Why Use a Cleaning Checklist?
A well-designed cleaning checklist ensures consistency, accountability, and thoroughness in your facility maintenance. Whether you're managing an in-house cleaning team or evaluating a professional service, these checklists help you:
- Never miss critical tasks - Document all daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning requirements
- Train new staff efficiently - Clear expectations from day one
- Track quality over time - Identify patterns and problem areas
- Ensure compliance - Meet health department and OSHA requirements
- Communicate expectations - Share with cleaning vendors or staff
Office Cleaning Checklist
For standard office buildings and professional spacesDaily Tasks
- Trash removal - Empty all waste baskets, replace liners, transport to dumpster
- Restroom cleaning - Clean and disinfect toilets, urinals, sinks; restock supplies; mop floors
- Break room/kitchen - Wipe counters, clean sink, empty trash, spot clean appliances
- Vacuum high-traffic areas - Entryways, hallways, common areas, conference rooms
- Spot clean glass - Entry doors, interior glass at eye level
- High-touch surfaces - Disinfect door handles, light switches, elevator buttons, handrails
- Entrance mats - Vacuum or shake out entrance mats, check for moisture
Weekly Tasks
- Dust all surfaces - Desks, shelves, windowsills, picture frames, file cabinets
- Vacuum all carpeted areas - Including under desks and furniture edges
- Mop hard floors - Tile, vinyl, concrete, and hardwood surfaces
- Clean interior glass - Conference room windows, office partitions
- Wipe down electronics - Phone handsets, keyboards, monitors (with appropriate cleaners)
- Deep clean restrooms - Scrub grout, clean vents, polish fixtures
- Clean kitchen appliances - Microwave interior, refrigerator exterior, coffee maker
Monthly Tasks
- High dusting - Ceiling vents, light fixtures, tops of cabinets, door frames
- Baseboard cleaning - Wipe down all baseboards throughout facility
- Spot clean walls - Remove scuff marks, fingerprints, and stains
- Clean refrigerator interior - Remove expired items, wipe shelves and drawers
- Exterior window cleaning - First-floor windows (interior and exterior)
- Deep carpet vacuuming - Move furniture, vacuum under and behind
Medical Facility Checklist
For clinics, dental offices, and healthcare spacesDaily Tasks (Critical)
- Exam room disinfection - Hospital-grade disinfectant on all surfaces, proper dwell time
- Waiting room sanitization - Chairs, tables, magazines racks, children's area
- Restroom disinfection - Medical-grade cleaning, restock supplies, verify hand sanitizer
- High-touch points - Door handles, light switches, check-in counters, pens
- Floor cleaning - Mop with disinfectant solution, pay attention to corners
- Biohazard waste - Proper handling and disposal of sharps containers, red bags
- Air quality check - Verify HVAC functioning, check air freshener/purifier
Weekly Tasks
- Deep clean exam rooms - Under equipment, behind furniture, wall spots
- HVAC vent cleaning - Wipe down visible vents and registers
- Glass and mirror cleaning - All mirrors, glass partitions, and windows
- Staff break room - Deep clean refrigerator, microwave, coffee area
- Upholstery spot cleaning - Waiting room chairs and fabric surfaces
Compliance Note: Medical facilities must follow OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards, CDC guidelines, and state health department regulations. All cleaning staff should be trained in proper PPE use, biohazard handling, and infection control protocols.
Gym & Fitness Center Checklist
For gyms, yoga studios, and athletic facilitiesMultiple Times Daily
- Equipment wipe-down - Cardio machines, weight benches, handles, touchscreens
- Locker room patrol - Check for wet floors, restock towels, empty trash
- Restroom checks - Stock supplies, spot mop, empty trash, verify odor control
- Mirror cleaning - Wipe down mirrors in workout areas
- Water fountain sanitization - Wipe down and disinfect
End of Day (Daily Close)
- Full equipment disinfection - All machines, free weights, mats, accessories
- Floor mopping - Rubber flooring with appropriate cleaner (not slippery)
- Locker room deep clean - Showers, sinks, toilets, benches, lockers
- Sauna/steam room - Clean benches, mop floors, check drainage
- Trash collection - All bins, towel hampers, recycling
- Odor treatment - Apply odor neutralizer, check ventilation
Weekly Tasks
- Grout and tile scrubbing - Locker room floors, showers, pool areas
- Drain cleaning - Clear hair and debris from all drains
- Ventilation cleaning - Wipe down vents and fans
- Deep clean mats - Yoga mats, stretching mats, gym mats
- Locker interior wipe - Inside of lockers, door vents
Industrial & Warehouse Checklist
For manufacturing, distribution, and industrial facilitiesDaily Tasks
- Office area cleaning - Admin areas, reception, conference rooms
- Break room maintenance - Full cleaning, restock, trash removal
- Restroom cleaning - Deep clean, restock all supplies
- Production floor sweep - Main aisles and high-traffic areas
- Trash removal - All bins including production floor
Weekly Tasks
- Full floor scrubbing - Production floor with industrial scrubber
- Dock area cleaning - Loading dock sweep and mop
- High dust removal - Beams, ductwork, sprinkler heads (where safe)
- Equipment exteriors - Wipe down machine exteriors
- Spill cleanup zones - Deep clean known spill-prone areas
Monthly Tasks
- Pressure washing - Loading docks, exterior walkways, trash areas
- High-reach dusting - Rafters, overhead structures (with lift)
- Floor sealing/coating - Reapply floor sealant as needed
- Storage area organization - Sweep and clean storage zones
Pro Tips for Using Cleaning Checklists
- Customize for your space - Add or remove tasks based on your specific facility needs and traffic patterns
- Date and initial each completion - Creates accountability and documentation for compliance
- Review weekly - Look for patterns in missed tasks or recurring issues
- Train staff on the checklist - Walk through each task so expectations are clear
- Update seasonally - Portland's rainy season requires more floor care; summer means more window cleaning
- Share with your cleaning vendor - If you hire professional cleaners, give them your checklist as a baseline
- Post in cleaning closets - Keep laminated copies where staff can easily reference them
Need Help Implementing These Standards?
TBM Commercial Cleaning has served Portland businesses since 2007. We can customize a cleaning plan that matches these checklists - or exceeds them. Free walkthrough and quote.