettles, and dishwashers, washing any dishes left in the sink, loading or unloading dishwashers, wiping down the interior of microwaves, cleaning sinks and taps thoroughly, emptying rubbish and recycling bins, sweeping and mopping floors, and spot cleaning splashes on cabinet fronts and walls.
Some cleaning companies charge extra for dish washing, considering it beyond standard service. At Abels, we include reasonable dish washing as part of standard kitchen cleaning, understanding that a truly clean kitchen includes clean dishes.
Bathroom Sanitisation
Bathrooms demand the highest hygiene standards. Standard cleaning includes comprehensive bathroom sanitisation using commercial-grade disinfectants.
Cleaners thoroughly clean and disinfect all toilet bowls, seats, and handles, wipe down and disinfect sinks, taps, and countertops, clean mirrors and remove water spots and streaks, wipe down bathroom partitions and doors, sanitise door handles and light switches, refill soap dispensers, paper towels, and toilet paper, empty rubbish bins and replace liners, sweep and mop floors with disinfectant, and spot clean walls around sinks and fixtures.
Professional bathroom cleaning uses proper disinfection techniques with appropriate dwell times to ensure effective sanitisation. Different products suit different surfaces, and experienced cleaners know which products work best for tiles, stainless steel, mirrors, and floors.
Floor Care Standards
Floor maintenance represents a significant component of standard office cleaning. The approach varies by floor type.
For carpeted areas, standard service includes thorough vacuuming of all accessible areas, paying extra attention to high-traffic zones like hallways and entrances, spot treating visible stains when possible, and vacuuming under desks and around furniture where accessible.
Hard surface floors receive sweeping or dust mopping to remove loose dirt, wet mopping using appropriate cleaning solutions, paying extra attention to corners and edges, and spot cleaning scuff marks and spills.
Professional office cleaning in Hobart ensures floors are left clean and dry, preventing slip hazards and maintaining a polished appearance throughout your workspace.
Dusting and Surface Cleaning
Dust accumulation affects air quality and appearance. Standard cleaning includes comprehensive dusting throughout the office.
Services cover all horizontal surfaces including desks, shelves, window sills, and ledges, picture frames and wall decorations, filing cabinets and storage units, baseboards in high-visibility areas, and light switch plates and door frames.
High dusting of ceiling fans, air vents, and high ledges typically falls into periodic deep cleaning rather than standard daily or weekly service. However, these areas should be addressed regularly according to your office cleaning frequency and specific needs.
High-Touch Surface Sanitisation
Particularly relevant for health and hygiene, high-touch surfaces receive special attention with disinfectant products.
Standard cleaning includes sanitising door handles and push plates, light switches, handrails and banisters, elevator buttons, shared equipment like printers and photocopiers, kitchen appliance handles, bathroom fixtures, and telephone handsets at communal areas.
This sanitisation reduces the spread of germs and viruses, contributing to a healthier workplace with fewer sick days. During cold and flu season, many businesses request additional attention to these surfaces.
Rubbish Removal and Recycling
Waste management represents a fundamental part of office cleaning. Standard service includes emptying all rubbish bins throughout the office, replacing bin liners, removing rubbish to the designated collection area, and emptying recycling bins.
Cleaners typically consolidate all rubbish into larger bins or bags for removal to your building’s waste collection point. If your office has specific recycling requirements or multiple waste stream separation, communicate these needs to ensure proper handling.
What’s Typically NOT Included
Understanding exclusions helps avoid disappointment and allows you to budget for additional services when needed.
Standard office cleaning typically doesn’t include exterior window cleaning above ground floor, professional carpet shampooing or steam cleaning, upholstery cleaning for chairs and sofas, cleaning inside personal drawers or cabinets, decluttering or organising personal items, cleaning inside refrigerators beyond wiping visible surfaces, pressure cleaning external areas, or moving heavy furniture for cleaning underneath.
These specialty services are usually available as add-ons or scheduled separately as periodic deep cleaning. Many businesses combine regular standard cleaning with quarterly or annual deep cleaning services for comprehensive maintenance.
Customising Your Standard Clean
While “standard” suggests a fixed service, professional cleaning companies understand every office has unique needs. Having a comprehensive office cleaning checklist allows you to communicate specific priorities.
You might request additional attention to certain areas, prefer specific products for sensitive surfaces, or need services adjusted around your business hours. Good cleaning companies accommodate reasonable customisation within their standard service framework.
For example, medical offices might require more intensive sanitisation. Professional offices hosting frequent client meetings might prioritise reception and meeting rooms. Creative agencies might need careful handling around expensive equipment.
Quality and Consistency
Standard cleaning should deliver consistent results every visit. Professional companies provide trained staff who follow established protocols, ensuring the same quality regardless of which team member performs the work.
Regular supervision and quality checks maintain standards. If you notice inconsistencies or declining quality, address concerns immediately with your cleaning company. Professional providers welcome feedback and use it to improve service delivery.
Supply of Cleaning Products and Equipment
Standard office cleaning typically includes all necessary cleaning products, disinfectants, and equipment. Professional companies invest in commercial-grade products that deliver superior results compared to retail alternatives.
You’re generally responsible for providing consumables your staff uses directly like toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, and rubbish bags. However, this varies between providers, so clarify these details in your service agreement.
The Value of Professional Standards
While standard cleaning might sound basic, professional execution makes a significant difference. Trained cleaners work efficiently using proven techniques, they understand which products work best for different surfaces, they spot potential issues before they become problems, and they maintain consistent quality that in-house cleaning often struggles to match.
Abels Cleaning & Restoration has served Hobart businesses since 1985, delivering reliable standard cleaning services that businesses trust. Our experienced team understands what constitutes truly clean, and we’re committed to exceeding expectations on every visit.
Standard office cleaning creates the foundation for a healthy, productive workplace. When performed consistently by professionals who care about quality, it transforms your office environment, making it more pleasant for staff and more impressive for clients. Understanding what’s included helps you appreciate the value you’re receiving and ensures your office gets the attention it deserves.