6 things a cleaning schedule should include

Keeping a space clean requires more than just good intentions. A clear and structured plan is necessary for ensuring that all cleaning tasks are completed efficiently and consistently, and this is where a cleaning schedule comes in.

A cleaning schedule is the plan that shows which tasks have been agreed upon to keep a space clean and tidy. They form a line of communication between everyone involved; the business having the cleaning done, the cleaning partner, and all staff from both parties. A good schedule helps to ensure that in each of your cleaning sessions, everything that has been agreed happens according to your specific needs and priorities.

A cleaning schedule is a useful document, and if you are a business working with a professional cleaning company, you should certainly have one to keep everything on track. Your cleaning partner will produce this based on what was agreed when you first started working together. At Vivo Clean, we do this following a site visit once we are on board with a new customer.

Our view is that a cleaning schedule should be detailed enough to make sure nothing is missed, but simple enough that it can be easily understood and followed - especially when it comes to things like holiday or sickness cover, when a different cleaning team may be picking up the work, and will need to be able to slot in effectively.

What should a cleaning schedule include?

There's no one answer to what a cleaning schedule should include, and different people within the industry do things slightly differently. However, there are a number of things we think are important.

Items and tasks

Each area, room and item that needs cleaning should be detailed in the schedule, along with the specific task associated with it. For regular cleaning, this is usually things like cleaning floors, emptying bins, and washing bathroom spaces.

Frequency

Some areas or items may need cleaning more regularly than others. A high footfall, high use area might involve daily cleaning tasks, for example, whereas specific items or tasks may only be needed weekly or once per month. A good cleaning schedule identifies these different regularities to make efficient use of time while making sure things stay clean and tidy.

Method

For each task, a quick description of what is needed should be included; for example rather than saying that a certain item should be cleaned, you should specify that it needs to be dusted or damp wiped. This is particularly important for any specialist locations or cleaning types where the method may be especially specific.

Precautions

For certain cleaning tasks, there may be a requirement to wear protective equipment or clothing. These requirements will have been identified during a risk assessment and are often then detailed on a cleaning schedule (or on an accompanying document) so that they are accessible and clear to those involved.

Equipment and products

Usually, a cleaning schedule will make reference to the equipment and products that are to be used, especially in respect of different specialised chemicals. It may also refer to which equipment and products are included as part of a cleaning contract, and any which are not included but are instead provided by the client.

Responsibilities

It can also be helpful to make clear the roles and responsibilities within a cleaning schedule, so that nothing is missed and everyone involved has clarity on what to expect. If you are working with a cleaning partner, you will likely find that all of the cleaning schedule is their responsibility; but it may detail any specifics that they are not responsible for, such as equipment or products as mentioned above.

These different elements tend to be presented in an easy-to-follow table format, ideally split into different rooms so that it can be read quickly and referred back to during the course of the work.

Other things that you might find on a cleaning schedule are:

• Who will each task or area be checked by once cleaned?
• Specific instructions around pre-cleaning checks, for example to disconnect an electricity supply or dismantle an item
• Any exceptions to the general instructions given, for example that a particular desk, area or piece of equipment is exempt

A cleaning schedule should be put together to suit you following an assessment of the space and a discussion on the nature of how it is used. At Vivo Clean we are careful to ensure we truly understand the needs of our clients, and where possible we like to visit multiple times during the process of agreeing to work together so that we have a thorough grasp on your premises and its nuances.

We offer regular cleaning services to businesses across Ipswich and the whole of Suffolk and have worked with a variety of industries. Our contract cleaning services are tailored to your requirements, with a bespoke cleaning schedule created based on a solid understanding of your needs, your space and your pain points. If we can help your business with commercial contract cleaning, get in touch.

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