End of Year Cleaning Checklist for Businesses
- Seldram
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
What Should Businesses Clean Before Closing for Christmas?
Before closing for Christmas, businesses should focus on high-touch areas, washrooms, floors, bins, and back-of-house spaces to reduce bacteria buildup, odours, and return-to-work issues in January.
A good end-of-year clean helps protect staff and visitors, prevents pest risks, and makes reopening smoother.
The Christmas Close Cleaning Checklist (Quick Version)
High-touch points
Door handles, push plates, handrails
Light switches, lift buttons, shared keypads
Reception counters, shared desks, phones
Washrooms
Toilets, urinals, sinks, taps
Soap dispensers, hand dryers, sanitary bins
Floors, walls around sinks, mirrors
Floors and entrances
Mats and entrance areas
Hard floor cleaning and protection as needed
Spot clean corners and behind doors
Kitchens and break areas
Worktops, microwaves, fridges, kettles
Bin stores and food waste areas
Touch points like cupboard handles
Waste and odour control
Empty bins and replace liners
Clean and sanitise bin lids and surrounds
Deodorise problem areas and drains
A Simple Sector Guide
Offices
Meeting rooms, shared equipment, kitchen points, washrooms, and entrance mats.
Hospitality
Reception and guest touchpoints, washrooms, floors, back-of-house transit routes, waste areas.
Education
Touch points in corridors and classrooms, washrooms, sports areas, changing rooms, and bin stores.
Facilities Management
Prioritise risk zones and high traffic areas first, then schedule deep clean tasks where needed.
What People Forget Most Often
Behind toilets and under sinks
Bin lids and bin-wheeled handles
Mop heads and reusable cloths that need changing
Drains and wet areas that cause smells over closure
FAQs
How far in advance should we plan an end-of-year clean?
Aim to plan at least 1 to 2 weeks ahead to ensure you have the right supplies and time.
Should we deep clean or just maintenance clean?
Do a targeted deep clean in high risk areas, and a thorough maintenance clean everywhere else.
What is the fastest way to reduce odours over closure?
Empty bins, clean bin areas, and treat drains and wet zones to prevent smell buildup.
