SOPStarter

Office Cleaning SOP Template

I wrote this for in-house cleaners and cleaning contractors who look after a typical office. It sets an order of work so clean areas are not re-contaminated, and a sign-off so the result can be checked.

Purpose

Keep the office clean, hygienic and safe for staff and visitors, and make sure each cleaning visit does the same tasks in the same order with the right products.

Scope

Covers routine cleaning of desks, meeting rooms, kitchens, toilets, floors and shared areas in office space. Window cleaning, carpet deep-cleaning and biohazard clean-up are specialist work and out of scope.

Roles and responsibilities

RoleResponsibility
CleanerCarries out the tasks in this procedure, uses products safely and reports issues.
Cleaning supervisorAssigns areas, checks work, restocks supplies and handles complaints.
Office managerSets access and schedule, receives reports and signs off the monthly check.

Prerequisites

  • Cleaning schedule showing areas, frequency and time slots
  • Colour-coded cloths and mops for toilets, kitchens and general areas
  • Product data sheets for every chemical, stored in a known place
  • Gloves, wet floor signs, bin liners and consumables stocked
  • Keys or access card, and the alarm code if you work out of hours

Procedure

  1. Prepare equipment and check supplies. Collect the trolley, check the colour-coded cloths and mops are clean, and make sure you have gloves, bin liners and toilet consumables. Note anything that is running low.
  2. Put on gloves and set out signs. Wear gloves for all tasks and change them between toilets and other areas. Put wet floor signs out before you start mopping.
  3. Empty bins and recycling. Empty bins in every area, replace liners, and take waste to the correct containers. Separate recycling and confidential paper as the office policy says.
  4. Dust and wipe high to low. Dust surfaces, shelves and ledges, then wipe desks, door handles, light switches and telephones with a clean damp cloth. Work from high to low so dust falls onto surfaces still to be cleaned.
  5. Clean meeting rooms. Clear cups, wipe tables and chair arms, clean whiteboards and reset chairs. Report anything left behind to the office manager.
  6. Clean the kitchen. Clean the sink, taps, hob and worktops with the kitchen colour, wipe the outside of the fridge and microwave, and empty the dishwasher filter if you are asked to. Never use a kitchen cloth anywhere else.
  7. Clean the toilets last in the building order. Apply cleaner to toilets and urinals first and let it stand. Clean mirrors, sinks, taps and surfaces, then toilets and urinals, and mop the floor with the toilet mop. Restock soap, paper and hand towels.
  8. Vacuum and mop floors. Vacuum carpets and mats, working back towards the exit. Mop hard floors with the right dilution and leave a wet floor sign until dry.
  9. Check your work. Walk each area and look for missed spots, streaks, bin liners left out and items out of place. Fix what you find.
  10. Store chemicals and equipment. Rinse and hang cloths and mops to dry, return products to the locked cupboard, close the lids and wash your hands.
  11. Sign off and report. Sign the cleaning log with date, time and areas done. Report broken fittings, leaks, low supplies and any spills of chemicals to the supervisor.

Revision history

VersionDateAuthorChange
1.0[Date][Name]First version

Assign this SOP to your team and track who has read it

The Word export uses the docx library (MIT licence).

How it works, and what stays on your device

Download the template as a Word file or as Markdown. Both are built in your browser from the text on this page, so nothing is uploaded and nothing is sent to a server.

Copy to Google Docs puts the template on your clipboard as formatted text, then opens a new Google Doc in another tab. Paste it there with Ctrl+V, or Cmd+V on a Mac. Google only sees what you paste.

Fill in the square brackets, change anything that does not match how your team works, and add a row to the revision table each time you change it.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the order of work matter?

Working high to low and cleanest to dirtiest stops you spreading dirt and germs onto areas you have already finished. Toilets come last for that reason.

How do I add daily, weekly and monthly tasks?

Keep this procedure as the way to do the work and put the frequencies in your schedule. Add a row to step 4 or a new step for tasks such as skirting boards or vents.

Do I need data sheets for every product?

Yes, keep the supplier safety data sheet for every chemical and check the dilution and protective equipment it lists before you add a product to the list.

Can I use this with a cleaning contractor?

Yes. Give the contractor this document as the standard for the work and use the sign-off log to check each visit.