Event cleaning checklist: before, during and after

Events are remembered for the experience, but they're judged on the details: clean toilets, clear tables, tidy walkways. Cleaning is also where events most often run into trouble, with a venue handed back late, a bond partly withheld, or a guest-facing problem nobody was assigned to fix. Planning the cleaning in three phases makes all of that avoidable.

Before: get the venue guest-ready

• Confirm the access window: when you can get into the venue and when the cleaners can too
• Deep clean floors, glass and seating areas the day before, or early on the day
• Clean and stock the toilets before doors open: paper, soap, bins, sanitary bins
• Sweep entries, walkways and any car park or forecourt guests will use
• Place bins where guests will actually use them and agree a waste plan
• Walk the venue with the venue manager and note any existing marks or damage

During: keep it clean while it's in use

This is the phase most people forget, and the one guests notice most. A roaming crew can check toilets on a schedule, clear spills quickly, change bins before they overflow and clear tables and glassware on request. For longer events and larger crowds, a dedicated person on site stops small problems becoming visible ones.

• Toilets checked and restocked on a set schedule, not when someone complains
• Spills and breakages cleared immediately, with the area made safe
• Bins changed before they overflow, especially near food and drink
• Rolling clear-away of tables, glassware and plates if it's part of the plan

After: reset and hand back

• Clear waste and recycling first so cleaners can reach the floors and surfaces
• Clean floors, bars, kitchens and surfaces; steam or spot-clean carpets where needed
• Clean glass and mirrors, and wipe down tables, chairs and fixtures
• Sweep and clear outdoor areas, car parks and walkways
• Do a handback walk-through with the venue manager and photograph the result

Questions to ask the venue

• What condition does the venue need to be returned in, and by what time?
• Are there restrictions on cleaning products, equipment or noise?
• Is there a bond, and what is it held against?
• Who supplies bins, and who removes waste?
• Are there existing cleaners or house rules we need to work around?

How big a crew do you need?

It depends on guest numbers, the size of the venue, how many amenities there are and how long the event runs. As a rough guide, the more toilets and the longer the event, the more important a crew during the event becomes. A short briefing with your cleaning provider before the day will give you a realistic number.

We plan event cleaning in three phases and send a photo report at handback. Tell us the date, venue and guest numbers and we'll put a plan together.