Keeping a workspace clean might seem straightforward, but even well-meaning efforts can backfire when basic mistakes are made. From using the wrong cleaning products to overlooking high-touch areas, these errors reduce cleaning effectiveness, damage surfaces, lower hygiene standards, and even impact staff wellbeing. In this article, we’ll explore ten common cleaning mistakes that skilled service providers would never make—mistakes that could cost your business more than you realise.
1. No Planning
Failing to plan is one of the most common and costly oversights in commercial cleaning. Without a structured plan, cleaning tasks tend to be rushed, repetitive, or skipped entirely—especially in high-traffic environments like offices, retail units, or industrial floors. This leads to inconsistent hygiene levels, missed areas, and unnecessary disruption to daily operations. For businesses, the result is often a workplace that looks clean on the surface but hides deeper sanitation issues.
A proper cleaning schedule ensures efficiency, coverage, and consistency. At Iconic Cleaning, we start with a thorough site assessment to design bespoke cleaning plans for our clients in Galway. These plans consider operational hours, floor layouts, and specific hygiene needs, ensuring comprehensive, uninterrupted service every time. Learn more about our commercial cleaning services Galway.
2. Using the Wrong Cleaners
One of the most frequent yet underestimated mistakes is applying the wrong cleaning product for a given surface or task. While an all-purpose spray may seem convenient, different materials—such as polished wood, stainless steel, ceramic tiles, or synthetic fabrics—respond differently to cleaning agents. Using the incorrect solution can degrade surface finishes, leave behind residues, or even pose health hazards through chemical vapours.
That’s why trained cleaners choose products based on the surface, soil level, and surrounding environment. At Iconic Cleaning, our eco-friendly cleaning solutions use only eco-friendly, non-abrasive solutions that are safe for people, pets, and property. Every chemical is carefully selected to align with the unique requirements of Galway’s offices, commercial premises, and industrial sites.
3. No Dusting Before Vacuuming
Skipping dusting or leaving it until after vacuuming might feel like a time-saver, but it often leads to inefficient results. Dust from shelves, lighting fixtures, and desks tends to settle onto the floor. If vacuuming is done first, airborne particles eventually resettle on freshly cleaned carpets and hard floors, making them look dirty again within hours. This creates the illusion of cleanliness without lasting results.
The correct approach is always to work from top to bottom. At Iconic Cleaning, we start with high surfaces—vents, shelving, monitor tops—then move downwards, finishing with vacuuming and floor mopping. This system ensures a complete, longer-lasting clean that boosts air quality and visual appeal.
4. Starting From The Ground
It might feel logical to start cleaning the floor, but doing so can actually double the work. When upper surfaces like desks, kitchen counters, or machines are cleaned afterwards, dust and debris will fall back down, contaminating the area you just cleaned. This can mean increased downtime, reduced efficiency, and inconsistent standards in busy commercial spaces.
A more effective method is to follow a structured, vertical flow—from ceilings and high surfaces down to the skirting boards and floors. This is standard practice at Iconic Cleaning, where our teams are trained to work methodically, reducing redundancy while ensuring that every zone is cleaned in the most efficient order possible.
5. Using Only One Microfibre Cloth
Cross-contamination is a serious issue in any cleaning routine, and one of the biggest culprits is the misuse of microfibre cloths. Using the same cloth to clean toilets, desks, and kitchen surfaces transfers bacteria from one area to another, completely undermining the objective of sanitisation. This mistake can easily lead to the spread of illness in workplaces.
The solution lies in zoning—assigning clothes to different tasks and areas. At Iconic Cleaning, we implement a colour-coded cloth system and dispose of or disinfect all reusable cloths after use. It’s a simple but essential step in our hygiene protocol that keeps our Galway clients’ spaces clean and safe.
6. Mixing Cleaning Products
Combining cleaning products out of habit or curiosity can have dangerous consequences. While mixing bleach with another disinfectant or detergent might seem harmless, many products react chemically, releasing toxic gases or causing surface corrosion. This is particularly risky in poorly ventilated or enclosed spaces.
Cleaning professionals never mix products unless explicitly safe to do so. Iconic Cleaning trains all staff in chemical handling and safety according to COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) guidelines. We use only certified eco-products that deliver results without posing a risk to building occupants or the environment.
7. Dry Dusting
Dry dusting is a common mistake in quick cleans or informal routines. While using a feather duster or dry cloth to wipe a dusty surface may seem adequate initially, it just redistributes particles into the air. These particles later resettle, especially on electronics or inside HVAC systems, reducing air quality and necessitating repeated cleans.
A more effective approach is damp dusting, using slightly moistened microfibre cloths to trap dust particles instead of scattering them. This is a standard technique used at Iconic Cleaning to ensure longer-lasting results and improve air cleanliness in shared environments across Galway.
8. Dirty Cleaning Tools
One of the most ironic yet prevalent mistakes is using cleaning tools that haven’t been adequately cleaned or maintained. Mops that smell musty, grey cloths with old grime, or vacuums with clogged filters do more harm than good. These tools transfer bacteria rather than eliminate them and compromise your cleaning efforts from the start.
At Iconic Cleaning, all tools are sanitised and refreshed after each use. We replace mop heads regularly, wash cloths at high temperatures, and inspect vacuum filters frequently. Treating our tools with the same care we apply to your workspace ensures every clean meets professional hygiene standards.
9. Neglecting High-Touch Areas
While floors, desks, and windows often receive regular attention, high-touch areas such as light switches, door handles, lift buttons, and shared phones are commonly overlooked. Due to frequent contact, these points accumulate bacteria rapidly and are among the leading contributors to workplace illness.
Effective cleaning routines prioritise these hotspots. At Iconic Cleaning, our deep cleaning service includes regular disinfection of all high-contact surfaces. Whether it’s an office reception, breakroom, or industrial control panel, we focus on the areas that matter most to staff wellbeing and public health compliance.
10. Lack of Ventilation
Many cleaning routines ignore the importance of ventilation. Without adequate airflow, particles stirred up during cleaning can linger in the air, and chemical vapours can accumulate, especially when using standard commercial-grade products. Poor ventilation also contributes to the build-up of mould, mildew, and unpleasant odours over time.
A thorough clean includes fresh air. That’s why Iconic Cleaning integrates ventilation awareness into every job. Whether by opening windows, using low-VOC products, or deploying HEPA air filters, we ensure that the air in your workspace is as clean as your surfaces.
Why Settle for Less? Choose Iconic Cleaning Today
Getting the basics wrong can lead to more than untidy spaces—it can risk staff wellbeing, damage equipment, and hurt your brand’s reputation. That’s why more businesses in Galway are turning to Iconic Cleaning for reliable, eco-conscious, and customised cleaning services. With over two decades of experience and a strong commitment to health and sustainability, we’re here to raise the standard of what “clean” should mean in your workplace.
Contact us today and let us show you the more innovative clean method.
