How to clean office surfaces, one by one
To clean office surfaces, match the method to the material and keep separate cloths for each area. Dust first, then wipe desks and tables with a microfiber cloth dampened in mild soapy water, glass with glass cleaner, and screens with a dry cloth only. Disinfect the shared touch points daily with a registered disinfectant, following its label for contact time.
Cleaning and disinfecting are two steps. Clean the dirt off first, or the disinfectant can't do its job.
What do you need?
- Color-coded microfiber cloths: one color for desks and common areas, one for restrooms, one for kitchens
- A mild all-purpose cleaner or soapy water
- Glass cleaner
- A registered disinfectant
- A duster with an extendable handle
- A vacuum with an upholstery tool
How do you clean each surface?
| Surface | Method | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate desks | Damp cloth with mild cleaner, dry | Pooling at the edges, which lifts laminate |
| Wood desks and tables | Cleaner made for wood, cloth barely damp | Water rings, vinegar |
| Glass desks and partitions | Glass cleaner sprayed on the cloth | Streaks from too much product |
| Whiteboards | Whiteboard cleaner or a little rubbing alcohol | Abrasive pads |
| Screens and monitors | Dry microfiber, then barely damp with water | Glass cleaner, spraying the screen |
| Keyboards and phones | Disinfecting wipe, if the maker allows it | Liquid in the keys |
| Fabric chairs | Vacuum, spot-clean by the cleaning code | Over-wetting the foam |
| Metal and plastic | Mild cleaner, then disinfect the touch points | Abrasives |
Which touch points need daily attention?
Door handles and push plates, light switches, elevator buttons, shared phones and keyboards, printer and copier panels, break room faucets, the fridge and microwave handles, and conference room remotes. Our office germs guide covers cold and flu season.
In what order do you clean an office?
Top to bottom, clean to dirty: high ledges and vents, then desks and tables, then touch points, then chairs, then floors last. Restrooms and kitchens get their own cloths and go after the work areas.
How do you keep desks clear enough to clean?
A clear-desk habit at the end of the week makes surfaces easy to wipe all the way across. Our office decluttering guide covers how to set it up.
Should you hire it out?
See our office cleaning page, then request a quote for Commercial Cleaning with your square footage, the number of people and the rooms you want covered.
FAQ
What is a good way to clean an office desk? Clear it, dust it, then wipe it with a microfiber cloth dampened in water with a little mild soap, and dry it. Use a cleaner made for the finish on wood or laminate, and disinfect the spots hands touch.
How do you clean a whiteboard so it doesn't ghost? Erase with a dry eraser, then wipe with a whiteboard cleaner or a cloth barely damp with rubbing alcohol, and dry it. Ghosting comes from old ink left too long or the wrong markers.
How often should office surfaces be disinfected? Shared touch points like door handles, light switches, elevator buttons, shared phones and break room counters daily, and more often in cold and flu season. Follow the disinfectant's label for how long the surface stays wet.
Request a quote
Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Request a quote at phillyscleanteam.com/request-a-quote, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.
