Restaurant Cleaning Checklist

As any restaurant owner knows, cleaning is a major part of running the business. Customers expect a clean and hygienic place to eat, and cleanliness is also an important aspect of your business’s hygiene rating.

So, what does a restaurant cleaning checklist actually look like? Let’s cover this below, breaking it down into front and back of house.

restaurant cleaning checklist

Back-of-House Cleaning Checklist

Back-of-house refers to the kitchen and any other areas customers don’t go. Even though customers won’t see these areas first-hand, it’s vital to keep them spotless. As such, you’ll want to do the following on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Daily

After service has finished every day, ensure your kitchen team does the following:

  • Wipe down and disinfect prep surfaces
  • Wash cutting boards, utensils, pans, etc.
  • Clean grill, hobs, ovens, salamander, etc.
  • Sweep and mop floors
  • Empty bins and replace bin bags
  • Wipe down cabinets, fridge doors, handles, etc.
  • Remove and replace towels, aprons, uniforms, etc.

Daily cleaning in a kitchen generally comes down to creating a workspace suitable for the next day’s service. It’s mainly concerned with cleaning and disinfection so the kitchen is sanitary.

Weekly

Weekly kitchen cleaning usually takes place during quiet periods, often between lunch and dinner service or before the kitchen opens. Work out which is your quietest day of the week and do your weekly cleaning on this day to ensure consistency.

Weekly cleaning includes:

    Clean ovens

  • Check fridges for temperature and missed food
  • Clean and sanitise fridges, freezers and walk-ins
  • Change fryer (if necessary)
  • Remove limescale from taps and sinks if necessary
  • Clean rubber floor mats
  • Disinfect bins
  • De-grease air vents
  • Clean walls

Monthly

Unsurprisingly, monthly back-of-house cleaning jobs are fairly thorough. However, they also cover areas that don’t see frequent use or that take a while to get dirty. These include:

  • Clean fridge and freezer coils
  • Deep cleaning ice machines
  • Deep cleaning espresso machines
  • Sanitising walls and ceiling
  • Clean behind ovens and fryers
  • Deep cleaning air vents
  • Replacing pest traps

Front-of-House Cleaning Checklist

Front-of-house is the area that customers see. This means cleaning needs to be very thorough, as mess can obviously hurt your customers’ perceptions of your business.

Daily

Daily cleaning of the restaurant area should be done every evening after service. It includes:

  • Wiping down tables
  • Re-laying cutlery
  • Vacuuming the floor and mopping
  • Wipe down chairs
  • Inspect, wipe down and replace menus if needed
  • Remove and replace tablecloths, napkins, etc.
  • Inspect table condiments and refill and clean if necessary
  • Clean bathrooms
  • Wipe down bar areas

Daily restaurant cleaning is usually handled by the waiting staff, but it may help to get some kitchen staff involved depending on the size of the job.

Weekly

As with weekly kitchen cleaning, it’s best to handle weekly front-of-house cleaning before service on your quietest day. It includes:

  • Dusting wall decorations
  • Removing cobwebs and wiping down walls
  • Deep cleaning booths
  • Sanitising doors
  • Cleaning windows

You may need to ask front-of-house staff to come in early or stay longer after their lunch shift to get this work done. As such, it might help to rotate between staff to make it as fair as possible.

Monthly

Monthly front-of-house cleaning is less extensive than monthly cleaning and only involves the following jobs if necessary:

  • Replacing menus if not laminated or in menu holders
  • Washing salt and pepper shakers
  • Vacuuming behind floor decorations, booths, etc.
  • Moving furniture to vacuum underneath
  • Deep cleaning reception areas

FAQs

What should be cleaned in a restaurant?

Everything should be cleaned in a restaurant on at least a monthly basis. How often things are cleaned depends on how frequently they’re used or how long it takes them to build up dirt.

What is the best cleaner for restaurant walls?

The best cleaner for restaurant walls is usually a commercial-grade disinfectant for the kitchen, as the building materials can handle something this harsh. For restaurant areas, where the walls are painted, a duster or dry cloth will be best.

Do restaurants use bleach to clean?

Restaurants often use bleach to clean, although it’ll be watered down and only used on specific areas (such as floors). Food-grade cleaners are a better option for prep surfaces, as you don’t want to risk contaminating food with improperly diluted bleach!

Conclusion

Hopefully, this restaurant cleaning checklist will help you know what to clean and when. It’s no secret that keeping a restaurant clean is a big job, but breaking it down into daily, weekly and monthly elements makes things more manageable.

Cleaning Express Restaurant Cleaning Services

If you need to outsource your restaurant cleaning in London, see what Cleaning Express can do. We’ve got years of experience working with both front-of-house and kitchen cleaning, and can help you maintain the professional standard that your customers expect.

Also read: Office cleaning checklist

What Do Commercial Cleaning Services Offer

Maintaining a clean and organised workspace is essential for any business. It not only creates a positive impression on clients and visitors but also contributes to the overall well-being and productivity of employees. While many businesses recognise the importance of cleanliness, finding the time and resources to manage cleaning tasks can be a challenge. This is where commercial cleaning services step in, offering a range of benefits that go beyond just tidying up. In this article, we will explore the various offerings of commercial cleaning services and how they can positively impact your business environment.

What commercial cleaning services offer to a business

Professional Expertise

One of the primary advantages of hiring a commercial cleaning service is gaining access to professional expertise. Good quality cleaning companies employ trained and experienced staff who are well-versed in the best cleaning and sanitation practices. They understand the nuances of different types of surfaces, materials, and cleaning products, ensuring that your workspace is cleaned efficiently and without causing any damage.

Customised Cleaning Plans

Every business is unique, and its cleaning needs can vary accordingly. Commercial cleaning services work with you to develop customised cleaning plans tailored to your specific requirements. Whether you operate a small office, a retail store, or a large corporate building, the cleaning company can create a plan that addresses the areas of concern and focuses on maintaining a clean and healthy environment for your employees and customers.

