6 Office Areas Everyone Forgets to Clean (But We Never Do)
The Dirt You Don’t See Is the One That Gets You
I once walked into an office that looked spotless. Shiny floors. Polished desks. Air freshener doing its best lavender impression. But five minutes in, I spotted a trail of biscuit crumbs under a swivel chair. Behind the bin? Sticky spill. On top of the cabinet? Thick, grey dust.
It’s not just about what you see. Offices hide dirt in places no one thinks to check. That’s where we come in.
We’ve been cleaning offices across London for years now, and we know exactly where grime likes to settle. These are the six spots most people miss—often because they’re tucked away or no one thinks to wipe them down. But these bits matter. They affect air quality, hygiene, and even how your office smells.
Let’s lift the lid, shall we?
1. The Undersides of Chairs and Desks
People clean desktops. They wipe their computer screens. But under the desk? That’s no man’s land.
Take a peek under any shared desk and you’ll likely find dust webs clinging to cables, old sticky notes, and the occasional bit of chewing gum. Chair bases are just as bad. They collect hair, crumbs, and whatever’s fallen during lunch breaks.
Here’s the problem—dust doesn’t stay still. It moves with your chair. It floats into the air you breathe. It gathers on your clothes. And if someone’s got allergies? Say goodbye to productivity.
We always clean underneath. It takes an extra minute, but it makes all the difference.
2. Light Switches, Door Handles, and Lift Buttons
These are the busiest little surfaces in the entire office. Touched by dozens, maybe hundreds of hands each day. And yet, they’re often skipped.
I’ve seen offices where the desks gleamed but the door handle had fingerprints dating back to last quarter. The thing is, these high-touch points are where germs love to party. And no, a once-a-week wipe with a baby wipe isn’t cutting it.
Regular sanitising keeps the bugs at bay. Flu season? Cold going around? Start with the handles and switches.
We go over these spots every single visit—because we’ve learned the hard way what happens when you don’t.
3. Printer Stations and Photocopiers
Now this one’s personal. I once leaned on a photocopier and my sleeve came away with toner dust and something suspiciously sticky. Never again.
Printer areas are magnets for mess. People spill coffee, drop paperclips, and leave behind snack wrappers. The machines themselves collect greasy fingerprints and the occasional trail of biscuit crumbs from someone printing out last-minute notes with their lunch in hand.
Why does it matter? Dust clogs vents. Spills attract pests. And it makes your shiny new copier look like it’s been dragged through a pub car park.
We always wipe around the area, vacuum under the table, and give the machine a gentle polish. No more sleeve mishaps.
4. Behind and Underneath the Bins
You can empty the bin all you want—but if you don’t clean the floor around it, you’re inviting trouble.
Leaky bags. Coffee spills. Banana peels that missed. We’ve seen it all. Bacteria love these moist, hidden corners, and once they settle in, they bring a stink that no air freshener can hide.
I once lifted a bin and found what looked like an old yoghurt pot… fused to the carpet.
We always lift, wipe, and sanitise underneath. It keeps things fresh and stops that musty smell from creeping in. Clients don’t always notice it at first—but they definitely notice when it’s not done.
5. The Tops of Cabinets, Shelves, and Cupboards
Unless you’ve got a tall colleague or a spider infestation, no one’s checking up there.
That’s why dust builds up. Thick, grey, undisturbed fluff that sits on top of filing cabinets, wall units, and cupboard tops like it’s paying rent. Left alone, it filters into the air and finds its way down into noses and lungs.
We bring long-handled dusters and make sure even the top shelf gets some love. If we can reach it, we clean it. If we can’t reach it safely—we bring the step ladder.
This one’s about pride, really. If you’re going to clean an office, clean the whole thing.
6. Office Plant Pots and Artificial Greenery
Office plants are supposed to bring calm. You know what doesn’t? A sad, dusty peace lily with cobwebs in its leaves.
Real plants need a wipe down now and then. Dust clings to their leaves and dulls their colour. And the soil? That can start to smell if overwatered. I once found mould creeping up the side of a neglected ficus. Not pretty.
Fake plants are even worse—they collect dust like it’s a hobby. We use microfibre cloths or soft brushes to keep them looking fresh.
They might be decorative, but they’re part of the office environment. We treat them like furniture—with respect and regular care.
The Small Stuff Isn’t That Small
These six areas don’t seem dramatic. They’re not where meetings happen or deals are closed. But they’re part of the space your team lives in every day. And if they’re dirty, the whole place feels off.
The worst bit? Most cleaning checklists don’t even mention them.
We clean differently. We notice the forgotten bits. We check under, behind, and above. We clean like people who’ve seen what happens when no one does.
That’s what makes the difference between a quick once-over and a truly clean office.