Commercial cleaning
Office cleaning: what to specify and who to ask
Office cleaning is the most common commercial contract in Australia and also the most inconsistently priced. Most tenancies are cleaned outside business hours on a fixed weekly schedule, with periodic work (carpet extraction, window interiors, high dusting) quoted separately. The biggest cost drivers are floor area, desk density, kitchen and bathroom count, and whether the building requires an after-hours access escort.
What a proper scope covers
- Desks, hot desks and meeting rooms wiped and spot-cleaned
- Kitchens, breakout areas and dishwasher rotation
- Bathroom sanitising and consumables restocking
- Vacuuming of carpets, mopping of hard floors
- Bin and comingled recycling collection to building chute
- Periodic: carpet steam clean, internal glass, high dusting
Before you sign anything
- 1Ask for the scope of works as a written schedule, split into daily / weekly / periodic tasks.
- 2Confirm whether consumables (paper, soap, bin liners) are included or on-charged at cost plus margin.
- 3Check the after-hours access plan: swipe cards, alarm codes and who holds them.
- 4Ask how many cleaners attend and for how long — a 'nightly service' can mean 25 minutes.
- 5Request the public liability certificate of currency and workers compensation details.
Office cleaning by city
Providers offering office cleaning
Questions people ask
- How is office cleaning priced in Australia?
- Two ways: an hourly rate for the cleaner's time, or a fixed monthly contract price built from an estimate of hours. Fixed monthly is the norm for anything ongoing, because it lets you budget. Always ask what hourly rate the fixed price was built from — that is the number you can actually compare between quotes.
- Should I sign a long contract?
- You do not have to. Many operators will run month-to-month after an initial trial period. If a longer term is offered in exchange for a lower rate, check the termination clause and any equipment or setup costs that become payable if you leave early.
- What is not usually included?
- Carpet steam cleaning, strip and seal of vinyl, external windows, pressure washing, and deep kitchen work are almost always periodic extras. Get them priced upfront so they do not arrive as surprise invoices.