Have a look at our office cleaning checklist

Comprehensive Services

Commercial cleaning services offer a wide range of cleaning solutions that cover every nook and cranny of your workspace. From regular dusting, vacuuming, and mopping to more specialised tasks such as window cleaning, carpet cleaning, and upholstery maintenance, these services ensure that your entire premises are spotless. This comprehensive approach contributes to a consistent and appealing look throughout your business establishment.

Read our article on how much a cleaners costs

Time and Cost Savings

Outsourcing your cleaning needs to professionals can save your business both time and money. Instead of allocating valuable employee hours to cleaning tasks, your staff can focus on their core responsibilities, leading to increased productivity. Additionally, hiring a commercial cleaning service eliminates the need for purchasing and storing various cleaning products and equipment, which can incur significant costs over time.

Health and Safety

A clean and sanitised workspace is crucial for the health and safety of your employees and clients. Dust, allergens, and germs can accumulate over time, leading to potential health issues and decreased air quality. Commercial cleaning services utilise specialised cleaning agents and techniques to effectively eliminate these contaminants, creating a healthier environment for everyone in the workspace.

Green Cleaning Practices

With the growing emphasis on environmental sustainability, many commercial cleaning services offer “green” or eco-friendly cleaning options. These practices prioritise the use of environmentally safe cleaning products and techniques that minimise the impact on the planet. By opting for green cleaning services, you not only contribute to a healthier workspace but also showcase your commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Flexibility and Convenience

Commercial cleaning services understand that businesses operate on different schedules. Whether you require cleaning services during regular working hours or after-hours, good cleaning companies can accommodate your needs. This flexibility ensures minimal disruption to your daily operations while maintaining a clean environment.

Improved First Impressions

The appearance of your workspace speaks volumes about your business. A clean and well-maintained environment creates a positive first impression on clients, partners, and visitors. On the other hand, a cluttered or dirty space can deter potential clients and harm your business’s reputation. Commercial cleaning services ensure that your workspace is always ready to make a favourable first impression.

Consistency and Reliability

Consistency is key when it comes to maintaining a clean workspace. With a commercial cleaning service, you can rely on a regular cleaning schedule that ensures your premises remain in top condition. Cleaning companies often have quality control measures in place to guarantee that their services meet your expectations consistently.

Focus on Core Business

Ultimately, outsourcing your cleaning needs to professionals allows you to focus on what matters most – your core business operations. Instead of diverting time and energy toward cleaning tasks, you can concentrate on growing your business, serving your customers, and achieving your goals.

In conclusion

Commercial cleaning services offer a comprehensive range of benefits that extend beyond just ensuring a tidy workspace. From professional expertise and customised cleaning plans to time and cost savings, these services contribute to a healthier, more productive, and visually appealing environment. Whether you run a small office or a large corporate establishment, considering the advantages of commercial cleaning services can make a significant difference in the overall success of your business.

About Cleaning Express

Cleaning Express is a high-quality cleaning company offering comprehensive commercial cleaning in London, Essex and beyond. Our fully trained and hard-working cleaners can provide extensive cleaning solutions to your business and ensure that these cleaning solutions impact your business in the right way.

What Makes a Good Office Cleaner?

If you’re looking for an office cleaner for your business, you’ll know that it can be quite a challenge to find the best cleaner for the job. A good office cleaner possesses a combination of skills, traits, and qualities that contribute to maintaining a clean, organised, and welcoming work environment. We’re going to break down these attributes below so that when you’re looking for an office cleaner, you know exactly who to hire.

what makes a good office cleaner

The key attributes a good office cleaner must have

Attention to Detail

A good office cleaner pays attention to even the smallest details to ensure that every area is thoroughly cleaned and no dirt or mess is overlooked. While good quality training can provide a skill set that is very important for a cleaner, skills like attention to detail are only possible if you are passionate about the job.

Reliability and Punctuality

Being dependable and arriving on time is crucial for maintaining a consistent cleaning schedule and ensuring that the office is clean when employees arrive for work. Arriving late can delay the business or interrupt the workflow of the employees. A good cleaner simply won’t let this happen.

Professionalism

A good office cleaner should maintain a professional demeanour and appearance throughout the cleaning session. They should be courteous with office staff and respect confidentiality and privacy.

Good Work Ethic

Cleaning can be physically demanding, so having a strong work ethic is essential for completing tasks efficiently and effectively.
Initiative
A proactive cleaner takes the initiative to identify areas that need attention, whether it’s restocking supplies, reporting maintenance issues, or suggesting improvements to the cleaning routine. From there, they can let the cleaning company know or their contact at the business.

Adaptability

Office spaces can vary in layout and cleaning requirements. A good cleaner can adapt their approach to different areas and situations, ensuring all spaces are cleaned properly. Office cleaners should always be prepared to adapt their approaches whenever they arrive at the business. If a cleaning emergency pops up, they need to adapt and take care of the situation.

Time Management

Efficiently managing time to complete tasks within the allocated schedule is vital for maintaining a clean office without disrupting daily operations. While some of this responsibility falls on the cleaning supervisor, it is the cleaner that must manage their own time to ensure all cleaning is done without disrupting the daily operations of the business.

Read our article on how often do you need to clean the office

Knowledge of Cleaning Techniques

A good cleaner must be familiar with various cleaning methods, products, and equipment, ensuring that different surfaces and materials are treated appropriately.

Communication Skills

Clear communication with office staff and supervisors is crucial for understanding specific cleaning needs and coordinating any necessary changes to the cleaning schedule.

Organisational Skills

Keeping track of cleaning schedules, supplies, and equipment maintenance requires good organisational skills to ensure a smooth cleaning process.

