9 Polite Ways to Say “Clean Up After Yourself”

Naturally, we all want people to keep their workspaces clean. After all, a clean workspace tends to be a more productive one.

But how do you say “clean up after yourself” politely? This article has gathered the best synonyms to use in the workplace.

  • Please keep your station clean
  • I would appreciate it if you could clean up
  • Do you mind cleaning up?
  • Please take pride in your workstation
  • We appreciate cleanliness around here
  • Would you like a hand cleaning up?
  • Can you please clean up a little bit?
  • I’d like you to try and keep this area clean
  • Take a break from work and clean up a little bit

Keep reading to find out how to politely tell someone to clean up after themselves. Plenty of great alternatives are available, and we’ve provided examples for them all.

1. Please Keep Your Station Clean

There’s nothing wrong with making a polite request. As long as you include “please” somewhere in the phrase and don’t say it sarcastically, most people will appreciate you asking them to clean up.

So, stick to the basics. “Please keep your station clean” is a great phrase to include in an email to your staff. It shows you would appreciate it if they could take more pride in their workplace and make the office look nicer by cleaning up.

Here is a useful email sample to also help you understand it:

Dear Brian,

If you are going to work here, please keep your station clean. Generally, we include that as part of our policy.

Thank you so much,
Darryl Green

2. I Would Appreciate It if You Could Clean Up

“I would appreciate it if you could clean up” is a great option in a formal email. It shows you’d like someone to pay more attention to the station around them and clean up wherever possible.

It’s a simple request. After all, if someone cleans up after themselves, it usually shows they take pride in the work they do.

Therefore, it works best to use this phrase when emailing employees who need a bit of encouragement. It shows you would appreciate it if they put a little more effort in.

Check out this email sample if you’re still unsure:

Hi Billy,

I would appreciate it if you could clean up when you get some time. I’m emailing everyone to say this.

All the best,
George Carter

3. Do You Mind Cleaning Up?

While a polite statement goes a long way, you can also phrase it as a question. Try asking “do you mind cleaning up?” in a formal email to ask whether someone is happy to tidy.

We recommend this when you’re not the boss. It works best to email colleagues who you have no authority over. It’s a bit more friendly and shows that you’re not trying to boss them around. Instead, you’re just trying to be polite and ask them a question.

You can also refer to the following email example to see how to use it:

Dear Rosie,

Do you mind cleaning up? It would help us greatly because we have an auditor coming tomorrow.

Thank you so much,
Brian Menace

4. Please Take Pride in Your Workstation

If you want to learn how to say “clean up” professionally, try saying “please take pride in your workstation.” Replacing “clean up” with “take pride” shows that someone appreciates their job and wants the cleanliness of their workstation to represent their appreciation.

Generally, this phrase is best in emails to employees. It shows that you have authority in the situation and would like someone to care slightly more about the station they work at.

Check out this example if you’re still stuck:

Dear Tom,

Please take pride in your workstation. It can’t be pleasant to sit at your desk when there’s so much junk around it.

All the best,
Mr. Swanson

5. We Appreciate Cleanliness Around Here

You should know how to tell employees to clean up after themselves from a company standpoint as well. Start by using “we,” as it’s the pronoun that best shows you’re representing an organization rather than yourself.

From there, we recommend “we appreciate cleanliness around here.” It’s a professional way to show that you would like someone to clean up around their workstation.

Most employees will appreciate this phrase and get to work to clean everything up.

Here is a great example to help you with it:

Dear Ronald,

We appreciate cleanliness around here, of course. So, please make sure you clean up a bit at the end of your shift.

Best wishes,
Suzie Shaw

6. Would You Like a Hand Cleaning Up?

It’s one thing telling someone to clean up after themselves, but it’s a whole different thing to ask if they need help. If you want to sound polite and helpful then feel free to ask “would you like a hand cleaning up?”

It’s great to ask this question in a business email. It shows that you appreciate that someone may be too busy to get to work and clean up after themselves. So, if you can offer your services because you’re not as busy, then feel free to do so.

You may also refer to the following example:

Dear Ricardo,

Would you like a hand cleaning up? I know you’re busy with other projects, so I’d like to offer you some help.

Kind regards,
Martin Boomerang

7. Can You Please Clean up a Little Bit?

You can also ask “can you please clean up a little bit?” when asking employees to clean. It shows that you’ve noticed a few bits that need cleaning around the office or their workstation and would like them to get on top of it.

Generally, including “a little bit” here shows that their station isn’t too untidy. However, it does suggest that you’d like them to do a bit of cleaning before continuing with other work-related projects.

Here’s a great example to show you more about it:

Dear Jorge,

Can you please clean up a little bit? I’d certainly like to see your workstation looking as good as new by the end of the day.

Best wishes,
Stephen Buschemi

8. I’d Like You to Try and Keep This Area Clean

Even if someone isn’t able to clean up after themselves, it would still be nice for them to try. So, “I’d like you to try and keep this area clean” is a good phrase to use.

It shows that you do not want to pressure the other party. All you want from them is a bit more responsibility and cleanliness to keep their workstation in tip-top shape.

We recommend using it if you’re more friendly toward your employees. It shows that you want what’s best for them without trying to be too pushy.

This email example will also clear things up:

Dear Craig,

I’d like you to try and keep this area clean from now on. Do you think that’s something you could do for me?

Thank you so much,
Carlton Lake

9. Take a Break From Work and Clean up a Little Bit

One of the best ways to encourage an employee to do something for you is to tell them to “take a break from work.” From there, you can include “clean up a little bit” to show that you don’t mind them taking a break as long as they are productive with their time.

This is great to include in most formal emails when you know someone has a lot on their plate. It shows you appreciate how busy their schedule is, but you’d still like them to take a bit of time to clean up after themselves.

Check out some of these examples to help you:

Dear Melissa,

Of course, feel free to take a break from work and clean up a little bit. You’ve certainly been working incredibly hard.

Yours,
Albert Wolfenstein