As with many questions in business, this commonly asked question from company owners and managers is an answer with no definitive answer. There are a number of factors that play into the answer, including the nature of the business and frequency of use.
The answer is more complicated when discussing specific rooms and spaces in a business; this list of estimated answers can guide managers and owners as they set a cleaning schedule for their specific facility.
Windows
Answer: At least three times a year. If your facility deals with a lot of dust or grease, schedule a monthly interior and exterior window cleaning. For a retail operation or a building with frequent customer foot traffic, contact a cleaning service to clean the windows in those frequently used spaces more often.
Rugs
Answer: Every month during winter and once during summer. The specific rug cleaning schedule for a facility depends on the season and foot traffic. If the rug is in a heavy traffic area, such as a busy lobby, it may need to be cleaned as often as every month or twice per month. To minimize interruptions to normal business operations, ask a cleaning company about a cleaning and delivery schedule that works around normal business hours. Maintaining a frequent cleaning schedule can extend the life of the rugs and reduce the rate of replacement.
Restrooms
Answer: Daily for a small or mid-size business, several times a day for a frequently-used restroom. The same formula can be used to determine the frequency of restroom deep cleaning; a restroom with low foot traffic may only require a deep clean every six months. A restroom that is used often should be deep cleaned every month (more often when concerned about the spread of an illness).
Carpet
Answer: Twice a year or once every 18 months. If the carpet is in area that receives every foot traffic, a professional carpet clean should be scheduled every six months (schedule the carpet cleaning during off hours or shut downs so productivity is not interrupted). In a facility with little foot traffic, a carpet cleaning is only needed every year and a half. Delaying these cleanings is not recommended; a lack of carpet cleaning can lead to a build-up of grime, mold, and mildew. Carpets that do not receive a deep clean may also cost more to deep clean. No matter the amount of foot traffic, a regular schedule of vacuuming should be maintained.
Hard floors
Answer: Daily, weekly, or monthly. The exact cleaning schedule for facility hard floors depends on the specific type of flooring and business activity. In a business that generates a lot of grease or dust, the floor should be cleaned daily. A regular deep cleaning needs to be scheduled to remove a build-up and prevent frequent workplace slips and falls. Contact a professional cleaning company to get their recommendation for floor cleaning schedule that fits your business needs.
