Find out more about what's expected of you when it comes to cleaning your room and spaces like shared flat kitchens.
First time having to do chores and think about cleaning? Or maybe you’ve never lived with other students before and you’re not sure how the cleaning aspect works?
Whatever your situation, if you have questions about cleaning in your Student Roost accommodation, you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you have an en-suite room in a flat (including shared social spaces) or your own studio room, you get to enjoy the space for the duration of your tenancy – which also means cleaning it too!
Maybe you enjoy sprucing up your room or perhaps you’re not the biggest fan of cleaning? No matter if you love it or loathe it, it’s essential for your wellbeing and optimum study conditions that you keep your student accommodation clean and tidy.
Check out our handy hacks to help keep your student accommodation spotless!
Stay on top of that pile of dishes before it turns into a challenge that you don’t want to tackle. Cleaning little and often is best but if you’re struggling to find the time, try blocking out an hour or so on the weekend to blitz through all your chores.
Sharing a flat? Get together early on and create a rota to divide up jobs like cleaning the kitchen and taking the bins out. Make sure to take turns and hold each other accountable. A clean flat is a happy flat!
What about shared social spaces outside of the flat?
Among the members of your property team will be a housekeeper who is responsible for keeping shared social spaces clean and tidy. So, don’t worry about bringing your polish and dusters to the cinema or games room!
However, there are certain spaces and occasions where we ask you to be mindful about keeping things tidy. For example, booked out the hosting kitchen for a private feast with you and your mates? Those dishes won’t clean themselves. Or hit the gym after a particularly taxing day? Taking a moment to ensure the machine or kit you’ve used is ready for the next user is just good form.
It’s much harder to clean your floor when you can’t see it! Take those extra five minutes to tidy away any laundry that’s been washed. You’ll be amazed at the long-forgotten things that you find when you do. Make use of all the storage available in your room – don’t forget any storage under your bed or empty shelves that could make the ideal home for your belongings.
Bonus hack: This is the perfect opportunity to channel your inner Marie Kondo and question whether the freshers' fair knick-knacks that you’ve accumulated actually spark joy? If it’s a hard no, consider whether a friend or flatmate might find it useful. Maybe you brought something to uni that you no longer need? Consider donating it to a local charity shop, so that it can spark joy in someone else!
Especially if this is your first time living away from home, cleaning products can be a real headache. Cream cleaner or all-purpose cleaner anyone? Never fear, homemade solutions are a great alternative to scouring the supermarket shelves for the right cleaning product. For example, did you know that lemon is a fantastic natural cleaner due to its antibacterial properties? Check out the following super simple cleaning products that you can make yourself:
Toilet cleaner
Pour white vinegar followed by baking soda. Scrub and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before flushing.
Mirrors and glass
Mix lemon juice and water in a spray bottle. Shake, spray the area you would like to clean and then wipe with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free shine.
Polish
Combine olive oil, white vinegar and lemon juice in a bottle. Shake for a natural furniture polish.
If you’re struggling to find the motivation, creating your own ultimate cleaning playlist might help you get pumped up to clean. The choice of tunes is entirely yours - whether you fancy channelling your inner Freddie Mercury and vacuuming to “I Want to Break Free” or shaking your dust buster to some current chart hits. Time flies when you’re having fun (cleaning)!
That's just the tip of the feather duster when it comes to cleaning tips in your student accommodation.
It’s worth noting that selected properties offer one-off and regular room and flat cleans at an additional cost, so if this is something you’re interested in, please enquire with your property team who will be able to advise about our Resident Cleaning Service.
We hope your stay with us gets off to a cleanly start, but if you're unsure about anything then please don't hesitate to reach out to our onsite teams with any questions. Happy cleaning!