Bottom line up front: a 10-desk office needs the same short list done on a rhythm. Floors, bins, pantry and any washroom inside your unit are done on every visit. Desks, glass and switches are done weekly. A deeper clean of the pantry, washroom and floors comes round each quarter. Two or three visits a week suit most units of this size.
TL;DR
- Every visit: floors, bins, pantry, washroom, reception and meeting table.
- Every week: desk surfaces, glass, door handles and switches.
- Every quarter: a deeper clean of the pantry, washroom and floors.
- Two or three visits a week is our usual starting point for a quiet 10-desk unit.
- Write the scope down. A small office has no one watching the clock, so the quote is the only record of what was agreed.
What does a 10-desk office actually need cleaned?
A small office is simple, but it is not empty. Ten people use one pantry, one door and usually one or two washrooms. The dirt is steady and light, which is why a fixed rhythm works better than an occasional big clean. This is the rhythm we start from when we scope a unit of this size.
| How often | What gets done |
|---|---|
| Every visit | Floors vacuumed or mopped, bins emptied and re-lined, pantry counter and sink wiped, washroom inside the unit cleaned, meeting table and reception wiped |
| Every week | Cleared desk surfaces wiped, glass doors and partitions, door handles and light switches, skirting along the main walkway |
| Every month | Inside of the pantry fridge and microwave, tops of cabinets and shelves, air-con grilles dusted |
| Every quarter | A deeper clean: pantry and washroom descaled, floors given extra attention. Carpet hot-water extraction and machine floor scrubbing are separate jobs quoted on top |
Machine floor scrubbing is not part of a standard office clean. It is its own service, and it is worth booking only when tile, vinyl or epoxy floors have gone grey in the texture. Our floor scrubbing service covers that.
How many visits a week does a small office need?
It depends on how the unit is used, not on the floor area. Use these three questions.
- Does the team eat in the pantry? If yes, the pantry needs attention daily. A coffee point can wait two or three days.
- Do clients or visitors walk through? If yes, reception, the meeting room and the washroom need to be ready every morning.
- Who is in the office on which days? A unit that is half empty on Mondays and Fridays does not need a visit on those days.
For a quiet unit with a coffee point, two or three visits a week plus a quarterly deep clean is a sound plan. For a client-facing unit with a lunch pantry, daily visits are easier to run than catching up after a messy week. Our guide to part-time vs contract office cleaning compares who should do the work, and the office cleaning cost guide shows how the number of visits moves the monthly price.
What should staff do, and what should the crew do?
Split the work on day one, or it turns into a quiet argument later.
- Staff clear their own desks. The crew wipes a clear surface. Paperwork, laptops and personal items are not moved.
- Staff wash their own mugs. The crew cleans the sink and counter, not the dishes.
- The crew handles the pantry fridge on a schedule. Agree one day a month when staff clear out their food.
- Consumables have a named owner. Toilet rolls, hand soap and bin liners should be listed in the contract, with who restocks them.
What time of day suits a small office?
Before opening or after closing, so the crew works around no one. Our crew works night-time and weekend slots, which means a small unit can be cleaned while it is empty. Settle the access plan in writing: who holds the keys or access card, who sets and clears the alarm, and what the crew does if the door will not open.
What should you check before you hire a cleaning company?
Three checks cover most of the risk for a small office.
- The licence. Cleaning businesses serving offices need an NEA licence. NEA publishes the list, with each licence's class and expiry date.
- The written scope. It should name each area, the frequency and the exclusions.
- The extras. Ask what is billed on top, such as carpet extraction, machine scrubbing or after-hours access, so the monthly price does not move later.
How do you get an accurate quote for a small office?
A quote for a 10-desk unit should come from a short walk-through or a floor plan. Have these ready:
- the floor area, the floor type and whether any of it is carpeted
- the number of desks, washrooms and pantries inside your unit
- the days and hours you want the crew on site
- what gets missed today
We see the space, you tell us what gets neglected, and we send a fixed price with the full scope in writing. Our in-house crew brings the equipment and chemicals. For how recurring contracts are set up, see office cleaning in Singapore.
Figures and sources
- Licence required for general cleaning at non-domestic premises such as offices, mandatory since 2014, with a fine of up to S$10,000 for operating without one. Source: NEA, Cleaning Business Licence.
- NEA publishes a list of licensed cleaning businesses with each one's licence class and expiry date. Source: NEA, list of licensed cleaning businesses.
Frequently asked questions
How often does a 10-desk office need cleaning?
Most small offices are well served by two or three visits a week, plus a deeper clean every quarter. Move to daily visits if staff eat lunch in the pantry every day or clients walk through the unit regularly.
What should a small office cleaning visit include?
Floors vacuumed or mopped, bins emptied, the pantry counter and sink wiped, any washroom inside your unit cleaned, and the meeting table and reception wiped. Desks, glass and switches are usually weekly jobs. Write the list into the quote so both sides work from the same page.
Do cleaners move papers and laptops on desks?
They should not. Staff clear their desks, and the crew wipes the clear surface. If a desk is left cluttered, the crew works around it. Agree this rule at the start.
Does a small office cleaning company need an NEA licence?
Yes. A business offering general cleaning at non-domestic premises, including a small office, must hold an NEA cleaning business licence before it starts work. NEA publishes the list of licensed businesses, so you can check a name before you sign.
Get your office cleaning fixed price
Send your floor area, headcount and preferred slot. We walk the space and send a fixed price with the full scope in writing.