Health and Safety Awareness

A good cleaner is aware of proper health and safety protocols, including the correct use of cleaning chemicals, handling waste disposal, and preventing accidents. For a professional cleaner, this is vital. It keeps the staff of the business, the cleaner, and the environment safe. When working in hospital cleaning, these protocols are even more critical, as they help prevent the spread of infections and ensure that all areas remain sanitary and safe for vulnerable patients and healthcare workers.

Problem-Solving Abilities

When encountering challenging cleaning situations or unexpected issues, a good cleaner can think critically and find effective solutions. This helps a cleaner maintain a business much more effectively.

Positive Attitude

A cleaner that is passionate about their job and happy to be doing it can really make a huge difference. This can help motivate the office staff, make them feel comfortable when the cleaner is there, and brings a bit more positivity into the office, which is never a bad thing.

In Conclusion

A great office cleaner is someone that is passionate about their job and takes pride in their work. They consistently deliver high-quality cleaning and contribute to maintaining a clean and comfortable workspace for everyone. A good cleaner should have high-quality training to allow them to tackle all cleaning tasks safely and efficiently and excellent time management skills and communication skills. In short, a cleaner should be as effective and hard-working as your employees. This is the best way to ensure that the cleaning of your business goes as smoothly as the business operations of your company.

Do you have a cleaner already and are wondering if they are doing a good job? Read our article on signs of a bad cleaning lady.

About Cleaning Express

Cleaning Express is a London-based cleaning company offering office cleaning in London, Essex and beyond. We provide all of our cleaners with high-quality training developed by us to prepare them for every cleaning eventuality. We ensure that all of our cleaners have the skills, passion and great work ethic they need to cater to all of our customers’ needs. If you need a high-quality cleaning service for your office in London, Essex or beyond, Cleaning Express can create a tailored cleaning package to suit the needs of your business, improve morale and ensure your business makes the best first impression to your customers.

Is Commercial Cleaning Worth It?

If you run a commercial business, you might be wondering if it’s worth hiring an external cleaning company. While you could set up your own team, is commercial cleaning worth it?

The short answer is that commercial cleaning is worth it in terms of simplicity and quality. Look at it the same as outsourcing any other professional service as part of your business. High-quality cleaning is vital in any public space. As such, outsourcing commercial cleaning should be a no-brainer.

In this article, we’ll cover the reasons for arranging commercial cleaning in more detail.

is commercial cleaning worth it

Benefits of Commercial Cleaning Services

Deciding to arrange commercial cleaning for your business should be an easy decision. Whether you run a retail store, pub, office, gym, or any other commercial business, here are the benefits of outsourcing your cleaning.

Saves Time and Money

One of the most important benefits – at least from a business perspective – is saving time and money. If you were to set up your own cleaning team, you’d need to hire and train staff and buy equipment. All of this costs a lot of money.

On the other hand, outsourcing to an established cleaning company allows you to take advantage of their resources. They’ll have all the right equipment and will handle training their staff to a high standard. Similarly, it frees your staff up to focus on their primary job roles.

Health & Safety

There are plenty of ways commercial cleaners can help with health and safety in your commercial space. These include:

  • Dealing with slip hazards
  • Sanitising communal areas
  • Reporting and taping off trip hazards
  • Keeping fire safety routes clear
  • Dusting – removing low toxicity and irritating dust

The bottom line is that a clean environment is a safe environment. So, don’t compromise when it comes to commercial cleaning and ensure you hire a professional company that knows how to deal with these aspects.

Learn more about workplace housekeeping.

Cleaners with Years of Experience

Hiring a commercial cleaning company means having access to a team of cleaners with years of experience. In the same way that you wouldn’t try to fix your plumbing or wiring, outsourcing to professional cleaners gets the job done properly.

Most importantly, this means they’ll get the job done quickly and will know the proper techniques to clean your commercial space. Having a team that knows the tricks of the trade will make a big difference to how long the job takes!

Cleaning to a professional standard is vital in commercial businesses. Customer-facing areas should be spotless to create a good impression of your company. But staff areas should also be clean to ensure safety and to provide your employees with a good working environment.

How to Choose the Right Commercial Cleaning Service

Choosing a commercial cleaning company might seem like a straightforward decision. But it’s important to research companies first to make sure you’re hiring one capable of meeting your needs.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing a commercial cleaning service.

Prior Experience

Always make sure the company you’re considering has experience working in the type of commercial space you own. It might not seem like a retail store needs different cleaning than a gym, but it does.

Check the cleaning company has customer testimonials and evidence they’ve worked in similar spaces before. This is the best way to confirm they know what they’re doing.

Consider Your Budget

You should also shop around for a few quotes from cleaning companies to see what’s an acceptable price to pay. Although the cheapest might be the most tempting, it’s usually best to pay a bit more for higher quality. This is true for most things but especially so for commercial cleaning!

Check Their Credentials

Along with checking their prior experience, you’ll want to make sure the cleaning company has all the necessary documents in place. The most obvious is insurance. Public liability insurance is vital so the company is covered in case anything goes wrong on the job.

Similarly, see what contracts they offer. Ideally, you’ll want a flexible contract that can be tailored to your needs, which can change quickly based on business demands. It might also have to cover unsocial hours (particularly important for cleaning outside of opening hours), so check this with them too.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has convinced you that commercial cleaning services are indeed worth it. Along with saving you time and money, outsourcing cleaning ensures a much higher standard is met. As any business owner knows, this is vital for ensuring quality and success within the business.

Cleaning Express Commercial Cleaning Services

If you’re looking for commercial cleaning in London, look no further than Cleaning Express. We have years of experience cleaning all kinds of commercial spaces, ranging from offices and hotels to retail and schools. We’ve even won awards for the quality of our cleaning!

Get in touch to discuss our commercial cleaning services in London and see how we can help.

 

What is contract cleaning?

