Commercial, Office and Industrial Cleaning Services
Finding the right cleaning service starts with knowing what your premises need. This guide covers regular office cleaning, commercial buildings, warehouses and specialist industrial work, with questions to ask before choosing a contractor. Sixpence Support UK provides this information free of charge. Cleaning companies charge for their services.
Office cleaning
Services may include desks and touchpoints, floors, meeting rooms, kitchens, toilets and emptying bins. Agree which tasks are included, which areas are excluded and how frequently they will be cleaned. Ask about cleaning outside working hours and arrangements for keys, alarms and confidential areas.
Commercial premises
Shops, schools, community buildings, shared residential areas and other business premises can have different cleaning needs. Ask about experience with your type of building, opening hours, visitor access and any site-specific requirements. Healthcare and food premises may need specialist procedures; do not assume an ordinary office-cleaning contract meets them.
Industrial and warehouse cleaning
Factories, workshops and warehouses may need trained contractors and specialist equipment. Explain the work environment, dust, oils, machinery, vehicle routes and restricted areas before a quotation. Ask how the contractor will assess the work and coordinate with your site team. Cleaning machinery, hazardous contamination, confined spaces and work at height require appropriate specialist competence. This page is not instructions for carrying out those jobs.
Specialist services
Ask separately about carpet and upholstery cleaning, window cleaning, floor maintenance, deep cleans, end-of-lease business cleaning and post-building-work cleaning. Check whether equipment, consumables, drying time and waste removal are included. Hazardous waste, asbestos, bodily fluids and other specialist contamination should be assessed by a suitably competent specialist, rather than included casually in a general cleaning job.
Finding a provider
Search for the service you need plus your town or postcode. Ask other local businesses for recommendations and compare at least two suitable providers where practical. Confirm the company's trading name, contact details, experience and recent references. Check claimed qualifications or membership with the issuing organisation. Membership alone is not a guarantee of quality.
We do not maintain a verified national list of cleaning companies or book cleaners.
Questions before booking
- What exactly is included, and what costs extra?
- How often will you attend, and how is work checked?
- Who supplies cleaning products, machines and consumables?
- Do you have insurance appropriate to this work, and can I see current evidence?
- How are staff trained and supervised?
- How will you protect premises, equipment, keys and confidential areas?
- How will cleaning be organised safely while staff or visitors are present?
- Who covers absences, and how do I report a missed visit or damage?
- Will you subcontract work?
- What are the cancellation terms and minimum contract length?
Prices and written quotes
Prices vary with building size, tasks, frequency, specialist requirements and location. Request a written scope of work and itemised quotation. Check VAT, equipment hire, materials, waste disposal, travel, minimum visits and any annual price increases. Do not compare headline prices without comparing what is included. Agree a clear contract and complaint process before committing.
Cleaning safely
Ask how the contractor manages cleaning chemicals, wet floors, equipment, manual handling and site-specific hazards. Staff and visitors should know when areas are closed or unsafe to enter. Do not mix cleaning products; seek professional advice for unfamiliar hazards.
Official guidance
Practical information about managing cleaning work in Great Britain.
Guidance on controlling exposure to hazardous substances used in cleaning. Applies to Great Britain.
Guidance on avoiding risks from wet floors and cleaning activity. Applies to Great Britain.
Official health and safety information for Northern Ireland.
Waste collection and removals
If the contractor takes waste away, ask who will transport it, where it will go and what paperwork is needed. Use official guidance to check appropriate registration and disposal arrangements. Rules and registers vary across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Guidance for England and Wales, with links to Scotland and Northern Ireland information. Read the guidance and follow the appropriate country-specific route.
Check registered carriers in England; this is not a UK-wide register.
Access and communication
Discuss access, agreed contact times, building security and any adjustments needed for staff, visitors or residents. Keep instructions clear and written, including allergies or sensitivities that may affect product choice. Where cleaning affects shared areas, tell people when it will take place.
Our role
Sixpence Support UK provides information and signposting. We do not provide cleaning services, endorse individual contractors or guarantee pricing, insurance or qualifications. Always check suitability and current details directly with the provider.
Information checked: 3 October 2026.