How Long Should It Take to Clean My Building?

Bill Qi
Oct 4
3 min read

by Spearmint Cleaning Inc. | Commercial Office Cleaning | Updated October 2025

Office cleaning in Edmonton by Spearmint Cleaning Inc. showing tidy desks and clean workspace. — Professional office cleaning keeps your workspace fresh, organized, and ready for business every day.

When comparing cleaning quotes, you might notice big differences in price and estimated hours. That’s because not every company cleans the same way. Some base their quotes purely on square footage — but at Spearmint Cleaning Inc., we go further.

We factor in real-world conditions like building layout, flooring, traffic levels, and sanitation needs. A quiet office and a busy industrial shop don’t need the same approach — and that’s where many quotes miss the mark.

General Office Cleaning

For consistent, high-quality results, the average cleaner should cover about 2,000–3,000 sq. ft. per hour, depending on layout and workload.

That means:

A 6,000 sq. ft. office should take around 2 to 3 hours for one cleaner.
A 9,000 sq. ft. office typically needs 3.5 to 4 hours.
Add 30–60 minutes weekly for deeper tasks like vents, baseboards, and glass.

When cleaners are given realistic time to do their job, you get a truly clean workspace — sanitized touchpoints, polished surfaces, and a consistently fresh environment, not just a quick once-over.

Spearmint Cleaning team disinfecting office desks in Edmonton workplace. — Consistent office cleaning ensures every surface, floor, and touchpoint stays spotless.

Medical & Dental Facility Cleaning

Medical environments demand precision. Between exam rooms, patient areas, and disinfection routines, cleaners average closer to 1,500–2,000 sq. ft. per hour.

A 6,000 sq. ft. clinic should take 3–4 hours per visit to maintain proper hygiene standards. Anything faster risks skipping crucial sanitation steps, which can affect safety and compliance.

Medical clinic cleaning in Edmonton by Spearmint Cleaning Inc., showing disinfecting of waiting room surfaces. — Medical and dental facilities require detailed cleaning and strict sanitation for patient safety.

Industrial, Retail & Mixed-Use Spaces

Cleaning time in shops, warehouses, and retail spaces depends heavily on daily traffic and activity levels. The more movement, dust, or debris there is, the longer it takes to do the job right.

Typical breakdowns:

Light-traffic shop or warehouse: 2,500–3,000 sq. ft. per hour
Moderate-traffic (daily crew activity): 2,000–2,500 sq. ft. per hour
Heavy-traffic or production areas (oil, dust, metal shavings): 1,500–2,000 sq. ft. per hour

High-traffic environments need extra time for sweeping, degreasing, and dust control. Rushing through these areas doesn’t just affect how they look — it can impact air quality, safety, and even equipment life.

At Spearmint Cleaning, we build schedules that match the reality of your space so nothing gets overlooked, no matter how busy your site is.

Warehouse floor cleaning in Edmonton by Spearmint Cleaning Inc. showing cleaner sweeping industrial workspace. — Routine sweeping in an active warehouse helps control dust, debris, and maintain a safe work environment.

Why Cleaning Time Matters

The right amount of time equals the right results. When cleaners are rushed, important details get missed — corners, touchpoints, or high surfaces.We plan our cleaning hours around quality, not speed, ensuring consistency, thoroughness, and value for your business over time.

When reviewing cleaning quotes, always ask: