Complete Home Office Cleaning Checklist

A 10-step guide to cleaning your office in just a couple of hours or over a couple of days.

Illustration of a broom and autumn leaves
Photo: Papercut
  • Clean the bookshelves.

    Remove all books, magazines, and storage containers and dust them with an extendable duster, working from top to bottom. Dust the bindings of books with a soft, natural-bristle paintbrush before putting them back on the shelves. Wipe down the outsides of storage containers with a damp electrostatic dust-mop cloth or a cloth and cleaner.

  • Clean the desk.

    Pick up any desk accessories and dust them, top to bottom, with a damp electrostatic dust-mop cloth or a damp microfiber cloth. Dust the entire empty surface of the desk, its frame, and the legs with a microfiber cloth, from top to bottom.

  • Dust the computer.

    Working from top to bottom, dust the screen, the central processing unit (CPU), and the keyboard with a microfiber cloth. Then use the cloth to wipe off the printer, the fax machine, and any other electronics.

  • Dust the surfaces of filing cabinets, tables, and other furnishings.

    Use a damp microfiber cloth.

  • Vacuum the desk chair with a brush attachment.

    Spot-treat any spills or stains on the seat, if it's fabric, with a cloth and cleaner. And wipe down the legs, the arms, and the wheels of the chair with the cloth, clearing dirt off the wheels so that it doesn't get ground into the floor. If the cloth doesn't scrub off the crud, use a toothbrush, and wipe the wheels dry after scrubbing.

  • Vacuum.

    Move cumbersome pieces of furniture, like the desk and the filing cabinets, and vacuum or mop underneath them. Don't forget closets, where dust convenes.

  • Sanitize the telephone and remote controls.

    Use a disinfecting wipe to sterilize the telephone's keypad, handset, and cords.

  • Do the light fixtures.

    Dust with an extendable duster or a microfiber cloth.

  • Wash the windows.

    Use a cloth spritzed with glass cleaner or dishwashing liquid and water.

  • Clean the curtains or blinds.

    Vacuum on a low setting with a brush attachment. You can also dust the blinds with a damp microfiber cloth.

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles