If you're managing an office in Sydney, you've probably asked yourself this question more than once: "How often do we really need professional cleaners?" It's a fair question, especially when you're balancing budgets and trying to keep everyone happy and healthy.
The short answer? It depends on your office type, size, and how many people are using the space. But don't worry - we're going to break it all down for you so you can make the right call for your workplace.
Why Professional Cleaning Frequency Actually Matters
Before we dive into the "how often" part, let's talk about why this matters in the first place.
Health and Productivity A clean office isn't just about appearances. Regular professional cleaning significantly reduces sick days and keeps your team productive. Studies show that employees in well-maintained offices take fewer sick days and report higher job satisfaction. When you consider that the average sick day costs Australian businesses around $340 per employee, proper cleaning starts looking like a pretty smart investment.
First Impressions Count Whether it's clients visiting for meetings or potential new hires coming for interviews, your office environment speaks volumes about your business. A consistently clean space shows you care about details and professionalism.
Asset Protection Regular professional cleaning extends the life of your carpets, furniture, and equipment. That expensive office fitout? Proper maintenance can add years to its lifespan, saving you thousands in replacement costs down the track.
The Standard Office Cleaning Schedule
Here's what most Sydney offices need as a baseline:
Daily Cleaning (5 Days Per Week)
This is the sweet spot for most standard corporate offices with 20-50 employees. Daily cleaning typically includes:
Vacuuming all carpeted areas and mopping hard floors
Emptying bins and replacing liners
Cleaning and sanitising toilets and bathrooms
Wiping down kitchen surfaces and sinks
Spot cleaning glass doors and partitions
Restocking toilet paper, hand soap, and paper towels
Best for: Medium to large offices, high-traffic reception areas, businesses with client-facing spaces
Cost consideration: While daily cleaning costs more upfront, it's actually more cost-effective long-term because it prevents dirt buildup that requires more intensive (and expensive) deep cleaning later.
2-3 Times Per Week
If you've got a smaller team or a light-traffic office, you might get away with cleaning a few times a week rather than daily.
This schedule works well for:
Small offices with 10-20 employees
Businesses where most staff work remotely part-time
Professional service firms with minimal foot traffic
Offices with good day-to-day tidiness habits
The routine usually covers the same tasks as daily cleaning, just less frequently. You'll want to make sure bins don't overflow between visits and that bathrooms stay presentable.
Weekly or Fortnightly Cleaning
This is the bare minimum for office spaces, and honestly, it only works for very specific situations:
Very small offices (5 employees or fewer)
Spaces used only occasionally
Supplementary cleaning between more frequent professional services
If you're only getting cleaners in weekly, you'll need your team to pitch in with daily tidiness - emptying their own bins, wiping down their workstations, and keeping communal areas tidy.
Factors That Affect How Often You Need Cleaning
Every office is different, and several factors will influence your ideal cleaning schedule:
Office Size and Layout
Larger offices simply need more frequent attention. A 500 square metre office will accumulate more dirt, dust, and mess than a 100 square metre space. Open-plan offices might need more frequent cleaning than offices with separate rooms because dirt and germs spread more easily in shared spaces.
Number of Employees
More people = more mess. It's that simple. High foot traffic means more dirt tracked in, more bathroom use, more kitchen mess, and more bins to empty. As a rule of thumb:
1-10 employees: 1-2 times per week minimum
10-30 employees: 3-5 times per week
30-50 employees: Daily cleaning recommended
50+ employees: Daily cleaning essential, possibly with additional spot cleaning
Industry Type
Different industries have different cleanliness requirements:
Medical and Healthcare Offices: These need daily professional cleaning at minimum, often multiple times per day for high-touch areas. There's simply no room for compromise when health and hygiene are literally your business.
Food-Related Businesses: If you're running a café, restaurant office, or food production facility, you'll need daily cleaning minimum, with additional spot cleaning throughout the day.
Gyms and Fitness Centres: High-traffic, high-sweat environments need daily deep cleaning, with equipment wiped down multiple times throughout the day.
Standard Corporate Offices: Most can operate well with 3-5 times per week cleaning, scaling up to daily for larger teams.
Creative Agencies and Tech Startups: These often have more relaxed environments but still benefit from 2-3 times weekly professional cleaning to maintain a healthy workspace.
