How to write a scope of work for cleaning staff
A scope of work is a list of every area of your site, the cleaning tasks in each area and how often each task is done. It tells the supplier what to price and tells the cleaners what to do. It also makes quotes from different suppliers easier to compare.
By Salamati Building Cleaning. Published: 13 October 2026. Last updated: 13 October 2026.
Step by step
- List the areas. Walk through the site and write down every area that needs cleaning: offices, meeting rooms, reception, corridors, stairs, lifts, washrooms, pantries and any outdoor areas.
- Write the tasks for each area. For example: empty the bins, sweep and mop the floors, wipe desks and surfaces, clean glass doors, clean the washrooms.
- Set how often. For each task, write how often it is done: several times a day, once a day, once a week or once a month.
- Set the times. Say when you need the cleaners on site, for example before the office opens, during working hours or after closing.
- Set the staffing. Write how many cleaners you expect, how many men and women, and their hours and days. If you are not sure, say so, and ask the supplier how many people the scope needs.
- Say who supplies the materials. Either the supplier provides the cleaning materials and equipment, or you buy them yourself.
- Write the exclusions. List what the contract does not cover, such as specialist work, maintenance or pest control, so nobody assumes it is included.
- Name a contact. Say who on your side checks the work, and who the cleaners report problems to.
An example
| Area | Tasks | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Reception | Mop the floor, wipe the desk and the glass doors | Twice a day |
| Offices | Empty the bins, wipe the desks, mop or vacuum | Once a day |
| Washrooms | Clean basins, toilets and floors, refill soap and paper | Several times a day |
| Pantry | Clean the surfaces and the sink, clean the fridge | Daily, fridge weekly |
| Corridors and stairs | Sweep and mop, wipe the handrails | Once a day |
Change the areas, tasks and timings to fit your site. What matters is that every task has an area and a frequency, so both sides can check the work against the same page.
One gap to watch for is frequency. A scope that says "clean the washrooms" without saying how often leaves the number of visits open, and the price with it. Keep a copy of the scope with the contract: it is the reference if there is ever a question about what was agreed.
Send it with your quote request
If you have a scope of work, send it to info@salamati.ae or on WhatsApp at 054 455 0448 when you ask for a quote. If you do not have one yet, tell us the type of place, the areas and the hours, and we can start from there. Our guide on what decides the price explains how the scope turns into a quote.