How to clean your home office space so it's a 'productivity hub, not a dust collector' – 5 tips from professional cleaners

Your home office might be the place you feel most productive – but when was the last time you cleaned it?

After a day of work, it's no surprise that setting about cleaning can often slip to the bottom, or even off, your to-do list. But, say our cleaning pros, a clean home office space is vital for a clear mind, and taking the time to do so will improve your focus and productivity too.

Here, they share their cleaning tips for boosting your output, without feeling burnt out.

5 tips for a clean home office

1. Dust shelves and desks

As Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless, says, 'Your home office should be a productivity hub, not a dust collector. Keeping it clean helps with focus, reduces allergens, and keeps equipment in good shape.' And, if there's one thing that screams dust magnet, it's a shelf filled with books.

For this, Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia's Cleaning Service, recommends, 'Dust all open shelves and desks about once a week. Just a quick wipe down will do, and I like to use microfiber cloths [such as the Great Value Microfiber Cloths available at Walmart] for this, dampening them a bit if necessary to pick up dust most effectively.' The Scrub Daddy Damp Duster, available at Amazon, is also great for this.

Just make sure, as Karina advises, to start from the top and work down, to avoid having to re-dust lower surfaces.

Then, as Alma Hinojosa, professional cleaner at BetterCleans, suggests, the best way to keep on top of wiping down your desk is simply to do it each and every time you turn off your laptop.

She says, 'This is pretty simple, and make it non-negotiable. Keep an all-purpose spray and some paper towels right in the office so it’s easier to freshen up the surface without any fuss.' We recommend the Method All-Purpose Cleaner in Pink Grapefruit, available at Walmart, for this.

2. Disinfect light switches

This one might seem a little less obvious, but light switches are more than likely overlooked spots you are forgetting to dust, and are certainly high-touch surfaces that need cleaning.

'Disinfect light switches and doorknobs weekly, especially during cold and flu season,' advises Karina, using a wipe or spray, such as the Seventh Generation Lemongrass Citrus Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner available at Amazon, which kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses with a biodegradable formula.

3. Vacuum once a week

'Use your best lightweight vacuum at least once or twice a week,' recommends Alma. 'A clean space helps clear your mind. It’s just easier to focus

'And if you have allergies or sensitivities, vacuuming helps reduce dust and allergens. Feeling physically better means you can work longer and with more energy.'

Pay particular attention to under your desk and around cords, where dust tends to settle, adds Karina. 'The BLACK+DECKER dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum available at Amazon is a compact handheld vacuum that's perfect for corners and keyboards.'

4. Do a 'clean sweep'

Unfortunately, with clutter often comes dust and dirt. Therefore, even if you don't have time to fully declutter your home office, cleaning expert Carolina recommends doing a 'clean sweep' to take care of any clutter at the end of each week.

'Oftentimes I'll have some trash to take out to the main bin, some papers to organize, and some office supplies and other household items to put away,' she explains. 'This really helps me start the next week feeling organized and refreshed.'

After all, say our pros, micro-resets might just be the key to a tidy home.

5. Declutter monthly

And finally, recommends cleaning expert Karina, when you do have the time to try out some decluttering methods, schedule a monthly decluttering session. While this isn't a cleaning tip per se, clutter blindness can often lead to cleaning neglect, so it's important to clear surfaces before setting about sanitizing.

'Declutter monthly by reviewing papers, pens, or tech items that have piled up,' she says. 'Use drawer dividers or a desktop organizer to keep only essentials within reach. The Simple Houseware Mesh Desk Organizer available at Amazon keeps your workspace neat and accessible.'

Don't forget to do a digital declutter, too, to clear your online space as well as your physical.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our experts

Carolina Kazimierski

Sophia's Cleaning Service was founded in 1984, and has since become one of Chicago’s longest-standing and best reviewed cleaning companies.

Karina Toner

With numerous contributions in Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, The Spruce, and many more, Karina has extensive knowledge of both commercial and residential cleaning, including how to keep office spaces both at home and work clean and sanitized.

Alma Hinojosa

Alma has been a professional cleaner since 2013, and joined BetterCleans in 2022 as quality lead cleaner.

Your home office may be associated with work, but that doesn't mean you can't find solace in the everyday. For example, Punteha van Terheyden, head of Solved, has found easy ways to make her tiny home office peaceful.