Client Traffic
Do you have clients visiting regularly? If yes, you'll want more frequent cleaning. Nothing kills a business deal faster than walking a potential client past overflowing bins or grimy bathrooms. Client-facing businesses should consider daily cleaning non-negotiable.
Geographic Location
If your Sydney office is in a high-dust area, near construction, or in a particularly busy CBD location, you'll need more frequent cleaning. Offices in coastal areas might also need more attention due to salt air and humidity affecting surfaces.
Special Cleaning Considerations
Beyond your regular cleaning schedule, there are additional services you should factor in:
Deep Cleaning (Quarterly)
Even with regular professional cleaning, you'll want a thorough deep clean every 3-4 months. This includes:
Window cleaning (inside and out)
High dusting (light fittings, air vents, tops of cabinets)
Detailed kitchen appliance cleaning
Upholstery cleaning
Floor stripping and sealing (if applicable)
Seasonal Adjustments
You might need to adjust your cleaning frequency seasonally:
Spring: More frequent cleaning as people open windows and outdoor allergens come inside
Summer: Air conditioning filters need more attention; increased foot traffic in some industries
Autumn: More leaf litter and debris tracked inside
Winter: Cold and flu season means more focus on sanitisation and disinfecting high-touch surfaces
Post-Event Cleaning
Had a big meeting, office party, or corporate event? Schedule an additional cleaning session afterwards. Your regular cleaners will thank you, and your office will be back to normal much faster.
The Cost Question: Is More Frequent Cleaning Worth It?
Let's talk money, because that's often what it comes down to.
Daily Cleaning Investment For a standard Sydney office (around 200 square metres with 30 employees), expect to pay roughly $800-$1,200 per week for daily professional cleaning. That might sound steep, but consider:
Average sick day cost per employee: ~$340
If proper cleaning prevents just 3-4 sick days per month across your team, it's already paid for itself
Extended carpet and furniture life saves thousands in replacement costs
Improved employee morale and productivity (hard to quantify but very real)
The False Economy of Infrequent Cleaning Some businesses try to save money by reducing cleaning frequency. Here's what often happens:
Dirt and grime build up faster
This requires more intensive (expensive) deep cleaning to fix
Carpets and surfaces deteriorate faster, needing earlier replacement
Employee satisfaction drops
Professional image suffers
The money you "save" on regular cleaning often gets spent (and then some) on emergency deep cleans, equipment replacement, and lost business opportunities.
Creating Your Ideal Cleaning Schedule
Ready to work out what's right for your office? Here's a practical framework:
Step 1: Assess Your Baseline Needs
Count employees
Measure your office space
Note any special requirements (medical, food service, etc.)
Consider client traffic
Step 2: Start with Standard Recommendations Use the guidelines we've outlined above as your starting point.
Step 3: Trial and Adjust Run your chosen schedule for 4-6 weeks, then reassess. Are things staying clean? Are there problem areas? Adjust accordingly.
Step 4: Build in Flexibility Choose a cleaning company that can scale up or down as your needs change. Maybe you need daily cleaning during busy periods and can drop to 3 times weekly during quieter months.
Common Office Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Choosing the Cheapest Option The lowest quote usually means corners are being cut somewhere. Whether it's uninsured cleaners, poor-quality products, or rushed jobs, cheap cleaning often costs more in the long run.
Mistake 2: No Clear Scope of Work Make sure you and your cleaning company agree on exactly what gets cleaned and how often. Assumptions lead to disappointment.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Deep Cleaning Regular cleaning maintains surfaces, but you still need periodic deep cleaning for long-term office health.
Mistake 4: Not Providing Feedback If something isn't working, speak up! Good cleaning companies want to know so they can adjust their service.
Questions to Ask Potential Cleaning Companies
When you're shopping around for office cleaning services in Sydney, ask:
Are you fully insured? This protects you if anything gets damaged or someone gets injured.
What's included in your standard service? Get it in writing so there's no confusion.
Do you supply your own equipment and products? Most professional companies do, and they'll use commercial-grade supplies that work better than consumer products.
What are your quality control measures? How do they ensure consistent service?
Can you provide references from similar offices? Hearing from businesses like yours is invaluable.
What happens if we're not happy with the service?
