Salon and Spa Cleaning Checklist: What a Cleaning Crew Covers
By Extol Cleaning, owner Tamiris Kempner · Updated
A salon cleaning checklist splits the work: licensed staff sanitize tools between clients, and a cleaning crew handles general cleaning of floors, restrooms, reception and mirrors after hours.
What should a salon and spa cleaning checklist include?
A salon and spa cleaning checklist should cover every area clients and staff use: the entrance and reception, the waiting area, styling or treatment areas, restrooms, the break room and the floors throughout. It should also say who does each task, because tool sanitation and general cleaning belong to different people.
Clients judge a salon or spa by what they see before the service starts: the front door glass, the reception desk, the mirrors, the restroom and the floor under their feet. A checklist makes sure those areas look the same every day, not only after a big cleaning.
A useful checklist has three parts:
- Between clients: done by your licensed staff at their stations.
- End of day: quick closing tasks done by your team.
- Scheduled cleaning: general cleaning of the whole space, done by a cleaning crew after hours.
The rest of this guide covers what goes in each part and where the line falls between your staff and the crew.
What does a cleaning crew cover in a salon or spa?
A cleaning crew covers general cleaning of the space: floors, restrooms, reception and waiting areas, mirrors and glass, counters and outside surfaces of furniture, trash, baseboards, doors and light fixtures. The crew does not clean or sanitize tools, implements or equipment used on clients. That work stays with your licensed staff.
Here is a general cleaning checklist by area.
Entrance and reception
- Clean the front door glass and handles
- Dust and wipe the reception desk and counters
- Dust retail shelves and displays
- Wipe chairs and tables in the waiting area
- Empty trash and replace liners
Styling and treatment areas (general cleaning only)
- Clean mirrors
- Dust light fixtures, shelves and ledges
- Wipe outside surfaces of counters once staff have put tools away
- Sweep and mop floors, including under stations where hair collects
- Empty trash
Restrooms
- Clean toilets, sinks, counters and mirrors
- Wipe door handles and light switches
- Refill paper products and soap, if you leave supplies out
- Mop the floor and empty trash
Break room and back areas
- Wipe counters, the sink and appliance exteriors
- Clean the floor and empty trash
Throughout the space
- Baseboards, doors and door frames
- Vacuum rugs and mop hard floors last
Who is responsible for sanitizing tools and implements in a salon?
Cleaning and sanitizing tools, implements and client-contact equipment is the job of your licensed staff, following the rules of the state board that licenses salons and spas. A cleaning crew does general cleaning of the space only: floors, restrooms, reception, mirrors and general surfaces.
Keeping that line clear helps everyone. Tool sanitation follows its own rules about products, steps and storage, set by the state board that licenses salons and spas, and it stays with the people trained and licensed to do it. A cleaning crew does not take it over.
Tasks that stay with your licensed staff:
- Cleaning and sanitizing combs, brushes, shears, clippers and nail implements
- Cleaning shampoo bowls, pedicure basins and treatment equipment between clients
- Cleaning and covering treatment beds and chairs between clients
- Storing clean and used implements as the board requires
- Handling single-use items and client linens
Tasks the cleaning crew takes on:
- Floors, restrooms, reception, mirrors and glass
- Dusting and wiping general surfaces once tools are put away
- Baseboards, doors and light fixtures
- Trash removal
For the exact rules that apply to your type of license, check with the state board that licenses salons and spas. Extol Cleaning provides general cleaning of salons and spas, and sanitizing tools and equipment stays with your licensed staff.
Why should salon and spa cleaning happen after hours?
Salon and spa cleaning should happen after hours so the work never interrupts appointments. Clients do not see mops, carts or wet floors, staff can work their stations without the crew around, and the space is clean and dry when the first client of the next day walks in.
After-hours cleaning also helps the work itself:
- Floors can dry fully with no foot traffic
- Stations are empty, so mirrors and counters are easy to reach
- The restroom gets a full cleaning instead of a quick wipe between clients
- Nothing smells of cleaning products during a relaxing service
Extol Cleaning does commercial cleaning after business hours, Monday to Friday, between 7am and 10pm. You can leave a key or a door code, so no one needs to stay behind to let the crew in.
