Holiday Office Cleaning Tips: 15-Step Checklist Guide

Holiday office cleaning tips involve 15 specific steps to fully reset a workspace before a shutdown or prepare it for reopening. This checklist includes: creating a cleaning schedule, decluttering desks, wiping and disinfecting surfaces, cleaning shared appliances, emptying and sanitising bins, vacuuming carpets, removing party debris, restocking hygiene stations, and refreshing the office for staff return. These cleaning tasks help maintain a safe, organised environment over the holidays—without touching health or unrelated topics.

This guide is designed for cleaning teams, office managers, and commercial cleaning providers preparing Sydney offices for year-end transitions.

Holiday Office Cleaning Tips: Full 15-Step Checklist

This section delivers a fully structured checklist to guide office cleaning teams or facility managers. It covers both pre-shutdown and post-return workflows.

1. Finalise a Holiday Cleaning Schedule

Begin by planning the cleaning timeline in advance. If using internal teams, assign responsibilities by zone (desks, kitchen, carpets). If outsourcing, confirm your commercial cleaning provider’s availability and include key services like floor polishing or end-of-year sanitation.

2. Declutter Desks and Shared Areas

Cleaning can't begin until surfaces are clear. Ask employees to remove:

Food, mugs, and utensils
Loose paper, post-its, and stationery
Personal items like plants or decorations

This allows all desks and common areas to be properly wiped down and disinfected. For support with clearing office clutter efficiently before holiday shutdowns, encourage teams to follow an organised system.

3. Wipe Down and Disinfect Workstations

After decluttering, clean each desk using a neutral detergent. Focus on touchpoints like:

Keyboard and mouse
Monitor edges
Desk phones
Chair arms

Use microfibre cloths and disinfectant sprays (TGA-registered) to finish each surface safely.

4. Clean and Empty All Bins

Bins should be emptied and cleaned before break. This includes:

Desk bins
Kitchen bins
Recycling stations

Wipe bin interiors and lids with detergent. Reline every bin with fresh liners for return.

5. Deep Clean Kitchen Appliances

The office kitchen should be cleared and wiped thoroughly:

Empty and defrost the fridge
Wipe the microwave inside and out
Clean coffee machine trays and drip areas
Clear and wipe toaster crumb trays

Unplug unused appliances if the office will be closed.

6. Disinfect Shared Office Equipment

Photocopiers, scanners, reception phones, and intercom panels need to be cleaned with surface-safe disinfectant. Use lint-free cloths and avoid spraying liquid directly onto electronics. Pay extra attention to buttons and hand-grip areas.

7. Vacuum and Spot-Clean Carpeted Zones

Use commercial vacuums to remove dirt and debris from:

Open-plan areas
Meeting rooms
Hallways and receptions

If stains are visible, spot-clean using a carpet-safe stain remover before deep drying.

8. Remove Glitter, Confetti, and Party Waste

Holiday decorations often leave behind small debris. Use HEPA-filtered vacuums to collect:

Confetti and glitter
Tinsel fragments
Dried leaves or petals from centrepieces

Avoid using mops or wet cloths on these items until all loose materials are vacuumed.

9. Wipe Glass, Windows, and Entry Doors

Clear fingerprints, tape residue, or sticky marks left behind on internal glass or door panels. Use streak-free glass cleaner and microfiber for a polished result.

10. Refill Hygiene Stations

Top up essential supplies before the break:

Hand sanitiser bottles
Disinfecting wipes
Paper towel rolls

Ensure each station is neat and ready for use on return, especially near entry points.

11. Clean and Reorder Shared Furniture

Wipe down reception chairs, meeting tables, and waiting lounges. Push chairs into alignment and stack excess furniture neatly. This creates a clean visual impression for returning staff.

12. Sweep and Mop Hard Floors

Use a neutral-pH floor cleaner to mop entryways, kitchens, and bathrooms. Sweep dry debris beforehand to prevent smearing. Change mop heads between rooms to avoid spreading grime.

13. Empty Office Fridge and Bins Before Shutdown

All food must be removed before the break. This prevents odours, pests, and mould. Fridges should be emptied, wiped with detergent, unplugged, and propped open to air.

14. Schedule a Return Cleaning Reset

Plan a light re-clean before reopening:

Dust surfaces
Check for insect or dust build-up
Run a vacuum sweep
Reline bins and freshen shared areas

Even if the office was cleaned before shutdown, the return clean restores a polished environment.

15. Book Professional Holiday Office Cleaning

For floors, carpets, and high surfaces, partner with a cleaning service that offers end-of-year programs. Request scope options for:

Deep disinfection of workstations
Commercial carpet shampooing
Waste disposal and bin sanitation
Post-party or event cleanup

FAQs: Holiday Office Cleaning Tips

Before closing the office or reopening after the break, teams often have recurring questions about how to manage seasonal cleaning tasks efficiently. Here are detailed answers based on real search intent.

How do you clean an office properly before the holidays?

Start with surface decluttering—ask staff to clear desks, fridges, and kitchen counters. Next, clean and disinfect all workstations and shared equipment. Vacuum carpets, mop floors, empty and sanitise bins, and wipe down glass doors. Remove party decorations and glitter debris. Clean appliances and unplug as needed. Finally, create a sign-off checklist for visibility and audit.

What is the best way to clean carpets after a holiday party?

Begin by using a commercial-grade vacuum to pick up dry debris. Use a spot cleaner for obvious spills (wine, coffee, food). For widespread staining or odour, engage a professional carpet cleaning company offering steam extraction or dry powder methods. Ensure adequate drying time before staff return.

Should office cleaning be done before or after shutdown?

Both are recommended. Cleaning before prevents odours, spoilage, and debris accumulation. Cleaning after clears any dust or insect build-up during the break. Many businesses clean thoroughly before leaving and do a lighter re-clean before reopening to ensure freshness and staff comfort.

What items are commonly forgotten during holiday office cleaning?

Often-missed areas include behind printers, fridge interiors, under keyboards, bin lids, and shared phone handsets. Other frequently overlooked items include blinds, ceiling vents, door handles, and keyboard wrist pads. Using a checklist helps eliminate these blind spots.

How do you prepare an office cleaning schedule for the holidays?

Create a calendar with cleaning dates for:

End-of-year deep clean
Pre-party and post-party cleaning
Shutdown day fridge and bin checks
Return-day touch-ups

Assign responsibility to internal staff or contractors. List all cleaning zones and required actions per space (e.g., boardroom carpet, reception seating).

Book Reliable Holiday Office Cleaning in Sydney

Everyday Clean offers reliable commercial cleaning solutions across Sydney.

Our office cleaning services are ideal for pre-holiday shutdowns and new year resets. From glitter removal to bin sanitation, our trained teams ensure your space is spotless before and after the break.

Author: Everyday Clean Content Team
Everyday Clean is Sydney’s trusted provider of commercial cleaning solutions, including pools, gyms, offices, and strata properties. Our licensed professionals use advanced, eco-friendly equipment to deliver safe, compliant, and spotless results. With deep experience across Sydney’s hospitality, fitness, and residential sectors, we help facilities maintain inviting, healthy environments that guests trust.

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