According to the terms of the residential agreement, the tenant is obligated to maintain the rental space while living in the student residence. It is also more cozy and comfortable if the room and common area are clean and organized. We’ve put together general recommendations and tips to help you keep tidy.
There is no need for major cleaning on a daily basis. However, it is wise to clean up any mess immediately, as stains (such as food splashes on the stove) may be more difficult to remove later. Also if you have flat mates, then it would be fair to them to keep common areas like kitchen, toilet or shower room clean. For example, if you do not wash your dishes and leave a mess to the kitchen, your flat mates will not be able to use it.
We recommend to clean more thoroughly on a weekly basis – then it is easier to maintain tidiness. We recommend to dust and wash the floors. For dusting, you can use a soft microfiber cloth and for washing the floors, a mop and clean water. While cleaning, it is important not to forget common areas like the kitchen, toilet and shower room. For cleaning common areas, you can either share chores with flat mates or make a schedule.
When planning monthly cleaning, it is reasonable to take a whole day to do so. When you have done daily and weekly cleanings, it shouldn’t take too long. Monthly cleaning should include washing the doors, outlets and walls, if they are dirty. Also check if the water is going down the drain in the shower. If not, then clean the shower drain from hair and etc. Using special household cleaning agents can avoid blockages in the drains.
Maintenance of electronic devices
To prolong the lifespan of the electronic devices, it is important to clean them. The kitchen electronics need maintaining and cleaning – stove, refrigerator, kitchen hood and oven.
When using the stove, different food splashes may get on the surface of the cooking areas during cooking. When cleaning the hob, make sure that the hob has cooled down. Clean the hob with a damp cloth and a small amount of detergent specially meant for cleaning the hob. After cleaning, dry the hob, for example with a microfiber cloth. If, for example, molten plastic, film and food residues containing sugar gets spilt on the hob, carefully remove them immediately. Otherwise, they may damage the stove.
Always make sure you close the refrigerator door!
It is a good idea to regularly check if there is any spoilt food in the refrigerator. Spoiled products also make other foods spoil faster. The inside of the refrigerator should be cleaned from time to time, at least once a month, especially if something goes bad in it. Clean the refrigerator with a cloth and a warm water or a neutral detergent specially meant to clean the inside of the refrigerator. We recommend setting the degree of freezing on 2.
It is also important to defrost the refrigerator at least once a year. Defrosting must also be done if there is a layer of ice or snow on the walls of the refrigerator. The refrigerator is more efficient after defrosting and does not consume too much energy to keep the food cold. To defrost the refrigerator, empty the refrigerator from the food, unplug it and let the refrigerator defrost. It is advisable to place a cloth in front of the refrigerator that absorbs excess water. When the ice has completely melted, clean the refrigerator with a soft cloth (e.g. microfiber material), water and a small amount of special cleaning agent, and dry the inside and outside of the refrigerator and turn it back on.
NB! Do not use abrasive or strong detergents, such as glass cleaners, scouring pastes, flammable liquids, cleaning waxes, concentrated detergents, bleaches or products containing kerosene, to clean plastic parts, interior and door seals. Do not use paper towels, scouring pads or harsh cleaning agents.
Switch on the hood one minute before you start cooking to create a flow of air that will lead to smoke and steam being drawn into the area. Low speeds are generally sufficient to remove the small amounts of smoke and steam generated, for example, in the cooking of pasta dishes and sauces. High speeds need to be used in the preparation of dishes that emit strong odors, such as grilling, frying or cooking several dishes at the same time. If necessary, leave the hood on even after cooking to ensure that all odors and vapors are removed.
The surfaces of the hood must be cleaned with a damp cloth and degreasing detergent. After cleaning, dry the surfaces of the hood.
NB! Acid-based cleaners and rough cloths can damage the surface of the hood. Grease residues on the hood can pose a fire hazard, so it is necessary to wash the hood surface regularly.
It is important to make sure that the oven is clean. Accumulation of fat or food residues can cause a fire. Regular cleaning also prevents damage to the coating material. If you are cooking food that releases fat or fluids (e.g. oven meat), use a deep tray to prevent the spilled juice from staining the bottom of the oven.
Before cleaning the oven, switch it off and let it cool down. For personal safety and to save oven surfaces, clean the appliance only with water and a mild detergent. Do not use flammable products or products that may cause corrosion. Do not clean the oven with steam cleaners, high pressure cleaners, sharp objects, abrasive cleaners, abrasive sponges or stain removers.
Cleaning FAQ
Using just a cloth and some water is not enough for cleaning. Special cleaning agents are required for the removal of limescale deposits, grease, etc. and you can buy them together with your roommate or flat mates. With regular cleaning you will get better results more easily.
Use rubber gloves to avoid skin damage with domestic chemical products!
For floors and surfaces – Harpic Power Plus or Mayeri calc remover – an excellent products even for bathroom floors if used with a strong-bristled brush. Do not worry about the white bubbly reaction on the surface cleaned – the process decomposes the limescale and enables to remove it easily.
For the kettle, put some citric acid (sold in the spices rack) into the water and boil it. The just pour the water out and the kettle is clean.
We recommend Cif paste. NB! Do not pour liquid over the switches, because it is very hard to get the dried paste out.
- Always keep a strainer at the bottom of the kitchen sink, empty it into the trash can.
- Before washing, empty the plates and dishes of food waste, only then wash them.
- Do not pour food waste down the sink (e.g. coffee grounds, boiled vegetables, oil are especially dangerous).
- Once a week, boil hot water and pour a jug down the sink, it melts oils and fats.
- Shower room sink and shower drain: Do not push hair and body hair down the drain. Collect them and throw them in the trash.
- Once a month, open the odor trap under the sink and pour out the accumulated dirt, wash the cap and put it back.
- Do not use paper not intended for this purpose in the toilet (e.g. hand drying and household paper).
- Keep a suction pump handy. This will help with lighter blockages. Use it with the hot water method.
- As a last resort, use a specialized chemical with the suction pump to remove the blockage.
The grease filter can be cleaned with a dish-washing agent. Just remove the grease filter from the kitchen hood, wash it, let it dry and put it back in.
Final cleaning
If you move out of the student residence, all personal belongings (including furniture, curtains, etc) must be removed from the room and apartment, and the room and common areas must be cleaned.
A clean rental space meets the following characteristics:
- Toilet and shower room – the floor, ceiling, walls, door, toilet bowl, sink, faucet, mirror and other equipment is clean, the surfaces must be free of removable dirt (incl. Scale deposits).
- The kitchen – floor, ceiling, walls and all other surfaces are clean, the surfaces must be free of removable dirt (incl. Scale deposits, grease). That includes furniture (eg kitchen furniture inside and outside, tables, chairs, etc.) and electrical appliances (stove, oven, refrigerator, extractor).
- Room – all surfaces are clean. All surfaces means floors, windows from the inside, window sills, furniture (eg tables, chairs, cabinets and drawers inside and outside, shelves, beds, etc.). We suggest pulling the bed away from the wall to clean from under it.