Contract cleaning may sound very fancy and formal, but it is actually rather simple. Contract cleaning is where you and a cleaning company enter into a contract. This contract states what cleaning services you will receive and any additional services they may be included.

So, when you use a cleaning company, you are entering into a contract of sorts. This contract doesn’t state that you can’t use other cleaning companies. Nor does it say that you must have cleaning services from this company every week, or anything like that. The contract is a promise from the cleaning company to you to provide all of the cleaning services you need as well as some very handy and important additions.

While the cleaning part of contract cleaning is the service most of us are most focused on, the additions are what make contract cleaning better than other cleaning services. The benefits of these additions can be found below.

what is contract cleaning

Benefits of contract cleaning services

There are a number of benefits to using contract cleaning from a reputable cleaning company, including:

Cost

The cost of each cleaning session and any one-off cleaning services that you use are typically lower when you use a cleaning company that offers contract cleaning. Cleaning companies can keep their costs lower by buying cleaning supplies and equipment in bulk, as well as creating in-house training programmes for their cleaners rather than sending them out for training or not offering training at all.

In general, the overheads of smaller cleaning companies and sole traders impact the cost to the customer as each cleaning job must provide a decent amount of profit. Larger companies, though, can create cleaning plans that suit your budget while ensuring the services you have are high quality.

Free replacements

Another massive benefit to using contract cleaning is that if your regular cleaner gets sick, a replacement will take their place. Cleaners are asked to give plenty of notice if they can’t make it to work for any reason. While this isn’t always possible in emergency situations, this allows the cleaning company to find a replacement quickly. So, in most cases, the replacement cleaner will arrive on time for your usual cleaning session.

If a cleaner that works by themselves is ill, they will have to cancel or rearrange your cleaning appointment. This can get quite frustrating when your house is in desperate need of a good clean.

Vetted and trained staff

When someone starts working for a cleaning company, it is vital that they are vetted. Checks are made to ensure they are who they say they are. These checks ensure the safety of cleaning customers. For any large cleaning company, these checks are done before a cleaner even starts working for them. For smaller cleaning firms, these checks may not even be done because they do cost the company some money.

Another vital thing for cleaning companies to offer is training. Sure, we can all clean our own homes, but can we clean them efficiently and thoroughly enough to do it as a job? Do we know how to remove tough stains in delicate fabrics or the best methods and techniques for cleaning windows or dusting? All of these tasks take some training, and it isn’t enough for cleaning companies to rely on the cleaners already having this training.

Good quality cleaning companies train their staff to clean their way, in many respects, the right way. They teach the correct cleaning practices that they should be using in customers’ homes and ensure they are really prepared to tackle any and all cleaning tasks before they start working solo.

Smaller cleaning companies may not have the benefit of in-house training. This can mean they have to pay for external training or not provide as thorough training as a bigger cleaning company.

Cleaners with years of experience

While initial training is all well and good, cleaner with years of experience are worth their weight in gold. This is why many larger cleaning companies will have new cleaners shadow more experienced cleaners for a month or two after they have completed their initial cleaning training. This ensures the new starters learn excellent cleaning tips from cleaners that have experienced it all in the field.

There are many smaller cleaning businesses that don’t have this experience. Sure, they may have cleaned their own homes, but they don’t have the experience to tackle every cleaning job that you may need them to.

trained contract cleaners

Comprehensive insurance policies

If anyone offering a service in your home doesn’t have insurance, avoid them. If anything goes missing or anything is broken during the service, it can be nearly impossible for anything to be done about it.

Companies with comprehensive insurance policies make sure that any situation that occurs during a cleaning session is sorted out quickly.

Tailored cleaning service to your needs

Whether you want to have a deep clean of your home or regular cleaning sessions each week, the cleaning service you use should be as flexible as possible. If you don’t want your entire home deep cleaned, the cleaning service should be flexible enough to ensure you are only paying for the areas of the home you want to be cleaned. For regular cleaning sessions, you should only be paying for the cleaning services that you use, and you should be able to change these cleaning services each week depending on your needs.

Flexible contracts

With contract cleaning, you aren’t signed on for a 36-month contract or anything like that. You can cancel, change or rearrange your cleaning sessions to suit your needs. So, if at first you are having your home cleaned every fortnight for a few hours but feel weekly sessions will be better suited, you can change. With smaller cleaning firms, it may be difficult for them to change this based on how many customers they have.
Staff productivity and morale

Staff that are receiving good wages, bonuses for good work and training to further their skills are often a lot happier than ones that aren’t. This will be reflected in the quality of their cleaning work and how passionate they are about the job.

What type of contract cleaning services are available?

There are a host of contract cleaning services available. Of course, we’ve mentioned regular domestic cleaning sessions throughout this article. However, there are also housekeeping services, office cleaning services, end of tenancy cleans, deep cleans and a great deal more.

cost of contract cleaning

Conclusion

Contract cleaning from a reputable and trustworthy cleaning company is a great way of ensuring that you save money on cleaning services. They are flexible and customisable to suit your needs weekly and moving forward, and they are provided by fully trained and vetted cleaners.

Contract Cleaning with Cleaning Express

Cleaning Express offers high-quality and affordable contract cleaning services in London. Our cleaners have years of experience and are trained in the best cleaning practices using our in-house training programmes. We have comprehensive insurance to give you peace of mind, as well as flexible working times and happy, motivated and passionate staff. Give Cleaning Express a call today to learn more about contract cleaning services. If you can’t find the perfect cleaning service for your needs on our website, we’ll create the ultimate cleaning package to suit your needs perfectly.

How often do you need to clean the office?

When running a successful business, the importance of cleanliness should never be underestimated. A tidy and hygienic work environment isn’t just a matter of aesthetics, it’s a vital component that directly impacts the productivity and overall well-being of your employees.

The cleanliness of your office space also speaks volumes about your business to your clients, partners, and potential future employees. It can set the tone for the company and its reputation.

