Not all commercial cleaning services are created equal. Some do the basics — bins emptied, floors swept, bathrooms given a once-over — and call it done. Others go deeper, systematically working through every area of a space to ensure it's genuinely clean, not just tidy-looking.

If you're paying for professional commercial cleaning, you deserve to know exactly what should be happening. This checklist covers the full scope of what a thorough commercial clean looks like — whether you're running an office in Docklands, a retail store in Essendon, or a hospitality venue in Collingwood.

Use this as a benchmark. If your current cleaner isn't covering these areas, it's worth having a conversation — or finding someone who does.

Floor Care

Floors are one of the most visible indicators of how well a space is maintained. A good commercial cleaning service will adapt their approach to each floor type.

• Vacuum all carpeted areas, including under desks and behind furniture
• Sweep hard floors before mopping to avoid pushing dirt around
• Mop hard floors with appropriate, surface-safe cleaning solution
• Spot-clean carpet stains and high-traffic areas
• Edge cleaning along skirting boards and in corners
• Scrub or machine-clean tiled areas (kitchen, bathroom) on a scheduled basis
• Apply non-slip treatment to wet areas where required

Bathrooms & Wet Areas

Bathrooms require the most consistent attention and the most thorough technique. A surface wipe is not a clean.

• Disinfect all toilet surfaces — seat, lid, bowl, exterior, and base
• Clean and disinfect sinks, tap fixtures, and soap dispensers
• Descale taps, showerheads, and fixtures (weekly or fortnightly)
• Scrub grout lines in tiles (monthly deep clean)
• Clean and disinfect mirrors and glass partitions
• Wipe down all high-touch surfaces: door handles, lock plates, light switches
• Empty and sanitise bins
• Restock soap, paper towels, and toilet paper
• Check and report any maintenance issues (dripping taps, broken fixtures)
• Mop floors with hospital-grade disinfectant

Kitchen & Break Room

The kitchen is the social hub of most workplaces and one of the highest-risk areas for cross-contamination.

• Wipe down all benchtops with food-safe disinfectant
• Clean the exterior of all appliances (microwave, fridge, oven, toaster, coffee machine)
• Clean inside the microwave
• Wipe clean the fridge exterior and handle; scheduled interior cleans
• Descale the kettle and coffee machine (scheduled)
• Wash or sanitise the sink, including underneath the rim
• Clean stovetop and behind appliances where grease accumulates
• Empty, clean, and reline all bins
• Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
• Wipe cabinet doors, drawer handles, and any wall splashbacks

Workspaces & Common Areas

Office workspaces should be cleaned without disrupting people's workstations — but systematically enough to catch everything.

• Dust all horizontal surfaces: desks, shelving, filing cabinets, ledges
• Wipe down monitors, keyboard trays, and phone handsets with appropriate cleaner
• Dust and wipe chairs, armrests, and partitions
• Clean glass partitions, door panels, and frameless glass
• Empty and reline desk bins and communal waste bins
• Dust blinds and window frames (scheduled deep clean)
• Wipe light switches, door handles, and power points
• Spot-clean walls and partitions for marks
• Vacuum or mop under desks and in corners
• Remove cobwebs from corners and ceiling edges

Reception & Entry Areas

Your entry is the first thing clients, staff, and visitors see. It deserves focused attention.

• Clean interior and exterior glass on entry doors and sidelights
• Vacuum or sweep and mop entry area
• Wipe down reception desk and surfaces
• Clean and dust waiting area furniture and side tables
• Empty bins and tidy any magazine or display racks
• Wipe door handles, intercom surfaces, and push plates
• Spot-clean floor mats or arrange laundering

Windows & Glass

Window cleaning frequency depends on your location and environment — but interior glass should be addressed regularly.

• Clean interior-facing glass and glass partitions
• Remove fingerprints and smudges from all glass surfaces
• Clean window sills and frames
• Schedule exterior window cleaning quarterly (or more frequently in dusty environments)

High-Touch Surfaces — The Most Critical Category

High-touch surfaces are the single most important focus in any commercial clean, particularly in a post-COVID environment where clients and staff expectations around hygiene have permanently risen.

• All door handles throughout the premises
• Light switches in every room
• Lift buttons and call panels
• Reception desk and visitor sign-in surfaces
• Shared phone handsets and intercom buttons
• Communal printers, copiers, and stationery station surfaces
• Kitchen appliance handles (fridge, microwave, oven, kettle)
• Bathroom fixtures as listed above

Waste Management

• Empty all general waste bins throughout the premises
• Empty and replace recycling bin liners
• Empty confidential waste bins where applicable (no spillage or reading)
• Consolidate waste for collection in appropriate areas
• Clean and sanitise bin interiors periodically
• Report when bins need replacement or repair

Scheduled Deep Cleaning Tasks

Not everything needs to happen every visit. A good commercial cleaning program also includes scheduled periodic tasks:

• Monthly: Grout scrubbing, blind cleaning, interior window washing, skirting boards, air vent cleaning
• Quarterly: Deep carpet clean (steam or dry), exterior window clean, behind and under heavy equipment, high-level dusting
• As needed: Strip and reseal hard floors, pressure wash external areas, upholstery cleaning

How Does Your Current Service Measure Up?

Run through this list and honestly assess how much of it your current cleaning service is consistently delivering. If there are gaps, it's not necessarily a reason to immediately change providers — but it is a reason to have a direct conversation about what's included in your service agreement.

A reputable commercial cleaner should be happy to clarify exactly what they do on each visit and how often deeper tasks are scheduled. If they can't give you a clear answer, that's a problem.

At Teddy's Cleaning Systems, every client gets a documented cleaning scope — a written breakdown of what's covered in each visit and what periodic tasks are scheduled throughout the year. No guesswork, no surprises.