If you want to talk through a schedule for your salon or spa, Call (781) 528-7227Text us
How often should a salon or spa be professionally cleaned?
How often depends on client volume, the size of the space and the services you offer. A busy salon with many stations and a high-traffic restroom needs more frequent visits than a small spa with a few treatment rooms. The right schedule is easiest to set after the cleaning company sees the space.
| Factor | What it means for frequency |
|---|---|
| Client volume | More clients mean more dirt on floors and more restroom use |
| Hair services | Hair spreads beyond stations and builds up under furniture |
| Restrooms | A shared restroom needs more frequent general cleaning |
| Retail displays | Shelves and products collect dust quickly |
| Treatment rooms | Quiet rooms need regular dusting and floor care |
Between scheduled visits, your team handles quick end-of-day tasks: sweep hair, empty small trash bins, put tools away and wipe the reception counter.
What do salon and spa owners say about Extol Cleaning?
Best and Beyond Spa has used Extol Cleaning for its space. The spa wrote:
"The cleaning of our Spa performed by your company is impeccable! The space is always spotless and filled with a pleasant aroma that our clients love. The attention to detail and consistency in your service are truly impressive. We are very satisfied with the care and professionalism of your team!" Best and Beyond Spa, December 2024
Consistency matters in a spa. Clients come back expecting the same calm, clean room every time, and a written checklist is what keeps the result the same from visit to visit.
Office and commercial cleaning for salons and spas from Extol Cleaning
A cleaning crew that works after hours and sticks to general cleaning lets your licensed staff focus on clients and tool sanitation. Extol Cleaning is a women-owned, insured company based in Malden, MA, serving Greater Boston, the North Shore and Salem, NH. Tamiris Kempner has cleaned homes since 2019 and opened Extol Cleaning in 2023.
What to expect:
- General cleaning of spas, salons, clinics, offices and stores
- Cleaning after business hours, Monday to Friday
- Tamiris prefers to see your space before quoting, and can quote without a visit when needed
- The crew brings all supplies, with an eco-friendly option
- Anything missed is re-cleaned at no cost if you report it within 24 hours
- Service in English and Portuguese
If you want this done for you, see office and commercial cleaning for salons and spas. To set up a walkthrough of your space, Call (781) 528-7227Text us
Frequently asked questions
Does a cleaning crew sanitize salon tools and implements?
No. Cleaning and sanitizing tools, implements and client-contact equipment is the job of your licensed staff, following the rules of the state board that licenses salons and spas. A cleaning crew like Extol Cleaning does general cleaning of the space: floors, restrooms, reception, mirrors, glass and general surfaces, after business hours.
Can the cleaning crew work while the salon is open?
It can, but after hours works better. Cleaning when the salon is closed means no wet floors under clients, no carts in the way and empty stations that are easy to reach. Extol Cleaning does commercial cleaning after business hours, Monday to Friday, between 7am and 10pm, so the space is ready for the next day.
What should a daily salon closing checklist include?
A daily closing checklist for your own team usually covers sweeping hair from stations, putting tools away as the board requires, wiping the reception counter, emptying small trash bins, and turning off equipment. A cleaning crew then handles the full general cleaning on its scheduled visits, including restrooms, mirrors and floors throughout.
Do I need to be at the salon when the crew cleans?
No. You can leave a key or a door code so the crew can let itself in after hours and lock up when it leaves. Before the first visit, share alarm instructions, areas to skip and where tools and products are stored, so the crew does not move anything your staff need in the morning.
Does Extol Cleaning bring its own cleaning supplies to a spa?
Yes. Extol Cleaning brings all its own supplies and offers an eco-friendly option. If your spa has a preference about products used near treatment rooms, mention it when you schedule, along with any areas the crew should skip, so the team knows before the first visit.
Which other businesses does Extol Cleaning clean?
Besides spas and salons, Extol Cleaning cleans offices, clinics, stores, warehouses and construction trailers. All commercial cleaning is done after business hours. Tamiris prefers to see the space before quoting, because a spa and a warehouse need very different things, and can quote without a visit when needed.
Extol Cleaning, owner Tamiris Kempner. Updated October 27, 2026.