Maintaining an office cleaning schedule alongside daily business operations may seem incredibly overwhelming, but this is where we come in. We’ve put together a guide on how often you need to clean and how thoroughly, which will help you put together a well-structured plan to guarantee a consistently immaculate workspace.

 

how often do you need to clean the office

 

How often should your office be cleaned?

The frequency of office cleaning is largely dependent on the size, the number of employees and the nature of the work conducted, but generally an office should be cleaned either daily or weekly. We’ve compiled our suggestions regarding cleaning timelines for different tasks, which are detailed below:

Daily Cleaning tasks

Daily cleaning tasks are necessary to maintain a healthy and productive environment for your staff. By consistently addressing these tasks each day, it prevents the build-up from accumulating into a more substantial and daunting task by the end of the week or month.

Daily tasks typically include:

• Desk tidying – Clearing any clutter, organising documents and wiping down the surface

• Emptying bins – Empty your workspace waste into a larger communal dustbin

• Sanitise common areas – Wipe down and disinfect shared spaces such as break rooms and meeting rooms

• Cleaning kitchen or break room areas – Wipe counters down, clean out the microwave (if you have one) and take care of any pots that may need doing or put them into the dishwasher

• Vacuuming or sweeping – Clean floors in high-traffic areas to remove any dirt or debris

• Dusting – Dust off shelves, windowsills, and other surfaces to keep them clean and allergen-free

• Cleaning electronics – Wipe down keyboards, mice, telephones and other frequently used equipment with appropriate supplies

• Window cleaning – Clean any accessible windows to keep the office bright and inviting

• Replenish supplies – Restock items like paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap and cleaning supplies

 

Weekly Cleaning

Weekly cleaning is a deeper, more thorough complement to the daily tidying routine. The process typically involves tasks such as:

• Vacuuming of the whole office space and mopping of any hard floors
• Dusting harder to reach areas
• Deep cleaning of the toilet area – check out our washroom services
• Cleaning windows and door frames
• Restocking supplies
• Tidying all meeting rooms and communal areas thoroughly

Ensuring these tasks are completed each week will help to enhance the overall office environment and contribute to wellbeing and productivity of your employees.

Monthly Cleaning

Monthly cleaning tasks delve into the more intensive aspects of maintaining a clean and conducive working environment. These tasks, often overlooked in daily or weekly routines, include deep carpet cleaning, thorough window washing, detailed dusting of blinds, light fixtures and air vents, as well as the deep cleaning of kitchen appliances.

The monthly cleaning can also involve decluttering storage areas, inspecting furniture for damage, and deep sanitizing high-touch areas. By performing these tasks monthly, businesses can ensure a comprehensive level of cleanliness and maintenance, thereby enhancing the lifespan of office assets, improving air quality, and fostering a healthier work atmosphere.

Do you need a comprehensive view of all cleaning tasks for your office? Read our office cleaning checklist.

how often to clean office

Extra Tips

Apart from adhering to the cleaning schedule, here are a few supplementary strategies for maintaining a clean workspace. Encourage each team member to take ownership of their individual spaces, as this significantly eases the overall cleaning process. Consider implementing a rotation system for the various cleaning tasks mentioned earlier. This approach ensures everyone participates and contributes to maintaining an orderly and hygienic work environment.

Summary

Cleanliness in your workplace should never be compromised. It reflects your company’s values, boosts employee morale, and creates a positive impression on your clients. Hiring Cleaning Express for your commercial office cleaning will ensure proper cleaning with the expertise and equipment that the job requires is advisable. With a well-planned cleaning schedule and some extra tips, you can ensure that your workspace stays clean and hygienic throughout the year, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who steps through your doors.

Also read: what makes a good office cleaner

Do you tip house cleaners?

To tip or not to tip? This is a problem that has plagued domestic cleaning customers for years. If you’ve ever felt weird about tipping the cleaner or that a cleaner is hanging around waiting for a tip, we’re going to explore the art and etiquette of tipping a cleaner below.

When tipping a cleaner, knowing where that tip goes is important. If your cleaner takes 100% of the tip or gift you give them, then absolutely tip away. If the company takes a portion (or all) of the tip, then understand that despite you tipping for the work that the cleaner did, they won’t receive all of it.

We must say that there is no need to tip. While it is a common and welcome thing in cleaning, it isn’t mandatory. If you feel that the cleaner doesn’t deserve a tip, or you don’t have the money to tip, don’t feel pressured to do so.

 

Should I tip regular house cleaners?

 

Regular house cleaners will welcome tips whenever you offer them. Of course, if you have a weekly cleaning session every week of the year, tipping them all the time may become quite expensive. If you are worried about needing to tip a regular cleaner constantly, perhaps reserve the tip for special occasions. If the cleaner did a particularly good job on a stain, or for their birthday or at Christmas, for example.

So, by all means, tip a regular domestic cleaner as much as you feel necessary. If you feel that the cleaner deserves a tip every week, the cleaner will greatly appreciate it. Otherwise, you can tip them once a month, every few months, or just at Christmas. Remember, tipping isn’t mandatory for cleaners in the UK. So, tip your house cleaners when you feel they deserve it.

Unsure what domestic cleaning is? Read our article on what is domestic cleaning


Do you tip house cleaners for a one time cleaning?

 

If you had a one off cleaning service such as a deep clean or end-of-tenancy clean, for example, and you feel that the cleaners have done a fantastic job, gone above and beyond, and completely surpassed your expectations, then feel free to tip as much as you like.

Most one-time cleaning sessions are very big jobs, and the cleaners need to work really hard in order to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you feel that the cleaner did this, a tip will always be welcomed by them.

Of course, if you feel that the cleaning hasn’t been done to the standards you were hoping for, then there is no need to tip for a one-time cleaning session.

