Determining how often your office should be cleaned depends on several factors unique to your business. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, regular workplace cleaning is essential for employee health and productivity.

This guide helps you determine the right cleaning frequency for your Canadian office based on size, traffic, industry, and budget.

5 Factors That Determine Cleaning Frequency

1. Number of Employees and Visitors

More people means more cleaning requirements:

• 1–10 employees: Weekly or bi-weekly cleaning often sufficient
• 10–25 employees: 2–3 times weekly recommended
• 25–50 employees: Daily or every-other-day service
• 50+ employees: Daily professional cleaning essential

High visitor traffic (clients, customers, deliveries) increases cleaning needs regardless of employee count.

2. Type of Business and Activities

Different industries create different cleaning demands:

• Professional offices: Standard cleaning frequencies work well
• Healthcare: Daily minimum, often multiple times daily
• Food service: Daily, with continuous kitchen maintenance
• Manufacturing: Daily for production areas
• Retail: Daily for customer-facing areas

3. Office Layout and Size

Layout complexity affects cleaning needs:

• Open floor plans: Easier to maintain, can stretch cleaning intervals
• Many private offices: More surfaces require more frequent attention
• Multiple restrooms: Each requires daily maintenance
• Large break rooms: High-use areas need daily cleaning

4. Flooring Types

Different floors have different maintenance needs:

• Carpet: Vacuuming 2–5 times weekly, deep cleaning every 6–12 months
• Hard tile: Daily sweeping, mopping 2–3 times weekly
• Hardwood: Daily dust mopping, weekly damp mopping
• Concrete: Sweeping 2–3 times weekly, mopping weekly

5. Seasonal Considerations

Canadian seasons affect cleaning needs:

• Winter: Increased floor cleaning for salt and slush
• Spring: Allergen concerns, deep cleaning needs
• Summer: Standard maintenance typically sufficient
• Fall: Leaf tracking, transition to winter protocols

Recommended Cleaning Schedules

Daily Cleaning

Best for: Offices with 25+ employees, healthcare, food service, high client traffic

Tasks performed daily:

• Trash removal and bin relining
• Restroom cleaning and restocking
• High-touch surface disinfection
• Floor care (vacuuming/mopping high-traffic areas)
• Break room cleaning

Every-Other-Day Cleaning (3x Weekly)

Best for: Medium offices (15–25 employees), moderate client traffic

Provides balance between cost and cleanliness for most professional offices.

Twice-Weekly Cleaning

Best for: Smaller offices (10–15 employees), low visitor traffic

Adequate for professional services firms with limited public interaction.

Weekly Cleaning

Best for: Small offices (under 10 employees), minimal traffic

Requires strong daily spot-cleaning habits between professional visits.

Bi-Weekly Cleaning

Best for: Very small offices (1–5 employees), home offices, minimal use spaces

Only works with disciplined daily maintenance by occupants.

Frequency by Office Area

Industry-Specific Requirements

Healthcare Facilities

• Examination rooms: Cleaned between every patient
• Waiting areas: Minimum twice daily
• Restrooms: Every 2–4 hours during operating hours
• All high-touch surfaces: Multiple times daily

Legal and Financial Offices

• Client-facing areas: Daily
• Private offices: 2–3 times weekly
• Secure document areas: Supervised cleaning only

Tech Companies

• Open workspaces: 3–5 times weekly
• Server rooms: Specialized cleaning, typically monthly
• Collaborative spaces: Daily

Real Estate Offices

• Showroom/reception: Daily
• Agent workspaces: 2–3 times weekly
• Staging for showings: Before each use

Signs Your Office Needs More Frequent Cleaning

• Visible dust accumulation: Between cleaning visits
• Restroom complaints: From employees or visitors
• Persistent odours: Especially in kitchens or restrooms
• Overflowing trash: Before scheduled pickup
• Stained or dirty floors: Despite regular cleaning
• Increased sick days: May indicate hygiene issues
• Employee feedback: Concerns about cleanliness

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a small office be cleaned?

A small office with fewer than 10 employees typically needs professional cleaning 1–2 times weekly, combined with daily spot-cleaning of restrooms and break areas by staff.

Is daily cleaning necessary for most offices?

Daily cleaning is recommended for offices with 25+ employees, high visitor traffic, healthcare settings, or food service. Smaller professional offices often function well with 2–3 times weekly service.

How often should office restrooms be cleaned?

Office restrooms should be professionally cleaned daily at minimum. High-traffic facilities may require cleaning every 2–4 hours to maintain hygiene standards.

Does cleaning frequency affect cost?

Yes, more frequent cleaning increases monthly costs but often reduces per-visit rates. Daily service typically costs 50–100% more monthly than weekly service but provides better hygiene and appearance.

How often should offices be deep cleaned?

Most offices benefit from comprehensive deep cleaning quarterly, with carpet cleaning every 6–12 months and floor stripping/waxing annually for hard floors.

Conclusion

Determining how often your office should be cleaned depends on your employee count, visitor traffic, industry requirements, and facility layout. Most Canadian offices with 10–25 employees benefit from cleaning 2–3 times weekly, while larger or high-traffic facilities need daily service.

Monitor signs of insufficient cleaning frequency and adjust your schedule as your business needs change.

Need help determining the right cleaning schedule? Contact GoodCleaner for a free assessment and quote on office cleaning services in Ottawa!