Why You Need a Cleaning Checklist
Without a documented checklist, cleaning becomes inconsistent. High-traffic areas get attention while less visible spots — air vents, baseboards, light switches — accumulate dust and grime. A comprehensive checklist ensures every area of your Austin office gets the attention it needs on the right schedule. It also gives you a standard to hold your cleaning team accountable to, whether that team is internal staff or a professional service like Anago.
Daily Cleaning Tasks
These tasks should happen every business day to maintain baseline cleanliness: empty all trash cans and replace liners, wipe down desks, phones, and keyboards with disinfectant, clean and sanitize restrooms (toilets, sinks, mirrors, floors), restock restroom supplies (soap, paper towels, toilet paper), clean break room counters, sink, and appliance exteriors, vacuum high-traffic carpeted areas, sweep and mop hard floors in entryways and break rooms, spot-clean glass doors and windows at entry points, and wipe down elevator buttons, door handles, and light switches.
Weekly Cleaning Tasks
These tasks maintain a deeper level of cleanliness: vacuum all carpeted areas including under desks, dust all surfaces including shelves, windowsills, and baseboards, clean interior glass and mirrors throughout the office, deep clean break room appliances (microwave interior, coffee machine), wipe down cabinet fronts and drawer handles, clean conference room tables and chairs, dust light fixtures and ceiling fan blades, and sanitize shared equipment (printers, copiers, water coolers).
Monthly Cleaning Tasks
Monthly tasks prevent long-term buildup: deep clean carpets with extraction or encapsulation, strip and refinish hard floors, clean air vents and HVAC returns, wash interior windows, deep clean upholstered furniture, clean behind and under large furniture, sanitize trash cans (not just change liners), and dust high areas including ceiling tiles, pipes, and upper shelving. These monthly tasks are where a professional cleaning service really earns its keep — they require specialized equipment and training that most in-house staff don't have.
Seasonal and Annual Tasks
Twice a year, schedule these deeper maintenance items: full exterior window cleaning, power washing of building entrances and walkways, deep carpet cleaning of all areas (not just high-traffic), HVAC duct cleaning, and pressure washing of parking areas and dumpster enclosures. In Austin, where summer heat and Cedar Fever allergens are a reality, seasonal deep cleaning is especially important for maintaining indoor air quality and a professional appearance.
How to Use This Checklist Effectively
Print this checklist and customize it for your facility. Add any industry-specific requirements (medical offices, restaurants, and fitness centers all have unique needs). Share it with your cleaning team or provider and conduct monthly walkthroughs to verify compliance. If you work with Anago, we build a custom checklist into your cleaning plan and use our CleanCom® system to document every task completed on every visit — so you always know exactly what was done and when.