Unsure whether your cleaner has done a good job? Read our 9 signs of a bad cleaning lady

How much do I tip house cleaners?

 

Typically, people tip cleaners around 10-15% of the total cost of the cleaning service, but some people tip 20% or more. If you feel a bit awkward tipping a cleaner a small amount every time they clean, you could tip them every month or give them a good tip at Christmas, for example.

For one-off cleaning sessions, a tip of around 15% of the cost of the total service is quite common. However, remember that if there is more than one cleaner, they will have to split this between themselves equally, so they may end up with less than usual.

Curious to know how much on average cleaners cost? Read our article on how much does a cleaner cost

how much do you tip house cleaners

Do you tip house cleaners during Christmas?

 

This is the most common time of year for people to tip cleaners. However, there is no need to tip a cleaner if you don’t have the money or if you don’t feel they deserve it. Of course, if they have worked hard for you throughout the year, and have kept your home looking fantastic, then this is a great time of year to show your appreciation for all their hard work.

If you don’t have the money to tip, a gift could show your appreciation nicely. Some home-baked biscuits, or a nice bottle of wine, for example, would be a lovely way of saying thank you to your cleaner during the Christmas period.

 

Do you tip independent house cleaners?

 

If you feel that your independent cleaner has done a brilliant job around your home and you’d like to thank them for their hard work, a tip will always be welcomed. Tips are very common around the holiday season but feel free to tip your independent cleaner whenever you feel like they deserve a tip.

Remember, while an independent cleaner will receive the entire amount that you pay them for the cleaning session, they have overheads to cover. Even if they use your equipment, they need to pay for fuel, their uniform, rent and a great deal more. So, if you feel like you want to tip your cleaner, by all means, go for it. It will be a welcome addition for them and a great way of thanking them for their hard work.

 

What about agency cleaners?

 

Tipping agency cleaners is very common. If you feel that an agency cleaner has done a brilliant job for you, or if you’d like to say thanks for their hard work over the year, by all means, give them a tip.

The bottom line

 

Tipping a cleaner in the UK is not mandatory. You don’t need to tip a cleaner for bad work or if you don’t feel the cleaning they did matches your standards. However, if the cleaner has done a fantastic job for you throughout the year or during a one-off cleaning session, then feel free to thank them with a tip. If you don’t have the money for a tip or would prefer to give your cleaner a gift, that is perfectly fine too.

We’d like to end this cleaning article by saying that at Cleaning Express, we welcome our customers giving our cleaners gifts and tips. We do not take a portion of the tip in any way (although our head office staff may have a biscuit or two if they are offered them). Our domestic cleaners are rewarded for their hard work by us, but our customers are more than welcome to reward them as well.

For more information about our domestic cleaning services, please check out the website further. Alternatively, you can email our customer service team. They are lovely and will happily recommend the best cleaning service for your needs.

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How to find a cleaner in London

Looking for a reliable cleaner in London is tricky. There are lots of companies offering cleaning services in London, so how do you choose the right service for you and your home? Well, we have some advice about finding the best cleaner in London below.

how to find a cleaner in london

How to find a good cleaner in London

The trick to finding a good cleaner in London is to research online and choose a person or company that is trustworthy, hard-working, reliable and passionate about the work. But how? Well, when looking at potential cleaning companies and people to use, try and find answers to the questions below.

Please read our article on 9 signs of a bad cleaning lady

What cleaning services do you need now and in the future?

If you’d like a deep cleaning service right now but might be interested in receiving regular domestic cleaning sessions moving forward, it’s a good idea to look for a cleaning company that will provide both of these services.

This ensures that when you find a good quality cleaning company, they can continue cleaning for you. It saves you from searching for multiple cleaning companies for all of your needs. There are even London-based cleaning companies that can do window cleaning, end-of-tenancy cleaning, housekeeping and a great deal more. So, make sure the cleaning company you use has all of the cleaning services you need right now and any you may wish to use in the future.

Does the cleaning person or company have insurance?

If the cleaning company you are looking at doesn’t mention having liability insurance anywhere on their website, Facebook page or CheckaTrade profile, chances are they don’t have insurance.

If something gets damaged during the cleaning session, liability insurance is used to resolve that situation quickly. If a company doesn’t have it, it can lead to a lot of hassle. The best cleaning companies in London have insurance policies for everything to protect their customers and their cleaners.

Are the cleaners vetted and fully trained?

When a cleaning company hires a cleaner, they should be vetted fully. This means a background check to ensure they can work in people’s homes. If a cleaning company doesn’t vet their cleaners, they could have anyone working for them. This vetting process is put in place to protect cleaning customers and the reputation of the cleaning company, so it says a lot about a cleaning company if they don’t vet their cleaners.

Does the cleaning company mention any training? Good quality cleaning companies fully train their cleaners in all aspects of cleaning. This ensures that when the cleaners come to your home, they can undertake all the cleaning tasks you need them to. If the cleaners don’t receive this training, the company just hopes they have the experience.

Does the cleaner get the London Living Wage?

If the cleaning company you use doesn’t pay its cleaners the London living wage, there is a very good chance that the cleaner that comes to your home is going to have a second, maybe even third, job just to survive.

This means that your cleaner likely won’t be fully focused or even motivated to do the work. They will be tired, stressed and overworked. All of which means they may not do the cleaning job you’d like them to do. There are plenty of affordable cleaning companies in London that do pay their cleaners the London living wage, and we’d recommend choosing one of these. It is better for you as you’ll get the results you want, and better for the cleaners who don’t have to work as much.

Finding a reliable cleaner in London

The best ways of finding reliable cleaners in London are by reading online reviews and asking friends or family about their experiences with cleaning services.

Word of mouth

Speak with neighbours, co-workers, friends and family and mention that you are looking for a cleaner. They will know someone who used a certain cleaning company that loved it or hated it. This is a great way to narrow your search for the best cleaners in your area of London.

