---
title: "Stairwell cleaning in apartment buildings: scope, frequency"
description: "What stairwell, lift and cellar cleaning includes, how often to clean, how to cope with winter mud and salt, and how to write the scope into a brief."
url: https://uklid123.cz/en/blog/uklid-schodiste-bytovy-dum-vchod
language: en
updated: 2026-11-02
publisher: Úklid 1-2-3 (info@uklid123.cz, +420 608 486 486)
---

Businesses, SVJ and rentals

# Cleaning the entrance and stairwell of an apartment building: scope, frequency and winter specifics

What to include when cleaning the entrance, stairwell, lift and cellars, how often to clean, and how to cope with mud and grit salt in winter.

Úklid 1-2-3 editorial team · Published 2 November 2026 · Last reviewed 2 November 2026 · 8 min read

## In short

- Stairwell cleaning usually covers steps, landings, handrails, door handles, post boxes, the lift, the entrance and, by agreement, cellars.
- The usual rhythm is once a week, with the entrance and lift cleaned two to three times a week in winter.
- A long cleaning zone of mats, clean water and a well-wrung mop help against mud and salt.
- Use stronger chemicals only for specific problems, follow the label, and never mix products containing chlorine with acids or ammonia.
- A written brief setting out areas, frequency, surfaces and inspection prevents most disputes.

Stairwell cleaning in an apartment building usually includes sweeping or vacuuming and mopping the steps, landings and corridors, wiping the handrails, door handles, light switches and post boxes, cleaning the lift and the entrance door, and sometimes the cellar corridors as well. The usual rhythm is once a week, more often in winter and in busy buildings. It is a good idea to write the scope and frequency into a brief, so that both parties know what is done and when.

## What is included in cleaning the entrance and stairwell

Common areas differ from building to building, but they mostly consist of the same zones. When writing the scope, it helps to walk through the building from the entrance to the cellar and note down what is cleaned in each zone.

- **Entrance and vestibule:** the entrance door on both sides, glazing, door handle, intercom panel, cleaning zone or mat, the floor behind the door.
- **Stairwell and corridors:** steps, landings, skirting boards and trims, handrails and grab rails, window sills on the half-landings, light switches, doors to the corridors.
- **Lift:** the cabin floor, walls and mirror, the control panel, the cabin and shaft doors on both sides, threshold strips.
- **Post boxes and notice board:** wiping the surfaces, removing leaflets that nobody has collected, as agreed with the committee.
- **Cellars, pram room, drying room:** corridors and shared rooms, not private cellar compartments.
- **Bin area:** sweeping and, where agreed, washing the floor and the containers.
- **Windows in common areas:** cleaning the stairwell windows and skylights, usually as a separate seasonal item.

What is usually not part of regular cleaning: washing the windows of individual flats, cleaning private cellars, removing items left in the corridor, repairs and painting. If you want to include any of these, state it explicitly in the brief.

## How often to clean individual parts of the building

There is no fixed rule. The frequency depends on the number of flats, the level of traffic, whether there are small children, dogs or commercial premises in the building, and on the time of year. The table shows an indicative rhythm that you can start from and adjust based on experience.

| Part of the building | Indicative frequency | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Entrance, vestibule, mat | 1× a week, in winter 2–3× a week | Most dirt is caught right at the door. |
| Stairwell and corridors – sweeping and mopping | 1× a week | More often in large buildings. |
| Handrails, door handles, switches, lift panel | 1× a week | The places touched by the most people. |
| Lift cabin | 1× a week | The cabin floor more often in winter. |
| Cellar corridors, pram room | 1× every 2–4 weeks | Depending on how heavily they are used. |
| Stairwell windows, skylights | 2× a year | Typically spring and autumn. |
| Cobwebs, ceilings, light fittings, radiators | 2–4× a year | Best combined with window cleaning. |

If you are unsure, start with weekly cleaning and after two to three months assess where dirt builds up. It may then be enough to clean only the entrance and ground floor more often, rather than the whole building.

## Step-by-step routine for regular stairwell cleaning

A simple, consistent routine suits a stairwell. Whether the cleaning is done by a resident, a manager or a company, a repeatable sequence of steps is easy to check.

