The schedule
| Area | Colour | Tasks | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reception | Blue | Vacuum or mop floor; dust desk and seating; clean entrance glass; empty bins | Each visit |
| Reception | Blue | Clean entrance matting; dust high levels | Weekly |
| Open-plan office | Blue | Empty bins; wipe clear desks; disinfect touchpoints; vacuum walkways | Each visit |
| Open-plan office | Blue | Full vacuum including under desks; dust low-level surfaces | Weekly |
| Open-plan office | Blue | High-level dusting; skirting boards; internal glass | Monthly |
| Meeting rooms | Blue | Reset furniture; wipe tables; clean whiteboards; empty bins; vacuum | Each visit |
| Washrooms | Red | Clean and disinfect sanitary ware; touchpoints; mirrors; restock; mop | Each visit |
| Washrooms | Red | Descale taps and urinals; clean partitions and tiles | Weekly |
| Kitchen / tea point | Green | Sanitise worktops, sinks and tables; dishwasher; empty bins; mop | Each visit |
| Kitchen / tea point | Green | Clean microwave and fridge exterior; fridge clear-down | Weekly |
| Stairs and lifts | Blue | Vacuum or mop; wipe handrails and lift buttons | Each visit |
| All carpeted areas | Blue | Hot water extraction | Annually (walkways quarterly) |
| All hard floors | Blue | Machine scrub | Quarterly |
Standards to add
- No visible dust on horizontal surfaces below two metres
- No smears or marks on glass at eye level
- Bins no more than three-quarters full
- Washrooms free of odour, with consumables stocked
- Floors free of litter, spills and visible soil
Site details to include
- Floor areas and floor finishes for each area
- Cleaning hours and access arrangements
- Keys, alarm and lock-up procedures
- Who supplies consumables
- Waste and recycling arrangements
- Audit frequency and target score
How to use it
Walk your building, adjust each line to suit, and add any rooms not listed. Then send the same document to each contractor and ask for weekly hours as well as a price. Our guide to writing a cleaning specification explains each part, and our audit guide shows how to check it is being met.