If you’ve ever compared quotes from different office cleaning companies in Perth, you’ve probably noticed the prices vary wildly for what looks like the same service. Part of the reason is that “office cleaning” means different things to different providers. One contract might cover everything from window sills to kitchen appliances, while another only includes bins, vacuuming and desk wiping.
Understanding what’s actually included in a standard contract, before you sign anything, is the best way to avoid budget blowouts and disappointing results. This guide walks through what’s typically covered as standard, what usually costs extra, the questions worth asking upfront, and how a properly written service-level agreement protects your business long after the contract is signed.
What’s Typically Included as Standard
Most office cleaning services in Perth build their contracts around a core set of tasks performed on a regular schedule (usually daily, several times a week, or weekly, depending on foot traffic and business size). While every provider structures their offering slightly differently, the following tasks are generally considered part of a standard commercial cleaning contract.
General Office Areas
- Vacuuming carpets and mopping hard floors
- Emptying and re-lining bins
- Dusting desks, shelves and accessible surfaces
- Wiping down high-touch points such as door handles, light switches and handrails
- Spot-cleaning glass doors and partitions
- Tidying communal areas such as reception and meeting rooms
Kitchens and Break Rooms
- Wiping benchtops and sinks
- Cleaning the exterior of appliances (microwaves, fridges)
- Restocking basic supplies if agreed in the contract
- Removing rubbish and replacing liners
Bathrooms
- Cleaning and disinfecting toilets, basins and urinals
- Restocking toilet paper, soap and paper towel (often included, sometimes billed separately for supplies)
- Mopping floors
- Wiping mirrors and fixtures
These tasks are usually bundled into a flat weekly or monthly rate based on the size of the office and the frequency of visits. It’s worth asking your provider for an itemised breakdown of exactly which tasks happen at every visit versus which are performed less frequently, such as weekly deep-dusting or monthly detailed bathroom scrubs.
Common Add-Ons That Aren’t Always Included
This is where most billing disputes and unpleasant surprises happen. Many businesses assume a service is standard, only to find it listed as an optional extra once the invoice arrives. Typical add-ons in the Perth commercial cleaning market include:
- Carpet steam cleaning – usually scheduled quarterly or biannually rather than as part of routine visits
- Window cleaning (internal and external) – especially for multi-storey premises where access equipment is needed
- Upholstery cleaning for office chairs and soft furnishings
- High-level dusting such as light fittings, air vents and the tops of cupboards
- Supply of consumables like soap, toilet paper and bin liners (some contracts include these, others charge them as a pass-through cost)
- Waste stream management, including recycling separation, cardboard removal or secure document disposal
- Sanitisation or disinfection services beyond standard wiping, often quoted separately
- Post-event or one-off deep cleans outside the regular schedule
- After-hours or emergency call-outs for spills, incidents or unexpected functions
None of this means these extras are unreasonable to charge for. It simply means you should know in advance what’s bundled into your base rate and what will show up as an additional line item.
Questions to Ask Before Signing an Office Cleaning Contract
A good cleaning provider should be able to answer these questions clearly and without hesitation. If you’re getting vague answers, that’s often a sign the contract will be vague too.
1. What exactly is covered at each visit?
Ask for a task list broken down by frequency, daily, weekly and monthly, rather than a general description like “full office clean.” This becomes your reference point if something gets missed.
2. Are consumables included in the price?
Toilet paper, soap, hand sanitiser and bin liners are small costs individually, but they add up. Clarify whether these are supplied, billed separately, or your responsibility to stock.
3. How is pricing affected by changes to my space?
If you add staff, expand into another floor, or change your layout, will the rate adjust automatically or does it require a contract review? Get this process in writing.
4. What happens if a scheduled clean is missed or done poorly?
Ask about the process for reporting issues and whether there’s a re-clean policy at no extra charge if standards aren’t met.
5. What’s the minimum contract term and notice period?
Some providers lock clients into 12-month terms with lengthy notice periods for cancellation. Others operate month-to-month. Neither is inherently wrong, but you should know which one you’re signing up for.
6. Are cleaners insured and how is staffing managed?
Ask whether the same cleaner or team services your site consistently, or whether staff rotate. Consistency tends to produce better results, since regular cleaners learn the specific needs of your office.
7. How are additional or one-off services quoted?
Get a sense of how extras like spot cleaning after a spill, or a one-off deep clean before a client visit, are priced and authorised, so you’re not caught off guard by an invoice you didn’t expect.
8. What products and equipment are used?
If your business has specific requirements, allergy-sensitive staff, hard flooring that needs particular treatments, or a preference for environmentally friendly products, confirm this is something the provider can accommodate.
How Service-Level Agreements Protect Your Business
A service-level agreement (SLA) is the document that turns a verbal understanding into an enforceable standard. For commercial cleaning, an SLA sets out exactly what’s expected, how performance will be measured, and what happens if standards slip. It’s the difference between hoping your office gets cleaned properly and having a clear reference point to hold your provider accountable to.
What a Solid SLA Typically Covers
- Scope of work – a detailed, itemised list of tasks and their frequency, removing ambiguity about what’s included
- Quality standards – a description of the expected condition of the premises after each clean
- Response times – how quickly the provider will respond to complaints, missed cleans, or urgent requests
- Reporting and communication – how issues are logged, who your point of contact is, and how often performance is reviewed
- Remedies for underperformance – such as free re-cleans, credits, or the ability to terminate without penalty if standards consistently aren’t met
- Health and safety obligations – confirming the provider follows appropriate workplace safety practices, particularly relevant for shared or multi-tenant buildings
Why This Matters for Perth Businesses
Office cleaning is one of those services that’s easy to overlook until it goes wrong, a client walks into a grubby reception area, or staff notice the bathrooms haven’t been properly stocked in days. An SLA gives you a documented standard to point to rather than relying on memory or goodwill.
It also protects the relationship on both sides. Cleaning providers benefit from clear expectations too, since it reduces disputes over scope and prevents “scope creep” where clients expect extra tasks to be absorbed into the existing price. A well-written SLA sets boundaries that are fair and transparent for everyone involved.
For businesses managing multiple sites or leasing shared office space, an SLA becomes even more important, as it provides a consistent benchmark that can be applied across locations, regardless of which cleaning team is on site on a given day.
Getting the Right Contract for Your Office
The best office cleaning contract isn’t necessarily the cheapest one, it’s the one that matches your actual needs with clear, written expectations. Before signing, take the time to walk through your space with the provider, point out problem areas, and ask them to confirm in writing exactly what will and won’t be covered.
A transparent quote, a detailed scope of work, and a properly documented SLA together give you the confidence that your office will be maintained to a consistent standard, without unexpected costs turning up later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should office cleaning be scheduled?
This depends on the size of your office, number of staff, and foot traffic. Many Perth offices opt for daily or three-times-weekly cleaning for general areas, with less frequent schedules for tasks like carpet steam cleaning or high-level dusting.
Is carpet cleaning usually included in a standard contract?
Routine vacuuming is typically standard, but deep carpet steam cleaning is usually treated as a periodic add-on rather than part of the regular visit.
Can I customise a cleaning contract to suit my office’s specific needs?
Yes. Most Perth cleaning providers will tailor the scope of work based on your space, industry requirements, and budget. This is exactly why asking detailed questions upfront matters.
What should I do if the cleaning standard drops after signing a contract?
Refer back to your SLA. It should outline the process for reporting issues, timeframes for resolution, and any remedies such as a free re-clean or service credit.
Do cleaning companies provide their own supplies and equipment?
Most do, but it’s worth confirming whether consumables like toilet paper and soap are included in the price or charged separately.
