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In most apartment buildings, cleaning once a week is enough. With a lot of foot traffic, businesses in the building or prams in the hallway, two visits a week make sense. What the cleaning costs depends mainly on the number of floors, the floor covering and the scope of work – so a clear specification of services matters more than the price per visit.
How often should the stairwell be cleaned?
| Building | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|
| Small apartment building (up to 6 units) | every 1–2 weeks |
| Residential complex from approx. 10 units | weekly |
| Mixed-use building with a practice or office | twice a week |
| Office building, hotel | daily to several times a week |
In addition, a deep clean once or twice a year is recommended. Floor coverings are cleaned intensively and, if needed, given a fresh protective treatment.
What does proper stairwell cleaning include?
A good specification of services sets out what happens at every visit and what is done less often.
At every visit:
- Sweep or vacuum and damp-mop stairs, landings and hallways
- Wipe handrails and banisters
- Clean the entrance area and doormats
- Wipe the mailboxes and doorbell panel
- Remove fingerprints from glass doors
Monthly or quarterly:
- Window sills, radiators and light switches
- Cobwebs on ceilings and in corners
- Basement stairs and basement corridor
- Lift car and lift doors
Window cleaning in the stairwell is usually agreed separately, for example twice a year.
What drives the cost?
- Size: number of floors, stairwells and corridor areas
- Floor covering: natural stone, linoleum or tiles need different care
- Frequency: more visits usually lower the price per visit
- Additional services: basement, lift, outdoor areas, bin store
- Soiling: building work, businesses or heavy footfall increase the effort
Billing is usually a flat monthly rate or per visit. Reputable providers inspect the property before making an offer.
Can the costs be passed on to tenants?
As a rule, yes. Under the German Operating Costs Ordinance (Betriebskostenverordnung), building cleaning is a recoverable service charge if the tenancy agreement provides for it. More on this in our guide to recoverable service charges.
Tenants on a rota or a service provider?
Having tenants clean according to a rota saves money but often leads to disputes and uneven quality. A service provider ensures consistent cleanliness, and the workload for owners and property managers drops considerably.
Stairwell cleaning in Düsseldorf
Fresh Flush cleans stairwells in Düsseldorf, Neuss, Meerbusch and the surrounding area with a regular team and a written specification of services. After every visit you receive documentation. On request we also take care of caretaker services and winter service – all with one contact. More about staircase cleaning, or request a free quote directly.