Online reviews

Looking at online reviews of cleaners can also tell you a lot. From the good, the bad, and the unsightly! Don’t be afraid of using online reviews of cleaning companies to make an informed decision about which cleaning company you’d like to use.

Reliable cleaners at Cleaning Express

We hope you now know how to find a good cleaner in London, so let us quickly introduce ourselves. Our cleaners at Cleaning Express are fully vetted and trained, have many positive reviews, and are backed by our comprehensive liability insurance in case anything goes wrong.

Our goal as a cleaning company is to ensure both the cleaner and the customer get the best satisfaction as we pay our cleaners the London Living Wage so cleaners can do their best work for our clients. If you are interested in our cleaning services, then please have a look at our Cleaning Express website for more information.

Please also read how much does a cleaner cost?

What Does Deep Cleaning Include?

Deep cleaning brings a home back to life. It is the ideal way of keeping your home clean and tidy despite how vigorous your normal cleaning routine may be. We’re exploring deep cleaning below, how often you should do it, what should be included in a deep clean and more. We’ll offer expert advice about deep cleaning to help you make the most of your deep cleaning sessions.

what does deep cleaning include

What is deep cleaning?

A deep cleaning is a very in-depth cleaning process that removes all of the dust, dirt, pet hair, bacteria and grime from every surface in your home. During a deep cleaning session, every part of the home is tackled.

During a normal cleaning session, you or your cleaner likely won’t move the furniture when vacuuming, for example. This speeds up the cleaning process while ensuring every visible surface is nice and tidy. During a deep clean, though, furniture will be moved, ornaments will be carefully moved to dust shelving, and kitchen appliances will be moved to clean underneath them.

It is best to think of a usual cleaning session as a surface-level cleaning and a deep clean as a thorough cleaning of your entire home.

Please read our article on the difference between a deep clean and end of tenancy clean

Why you should deep clean your house

While regular cleaning sessions keep your home looking good, deep cleaning ensures that all bacteria, grime, pet hair and dust are removed from the property. Regular cleaning sessions do a good job of keeping these things at bay on the surfaces that we can see, but deep cleaning gets into the cracks, under cabinets and furniture to remove everything.

Deep cleans, then, are very important. If you have a very good regular cleaning schedule or a good quality cleaner, then your home may not look too different after a deep clean. However, it will smell fresher and keep dust, dirt, grime and bacteria from lurking in all the areas commonly missed during a regular cleaning session.

How often should you deep clean your house?

If you have a very good regular cleaning schedule or you use a good quality cleaner for your regular domestic cleaning, a deep clean should happen once or twice a year. If your cleaning schedule isn’t quite as vigorous or you have pets or kids, a deep clean every three to four months will keep your home looking its best.

Typically, homes with more clutter require deep cleaning more often. This is because clutter isn’t usually moved during a regular cleaning session. This allows dust and dirt, as well as bacteria, to build up quickly. So, if you have a lot of ornaments or kid toys in the home, a deep clean every two to three months might be best.

Remember, a deep clean will help you manage the dust, dirt, grime and bacteria in the home, but it will also help with any smells and odours too. So, if you have pets, a deep clean can completely rid your home of smells and help you prevent them from returning. So, if you have a lot of pets, the more deep cleans you have per year, the more beneficial it will be to how your home looks and smells.

how often should you deep clean your house

What is included in a deep house cleaning?

Deep cleans are extremely thorough. The process ensures that everything part of a property is cleaned correctly. As a result, the list of what is included is very thorough, but here is an overview of what to include in your deep clean:

  • Hoovering and mopping of all floors
  • Vacuuming under furniture and carpets
  • Dusting skirting boards and walls behind furniture
  • Dusting all shelves and removing all ornaments, books and photos
  • Cleaning the insides of ovens, microwaves, fridges and freezers and other kitchen appliances
  • Wipe and disinfect behind the toilet seat and inside the toilet bowl
  • Remove soap scum and limescale from shower doors, taps and shower heads

You may also wish to hire a carpet cleaning machine or add carpet cleaning services to your deep cleaning if you are using a professional cleaning company. This will bring your carpets back to life. It will improve the colour of your carpets, remove any lingering pet hair and get rid of smells.

Deep Cleaning services

If you’re in London and a deep cleaning session sounds like a lot of hard work that you don’t have time to do, Cleaning Express can help. Our expert cleaners are fully trained in all aspects of deep cleaning, and we can bring your home back to life quickly.

Our cleaning team can make quick and thorough work of your deep clean, and we have carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, window cleaning services and more to help you make the most of your deep cleaning session.

9 Signs of a Bad Cleaning Lady

Whether you’re looking for a cleaner or already have one, knowing the signs of bad cleaners is really important. Identifying if a cleaner is doing a good job or not allows you to make a decision about whether to keep using that cleaning lady or look for someone else.

Below, we have all the clear signs of a lousy cleaning service and some of the early warning signs that may help you decide to look for a new, better cleaning service.

signs of a bad cleaning lady

Warning signs of a bad cleaning lady

If you already have a cleaner and you are looking at this article, that is quite a good warning sign that your cleaner isn’t providing the services you need them to. After all, if your cleaner was doing every right, you wouldn’t be reading this!

The biggest warning sign of a professional cleaner not doing their job correctly is disinterest. If they are not focusing on the cleaning tasks that you have asked them to do, perhaps they are arriving later than usual, or their head really isn’t into the cleaning process when they begin working.

All of these signs show that a cleaner is not connecting with the cleaning jobs you are giving them, and it may be time to start looking elsewhere. Let’s take a deeper dive into clear signs that a cleaning company isn’t doing the job correctly, shall we?

