Workplaces across Yorkshire do not get dirty by chance.
According to the Yorkshire Dirt Index 2026, mess follows clear seasonal patterns, with winter creating the most intense cleaning pressures of the year. The index shows how weather, footfall and everyday behaviour combine to shape cleanliness in offices, coworking spaces and commercial buildings across the region.
The Yorkshire Dirt Index 2026 has been produced by York and Leeds based commercial cleaning firm Smart Cleaning. It draws on real world cleaning data, local weather records and daily observations from cleaning teams working across Leeds, York and the wider Yorkshire area. The result is a detailed picture of when workplaces are most affected by dirt and why.
Seasonal rankings in the Yorkshire Dirt Index 2026 place summer as the cleanest period, with a dirt score of four out of ten. Spring follows with mixed conditions at six, autumn rises sharply to eight, and winter reaches the maximum score of ten. These scores reflect cleaning demand seen across Yorkshire workplaces over the past 12 months.
Smart Cleaning assesses each season using five workplace dirt factors. These are rainfall and mud risk, pollen levels, insects and pests, footfall levels and human behaviour. Each factor is scored from one to five based on what cleaning teams encounter on site, before being combined into an overall seasonal dirt score.
Ben Hirst, owner of Smart Cleaning, said: “Workplace dirt follows clear seasonal patterns, and winter is by far the most challenging time of year.
“Muddy commutes, wet entrances and high footfall combine to create constant cleaning pressure across Yorkshire offices.”
The Yorkshire Dirt Index 2026 also reflects conditions unique to the region. Rural commutes from the Dales and Moors bring soil into workplaces, while busy city centres in Leeds and York experience heavy footfall. Seasonal events across Yorkshire regularly create short term spikes in workplace mess, particularly near commercial hubs.
Summer 2025 ranked as the cleanest season overall. It was the warmest summer on record, with a mean temperature of 16.10°C. Dry weather, lower office occupancy during holiday periods and better ventilation helped limit day to day grime. Even so, pollen settled on desks and vents, insects entered through open windows and cold drinks led to more spills. Large events such as the Great Yorkshire Show, York Races and Leeds Pride briefly increased dirt levels in nearby workplaces. The latter of which created a great deal of a uniquely difficult type of dirt to deal with – glitter.
Spring brought mixed results. Spring 2025 was marked by unusually high pollen levels across Yorkshire, often described as a pollen bomb. Despite very dry conditions, pollen coated desks, vents and equipment, while bins filled with used tissues. Sudden showers quickly undid clean entrances, and rising footfall after Easter added pressure to shared spaces. Events including the Harrogate Spring Flower Show and York Races Spring Meet further influenced cleaning demand.
Autumn proved consistently challenging. After a dry start to the year, rainfall increased sharply, including the fifth wettest November on record. Wet leaves were broken down and trodden into carpets, while offices refilled after summer. Heating systems circulated settled dust, spiders appeared in ground floor spaces and waste built up more quickly. University term starts, food festivals and football fixtures all added to footfall and mess.
Winter sits firmly at the top of the Yorkshire Dirt Index 2026. Early snowfall in November signalled months of persistent problems. Mud, slush and grit were tracked deep into carpets, while gritted pavements brought salt indoors. Rural commutes increased debris, festive footfall pushed entrances to capacity and flu season drove up surface contamination and waste. Cleaning demand peaked across Yorkshire sites.
Smart Cleaning says the Yorkshire Dirt Index 2026 shows that workplace mess is predictable rather than random. Understanding these seasonal patterns allows organisations to plan cleaning schedules, deep cleans and preventative measures more effectively, reducing disruption and maintaining standards throughout the year.