- Ventilate, and place wet-floor warning signs at the entrance and on the landings.
- Start on the top floor and work downwards, so that dirt falls into areas you have yet to clean.
- Remove cobwebs in corners and above windows, if they are due.
- Wipe the handrails, grab rails, switches, door handles and window sills with a damp cloth and a neutral product.
- Sweep or vacuum the steps and landings, including the corners and the edge by the wall, where grit collects.
- Mop the steps and landings. Change the water as soon as it becomes cloudy, otherwise the dirt is merely spread around.
- Clean the lift cabin: wipe the panel and mirror, vacuum and mop the floor, and sweep out the threshold strip.
- Finally, clean the vestibule and the entrance door, mop the floor by the entrance, and shake out or vacuum the mat.
- Record the date and the work done on the log sheet on the notice board, if the building uses one.

Equipment that works well in stairwells:

- a broom with a dustpan, or a vacuum cleaner with a long hose, ideally cordless,
- a flat-head mop and a bucket with a wringer, or two buckets for clean and dirty water,
- colour-coded microfibre cloths (one for handrails and handles, another for floors),
- a neutral floor cleaner and a glass cleaner,
- gloves and a “wet floor” warning sign.

## Winter specifics: mud, salt and wet stairs

Cleaning the entrance changes the most in winter. Snow, mud and grit salt are carried in on shoes; once dry, the salt leaves white marks and, combined with sand, wears down the surface of the steps.

- **Extend the cleaning zone.** An outdoor mat for coarse dirt and an absorbent indoor mat will catch most of the water and salt before the stairwell. Mats need to be cleaned and dried regularly; a saturated mat no longer works.
- **Clean the entrance more often than the rest of the building.** In winter it pays to add one or two quick cleans of the ground floor and lift per week; the upper floors can stay on the usual rhythm.
- **Wash with clean water and a product suited to the surface.** White salt stains can usually be washed off paving, terrazzo or linoleum by mopping repeatedly with clean water. For details by material, see the article [Salt stains in winter: how to remove them from tiles, vinyl, wood and carpet](https://uklid123.cz/blog/solne-skvrny-na-podlaze-a-kobercich) .
- **Do not leave stairs wet.** A wet, muddy floor is slippery. Mop with a well-wrung mop, let the floor dry after washing and mark it with a warning sign.
- **Do not forget the lift.** The same mud is carried into the cabin as onto the stairs, and the cabin floor is small, so it gets dirty quickly. Follow the instructions of the lift manufacturer or service company on how much water and which products may be used.

For workplaces, [Government Regulation No. 101/2005 Sb.](https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2005-101) requires that floor surfaces, including routes of passage, be even, firm and treated against slipping. The stairwell of an apartment building is a workplace for the person cleaning it, and it is a useful benchmark for residents too, even outside occupational regulations.

Clearing snow and gritting in front of the building, in the courtyard or on the access path is a separate job. If the cleaner is to do it, specify it separately in the brief, including who supplies the gritting material and how soon after snowfall action is expected. Check with the building manager or the municipality who is responsible for which section of the pavement.

## Safe use of cleaning products

A neutral floor cleaner is usually enough for regular stairwell cleaning. Stronger products, such as those containing chlorine or limescale-removing acid, belong only on a specific problem, not in every bucket.

- Always read the label and dose according to it.
- Ventilate while working and wear gloves, and eye protection when spraying. The same recommendations are given by the American [CDC in its guide to cleaning and disinfecting your home](https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/when-and-how-to-clean-and-disinfect-your-home.html) , which also advises against mixing products together.
- Never mix products containing chlorine with acids or ammonia. Read more in the article [Which cleaning products should never be mixed and what to do if it happens](https://uklid123.cz/blog/nebezpecne-kombinace-cisticich-prostredku) .
- Test a new product first in a hidden spot, for example on a landing behind a door or in a corner of a cellar corridor.
- Do not leave products lying around in common areas; store them out of the reach of children.

