Even with a regular cleaning schedule, an office is used for many more hours than it is cleaned. What happens in between decides whether the cleaner spends their time on proper cleaning or on clearing yesterday’s mess.
These ten habits take little time and make a visible difference.
Keep desks clear
Clutter collects dust and makes desks impossible to wipe properly. Encourage staff to file documents, return supplies to shared storage and take personal items home regularly.
A clear desk policy helps: at the end of each day, only a few essential items stay on the desk. Cleaners can then wipe the whole surface, not just the gaps between piles.
Wipe what you touch most
Keyboards, mice, phones and headsets are handled all day and rarely cleaned. Keep disinfectant wipes suitable for electronics near shared workstations.
Lock or switch off the device, wipe it with a damp wipe rather than a wet one, and let it dry before use. Wipe shared hot-desk equipment at the start of each day.
Manage bins properly
- Use liners in every bin so they can be emptied cleanly.
- Do not leave food waste in desk bins overnight. Take it to the pantry bin with a lid.
- Empty pantry food waste daily.
- Rinse drink cans and food containers before putting them in recycling.
In Singapore’s warm, humid climate, a forgotten food wrapper can attract ants within hours.
Set pantry rules
The pantry is shared by everyone and owned by no one, so it needs simple, visible rules:
- wash and put away your own mugs and containers;
- wipe the microwave after use, and cover food while heating;
- wipe spills on the counter and floor straight away;
- label food in the fridge with a name and date;
- clear the fridge every Friday, with unlabelled or expired items thrown out.
A weekly rota for wiping the pantry counter and checking the fridge spreads the job fairly.
Cut down on paper
Fewer printouts mean fewer piles, fewer overflowing recycling boxes and less dust. Move routine forms and approvals online, set printers to double-sided by default and shred or recycle old documents on a regular day.
Support good hand hygiene
Washing hands before eating and after using the toilet does more to stop illness spreading than any surface spray.
- Keep toilets stocked with soap and paper towels.
- Place hand sanitiser at the entrance, pantry and meeting rooms.
- Encourage staff who are unwell to stay home or work remotely where possible.
Reset meeting rooms after use
Meeting rooms are often left with cups, food packaging and whiteboard marks. Ask each team to leave the room as they found it:
- take cups and rubbish out;
- wipe the table if food was eaten;
- clean the whiteboard;
- push chairs back in.
A small sign on the door is usually enough of a reminder.
Use desk mats and coasters
Desk mats and coasters protect surfaces from spills, rings and scratches. They are also easier to wipe than a bare desk and can simply be replaced when worn.
Keep a spill kit handy
Spills that are cleaned at once rarely stain. Keep paper towels, a few cloths, a mild all-purpose cleaner and a small dustpan in the pantry where everyone can find them.
For coffee on carpet, blot up as much as possible, then dab with a damp cloth. Do not rub. Report large spills, broken glass or anything on carpet that will not lift to the office manager.
Make it part of the culture
Cleanliness lasts when it is shared. Managers who tidy up after themselves set the tone. Give staff an easy way to report problems, such as a leaking tap, an overflowing bin or signs of pests, and make sure someone acts on those reports. For more on pests, see how to keep pests out of the workplace.
A five-minute end-of-day routine
Ask everyone to do this before they leave:
- Clear the desk, leaving only essential items.
- Take cups, plates and food waste to the pantry.
- Wipe the keyboard, mouse and desk surface.
- Push the chair in and leave the floor clear for vacuuming.
- Report anything that needs attention.
For what the cleaner covers on each visit, our office cleaning checklist splits the tasks by area and by daily, weekly and monthly frequency.
Small habits like these mean each professional clean starts from a good baseline and can focus on toilets, floors, pantries and detail work. KleanSG’s office cleaning plans run from once a week to daily, including after-hours and Saturday sessions, with the tasks set around how your office is used.
