Complete Commercial Fall Cleaning Checklist for Any Office
Posted on: 7th, Sep 2024
The fall season is the primary cleaning season for offices. It is especially challenging to keep the office clean during this time because of the increased dirt and debris, build-up of allergens and reduced natural light. As leaves start falling, they cause extra mess near the entrances. More employees become ill this flu and cold season, increasing the need for sanitizing surfaces. All in all, cleaning offices in the fall is no easy feat. But, here is a detailed commercial fall cleaning checklist that can make the work easier for any office. Let’s begin.
What Challenges Do Offices Face During Fall Cleaning?
It doesn’t matter whether you have a small or medium-sized office. A thorough cleaning is necessary to make the working environment safe and hazard-free. Before beginning with the checklist, let’s take a look at the major cleaning challenges you may face during this season.
- Increased dirt and debris– The fallen leaves cause extra mess in the lobbies and entryways.
- Allergen build-up– Fall allergies circulate in the air and thus require extra dusting.
- Germ spread– Fall season is also the flu season where germs spread at a higher rate.
- Reduced natural light- Fall grime and dust can block the windows.
- HVAC maintenance– Dust, leaves and allergens can get trapped in the HVAC system and circulate in the entire office.
You must address these concerns while cleaning the office this fall season. You can also personalize the checklist based on the impact of these factors on your office.
Ultimate Commercial Fall Cleaning Checklist for Offices
We are going to divide the commercial fall cleaning checklist into two parts.
Cleaning the Office Interior
Cleaning the interior of an office takes a lot of time. So, we suggest you begin with it.
There are different elements to consider while cleaning the inside of an office. The common examples include floors, furniture, electronics, windows, restrooms, carpets and more.
Gather all the cleaning supplies and equipment you need right at the beginning. Wear personal protective equipment like gloves. As a safety precaution, check power cord connections before using or cleaning any electrical equipment.
Declutter the space
Remove items that you no longer use. This prevents the accumulation of unnecessary materials over time. Assess what you need and what you don’t. If you have multiple files and objects, sort them into categories so the space looks professional.
Remove non-essential items from your desktops. Use a cable management system to organize cables and wires.
Declutter one area at a time and move on to the next step after the entire office looks organized.
Dust all surfaces
Dusting is a crucial step in cleaning offices during fall. As HVAC systems are activated, dust and debris start accumulating on the surfaces along with allergens.
What should you dust?
- Desks and workstations
- Chairs
- Storage units such as cabinets
- Windows and blinds
- Computers and monitors
- Microwaves and refrigerators
- Tables and counters in the kitchen
- Sinks and faucets
- Door handles
- Light switches
- Elevator buttons
- Handrails
- Air vents
- HVAC systems
- Lighting fixtures
- Trash cans
How should you dust?
You can use microfiber dusting mits, feather dusters or synthetic wool dusters to clean the surfaces. The best types of materials for dusting are lint-free dusting cloths and microfiber cloths because they trap the dust instead of spreading it in the air.
Dust the high levels first and then work your way down.
Inspect the HVAC system
Most employees fall sick in the fall season because of the poor quality of air. Dust and pollen accumulate at a faster rate when the HVAC systems are switched on. Thus, you should inspect the systems to maintain healthy air quality inside the office.
Here’s what you can do to ensure the HVAC system runs efficiently:
- Check and replace air filters
- Clean air vents and registers
- Look for leaks and dust in the ductwork
- Check for unusual noises
- Examine the working conditions of the thermostat
- Check outdoor HVAC units
Proper maintenance of HVAC systems is not only important for improving air quality but also prolongs the life of the system. You should get a professional to do it for you if you don’t have the time or expertise.
Clean the windows
The dusting is already done in the first step. So now it’s time to clean the interior windows.
Here’s how to do so:
- Spray the window cleaner on the interior glass and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth.
- Use a squeegee and move it in a S-shape for the hard-to-reach spots.
- Clean the window frames, tracks and sills using a damp cloth.
- Combine mild dishwasher soap and water to rinse the window glasses.
The changing weather brings stubborn dust, fallen leaves and rain, which make window cleaning quite a task. You should choose a dry, cloudy day for window cleaning to maintain the best, clear view of the windows and maximize natural light.
**Check for streaks after the windows have dried. Re-clean if necessary.
Spot-clean and disinfect high-touch areas
Use a quality disinfectant to clean high-touch surfaces in your office. These are the areas that are touched frequently.
Common examples of high-touch surfaces are:
- Light switches
- Doorknobs
- Telephones
- Mousepads
- Keyboards
- Armrests
- Seat surfaces
- Monitors
- Printers and copiers
High-touch surfaces in the kitchen
- Refrigerator handle
- Microwave buttons
- Dishwashers
- Coffee makers
High-touch surfaces in restrooms
- Toilet flush handles
- Soap dispensers
- Sink faucets
- Paper towel dispensers
Do not start wiping the moment you spray the disinfectant. Allow it to dwell on the surface for a few minutes and then wipe it down.
Deep clean the floors
Fallen leaves often get tracked into the office creating a mess in the entryways. Employees can also add to the mess with their dirty shoes and wet floors, due to the rainy fall weather.
Vacuum the entire office floor from the lobby and hallways to the elevator and other common areas. You can use a dust mop to access the hard-to-reach corners and edges.
Clean the entry mats and vacuum underneath as well. You can also schedule commercial carpet cleaning once a month.
Vacuum high-traffic paths and get rid of any debris you see in the office. Clean the air vents using the vacuum cleaner.
Once vacuuming is done, start mopping the area to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness. It helps remove stains and grime that vacuum cleaners may miss.
How Can Commercial Office Cleaners Help?
Business owners or managers lack the time to perform the above-mentioned cleaning tasks. Also, you may need to invest separately in cleaning supplies and learn the proper techniques for using them. This is where the role of commercial cleaners comes into play. They are trained and skilled in maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of an office, especially in the fall season. The commercial office cleaners at Kaspar Cleaning Services, for instance, help with deep cleaning, ensuring safety, maintaining hygiene and improving the appearance of floors.