## How to describe the scope of cleaning in the brief

Most disputes about cleaning common areas do not arise because cleaning is not done, but because everyone imagines a different scope. A one-page brief with clear items prevents this. The brief should state:

- **List of areas:** the number of entrances, floors and lifts, and whether the cellar, pram room, drying room, bin area and courtyard are cleaned.
- **Regular tasks and their frequency:** what is done at every visit and what once a month.
- **Seasonal tasks:** window cleaning, cobwebs, light fittings, radiators, more frequent cleaning of the entrance in winter and, if applicable, snow.
- **Types of surfaces:** terrazzo, paving, linoleum, wooden stairs, stone elements, so that suitable products are chosen.
- **Who supplies products and equipment** and where they can be stored in the building, and whether water and a utility sink are available.
- **Date and time of cleaning:** the day of the week, and whether in the morning, when the building is quiet.
- **Inspection and communication:** a log sheet on the notice board, a contact person from the committee or the manager, and how to report shortcomings.

If you are also considering who pays for the cleaning and how to approve it, see the article [Cleaning common areas in a homeowners' association (SVJ): who pays and how to commission it](https://uklid123.cz/blog/uklid-spolecnych-prostor-svj) . From a legal standpoint, under [Section 3 of Act No. 67/2013 Sb.](https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2013-67) , the cleaning of common areas is one of the services connected with the use of flats. Unless otherwise agreed or decided, cleaning costs are apportioned according to the number of persons relevant for the apportionment (Section 5). This is general information, not legal advice; check the situation in your building in the articles of association, in the assembly resolution, or with the manager or a lawyer.

## Cleaning it yourselves or commissioning a service

In smaller buildings, residents often take turns according to a rota. This works if the rota is clear and everyone sticks to it; the weak points tend to be winter and holidays. In larger buildings, or where the rota cannot be maintained, cleaning is usually commissioned from a manager or a cleaning company.

Úklid 1-2-3 offers [cleaning of common areas in apartment buildings](https://uklid123.cz/sluzby/uklid-spolecnych-prostor) in Prague and the surrounding area; current prices are in the [price list](https://uklid123.cz/cenik) . Whichever route you choose, a written brief and a log sheet are always useful.

## Frequently asked questions

### How often should the stairwell in an apartment building be cleaned?

In most buildings it is enough to sweep and mop the stairwell once a week, wiping the handrails, door handles, light switches and lift panel at the same time. In winter, in buildings with many flats or with commercial premises on the ground floor, it is advisable to clean the entrance, ground floor and lift more often, for example two to three times a week. Stairwell windows and cobwebs usually need attention only twice a year. After a few months, adjust the frequency according to where dirt actually builds up.

### Is cellar cleaning part of regular cleaning of common areas?

Shared cellar corridors, pram rooms and drying rooms usually belong to the cleaning of common areas, only less frequently, for example once every two to four weeks. Private cellar compartments belonging to individual flats are not cleaned. If the cleaning is also to cover the bin area, the courtyard or the removal of items left in the corridor, it is best to state this explicitly in the brief; otherwise the cleaners may not regard it as part of their work.

### How do I remove white salt stains left by grit salt from stairs?

White salt marks on paving, terrazzo or linoleum can usually be removed by mopping repeatedly with clean lukewarm water and a neutral product, changing the water often. Wring the mop out well so that the stairs do not stay wet and slippery. For stone, wood and delicate surfaces, follow the manufacturer's recommendations and test any stronger product in a hidden spot first. A good mat at the entrance also helps, as it catches the salt earlier.

### Who pays for the cleaning of common areas in an apartment building?

Under Act No. 67/2013 Sb., the cleaning of common areas is one of the services connected with the use of flats. Unless the building has agreed or decided otherwise, cleaning costs are apportioned according to the number of persons relevant for the apportionment. This is general information, not legal advice. To find out how it works in your building, check the articles of association, the resolutions of the owners' assembly or ask the building manager.

## Sources

- [Zákon č. 67/2013 Sb., kterým se upravují některé otázky související s poskytováním plnění spojených s užíváním bytů a nebytových prostorů v domě s byty – Zákony pro lidi](https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2013-67) (checked 2 November 2026)
- [Nařízení vlády č. 101/2005 Sb., o podrobnějších požadavcích na pracoviště a pracovní prostředí – Zákony pro lidi](https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2005-101) (checked 2 November 2026)
- [When and How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)](https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/when-and-how-to-clean-and-disinfect-your-home.html) (checked 2 November 2026)

Prepared by the Úklid 1-2-3 editorial team with the help of AI and verified against the sources listed. Manufacturers' instructions and regulations change: always follow the current wording of the source and the product label. This article is general information, not professional or legal advice. This article was translated from Czech with the help of AI. The sources are in the original language.

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