Scope & checklists · updated August 2026
Do Office Cleaners Clean the Fridge, Microwave and Coffee Station?
Exteriors yes, interiors no. Standard nightly scope includes the outside of the fridge, microwave and dishwasher, counters, sink, tables, chairs and coffee station exterior. It excludes the refrigerator interior, washing employee dishes, descaling coffee equipment and restocking supplies. The microwave interior is the boundary case — commonly weekly, frequently omitted. Get it in writing.
The Three-Column Table
| Item | Included nightly | Included weekly / monthly | Add-on only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator exterior | ✓ | ||
| Refrigerator interior | ✓ monthly or quarterly | ||
| Freezer interior | ✓ | ||
| Microwave exterior | ✓ | ||
| Microwave interior | ✓ weekly | ||
| Coffee maker exterior and drip tray | ✓ | ||
| Coffee maker descaling | ✓ | ||
| Espresso machine service | Equipment vendor | ||
| Water cooler exterior | ✓ | ||
| Water jug replacement | Route service | ||
| Dishes in the sink | Never | Never | |
| Dishwasher run / unload | ✓ if agreed | ||
| Dishwasher interior clean | ✓ quarterly | ||
| Counters and sink | ✓ | ||
| Cabinet fronts | ✓ weekly | ||
| Cabinet interiors | ✓ | ||
| Backsplash degreasing | ✓ weekly | ||
| Tables and chairs | ✓ | ||
| Floor | ✓ | ||
| Waste, recycling, compost | ✓ | ||
| Snack, coffee and milk restocking | Client |
Why Dishes Are Never Included
Not squeamishness — liability and time. A crew washing personal containers is handling someone's property, and a chipped mug becomes a complaint. More practically, dishes are unbounded work in a bounded visit: the crew has ninety minutes and washing up can consume twenty of them. Every minute spent on dishes is a minute not spent on the restroom.
The Fridge Purge Policy
Fridge interiors are almost universally a scheduled add-on, monthly or quarterly, and they need a policy because cleaners cannot adjudicate whose lunch is whose. The standard that works:
- Post a notice three to five days ahead of the purge date.
- Anything unlabelled on purge night is discarded.
- Labelled items are left, and the shelves are cleaned around them.
- The purge happens on a predictable date — last Friday of the month works well.
Discarding an employee's food without notice is one of the most reliable complaint generators in this industry, and it is entirely preventable with a sign.
Last reviewed August 2026. Figures for prevailing wage and regulatory schedules change on 1 January and 1 July — we re-verify this page each cycle.
Want This Answered for Your Actual Space?
We publish the general answer because it is useful. For a number that applies to your building, send us the square footage and the nights you need.
Get a Price for Your Space
Written scope and fixed monthly price, usually within two business days.
We reply to every request. If your building needs a Certificate of Insurance or vendor registration, we handle that paperwork before the first night.
Ready for a Cleaning Contract You Can Actually Read?
Send us your square footage and how many nights you need. You get a written scope, a fixed monthly price, and the SLA in the same document — usually within two business days.