Clear signs of a bad cleaning lady

Sadly, choosing a reputable cleaning service doesn’t always mean the cleaner you get is going to be a good one. A good cleaning lady will be able to do all of the cleaning tasks you ask them to do and do them with conviction. A bad cleaning lady, on the other hand, will show clear signs of doing a bad job, possibly from the moment you hire them.

Here are some clear signs of a cleaning service and cleaning lady that are just bad news!

Lack of communication

A superb cleaning service should always start with excellent communication. This ensures that you (the customer) know precisely what cleaning services are on offer, and the cleaning lady knows exactly what cleaning services you need.

House cleaning services must have clear communication throughout the relationship because the tasks change weekly. If there is a very obvious lack of communication from your cleaning lady, this can make changing the cleaning tasks they are doing weekly extremely difficult.

Cleaning services of any kind must be flexible. The cleaners must be fully trained in all aspects of the role and should be more than happy to do all of the cleaning tasks a customer may need. This means that open lines of communication between the customer, the house cleaners and the cleaning company are vital.

Always late

A cleaner running late every so often can happen. Delays on public transport or traffic issues can cause anyone to be late. A cleaner will usually apologise and stay for the allotted time anyway.

Where lateness becomes an issue is when it continues to happen and becomes more frequent. A tell-tale sign that a cleaner has lost interest in the role is when the apologies for running late begin to sound more like disinterested excuses.

A good cleaner will let the cleaning company and the customer know they are running late. If you are noticing that your cleaning lady is making a habit of running late, it is worth speaking with the cleaning company. If they have no knowledge of it, it might be that they are avoiding work altogether.

bad cleaner always late

Items going missing

Trusting anyone in your home is a scary thing, to begin with, and many people will share horror stories with you about cleaners stealing things during cleaning sessions. Sadly, this does happen in some cases, and it is up to the house cleaning services you’re using to put this right!

If you do notice that any items have gone missing from your home while receiving a maid service, you should contact the company directly if you have proof that it was the maid who took it. Most cleaning services will resolve the matter quickly and ensure that the cleaner no longer works in your home and, most likely, any other home.

Using their phone

While many cleaners use their phones to receive information about cleaning jobs throughout the day and, therefore, may need to check their phones from time to time. This is vastly different from being on them throughout the entire cleaning session.

Anyone with a smartphone will know that being on your phone a lot means that you are not focusing on the task you are doing, and so the cleaner is likely doing the same. Now, the cleaner may also have something going on in their life. Perhaps their child is off school ill. So, giving them the benefit of the doubt the first time might be for the best.

However, if it continues, speaking with the cleaner about it may shine some light on the situation.

Careless with your belongings

Another bad sign for house cleaners that have given up is that they are no longer giving your home and its contents the respect they deserve. This is your home, and a good cleaning service will respect it. A bad cleaner may not!

That’s not to say that a bad cleaner will intentionally break things during a visit to your home, but they may start to be less careful with things.

warning signs of a bad cleaning lady

Does not follow instructions

As we said above, cleaning should be flexible; it is the best way of ensuring that as many of the cleaning tasks you need doing are done during the cleaning session.

So, when a house cleaning service arrives, they should be asking what tasks you need them to do. This will help them plan their time better, organise the cleaning supplies and cleaning tools they need and allow them to get to work straight away.

Of course, this only works if the cleaners are open to following clear instructions. Most people are not in when the cleaners come to their homes. So often, a list of cleaning tasks is left for them.

If you notice that the cleaning tasks are not being done, let the cleaner know exactly where you are leaving the to-do list. If nothing changes, get in touch with the head office of the cleaning business, and they can speak with the cleaner about why they are not following instructions.

Ignores your feedback

Feedback is a really important part of the customer and cleaner relationship. If a cleaner has done a task exactly the way you would like it done, tell them, and they will know to do it exactly this way in future. If the cleaner didn’t do something correctly or maybe missed an item on the cleaning list, let them know.

Most house cleaners are more than happy to take on feedback and ensure they can provide a better job next time. If a cleaner refuses feedback or ignores it, this is a sign of a bad cleaner.

Cleans too fast and skips tasks

If a cleaner is rushing to get jobs done or skipping tasks altogether, this is not a good sign. We know that not everyone can offer 100% of their energy every day, but if you’re paying for quality cleaners, you expect good service.

If you notice that a cleaner is regularly skipping tasks or rushing through all of the tasks you are setting, speak with them. Maybe you are giving them more than they can manage in the time they have, and reducing the tasks may help. Or it could be that the cleaner feels they have a better place to be.

Pleas read our article: What can a cleaner do in 2 hours?

cleaning too fast

Old and outdated cleaning techniques

There is nothing like a bit of elbow grease and some good old-fashioned hard work when it comes to cleaning, right? Well, there are modern cleaning methods that good cleaning companies employ that offer a really efficient way of cleaning.

In many cases, older methods use more harmful chemicals and take longer to achieve. So, outdated methods of cleaning may cause your cleaner to be slower than you’d like.

How to find a good cleaning lady

The right person for a cleaning job is difficult to find, but good quality cleaning companies have already done the hard work for you. When looking for a cleaner, speak with family members and friends. Ask them which cleaning companies they’ve used in the area and which they have had good experiences with.

Also, take a look at online reviews from real customers from the cleaning companies. They offer a real insight into what’s it like to have cleaners in the home.

Also, look for cleaning companies that fully trained their staff and those that have good quality liability insurance. In most cases, this shows the cleaning company is serious about providing a high-quality service and only hires the very best cleaners.

Looking for cleaning services in London? Please read our guide on how to find a cleaner in London

Experienced too many signs of a bad cleaning lady?

Now that you understand all the signs of a bad cleaning lady, then why don’t you have a look at our regular cleaning services? Cleaning Express offers high-quality regular domestic cleaning services across London. All of our cleaners are fully trained by us using online training videos created by our most experienced cleaners and head office staff. Our cleaning sessions are totally flexible and tailored to your needs each time we visit.

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