Moving into university accommodation means sharing kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces with several other people—often for the first time. A simple cleaning routine will help keep your accommodation hygienic, reduce unpleasant smells and prevent one person from being left to tackle all the cleaning.
Start with the Shared Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most important areas to keep clean, particularly when several students use the same worktops, sink and appliances.
Use a suitable bactericidal cleaner or food-safe sanitiser on worktops and other food-preparation surfaces before and after preparing food. Always follow the instructions on the label, including any stated contact time and whether the surface needs to be rinsed afterwards.
Bacteria can build up quickly in and around a kitchen sink because it regularly provides three things microorganisms need to survive: moisture, warmth and food residue. Small particles from raw meat, vegetables, dirty plates and cooking utensils can collect around the plughole, drain, overflow, tap base, seals and washing-up equipment.
Potentially harmful bacteria can then be transferred from the sink to hands, cloths, worktops, utensils and ready-to-eat food. This cross-contamination may cause food poisoning, with symptoms including nausea, sickness, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
You do not necessarily need an industrial-strength chemical for routine cleaning. A suitable bactericidal cleaner or sanitiser, used correctly, will help maintain good hygiene. Recommended products include:
- Germisan Cleaner and Sanitiser
- TopIT Sanitising Cleaner
- Delphis Eco Anti-Bacterial Sanitiser
- Spray & Wipe Cleaner and Disinfectant
-
Selden Bac2Fresh Advanced Multi-Surface Cleaner
Cleaning and disinfecting are not always the same process. Remove food debris and visible dirt first, then apply the sanitiser or disinfectant and leave it on the surface for the specified contact time. Never mix different cleaning chemicals.
Don’t Spread Bacteria with the Cleaning Cloth
A reusable cloth can spread contamination around the kitchen if it is continually used without being washed. Rinse reusable cloths after use, allow them to dry and wash them regularly at the appropriate temperature.
For higher-risk jobs—such as cleaning after raw meat or wiping around a heavily contaminated sink—kitchen roll or a disposable cloth may be more hygienic. Use a fresh section for each area and dispose of it immediately afterwards.
Remember to clean the sponge, scourer or washing-up brush too. Leaving these items wet and covered in food residue creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth.
How to Clean a Student Oven
Student ovens are not always pretty. Because the appliance is shared, no one tends to take responsibility for cleaning it until grease and burnt-on food have built up.
Before starting, make sure the oven is switched off and completely cold. Open a window or provide adequate ventilation, wear the personal protective equipment specified on the cleaner’s label and protect the surrounding floor and worktops.
Remove the oven shelves and treat them only as directed by the oven-cleaner manufacturer. If the product instructions specifically allow a bag-cleaning method, place the shelves inside a strong, chemical-resistant bag, apply the recommended amount of Selden Oven Cleaner and secure the bag safely. Leave the product for the stated contact time—never longer than instructed.
Apply oven cleaner carefully to compatible internal surfaces, avoiding heating elements, fans, seals, aluminium, self-cleaning liners and any other areas excluded on the label. Allow the correct contact time, then loosen the residue using a suitable sponge scourer that will not damage the surface.
Wipe away the loosened grease and rinse all treated surfaces thoroughly with clean, warm water. Remove the shelves from the bag carefully, wash and scrub them in the sink, and rinse them thoroughly before returning them to the oven.
Always follow the product label and the oven manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Never mix oven cleaner with bleach, acids or any other chemical.
Cleaning the Shared Bathroom
A shared bathroom can quickly become unpleasant if everyone assumes somebody else will clean it. Moisture, body oils, hair, soap residue and limescale can build up on toilets, sinks, showers and floors, while poor ventilation can encourage mould and unpleasant odours.
Creating a simple cleaning rota is often the easiest solution. Divide the main jobs between everyone sharing the accommodation and agree how frequently each task should be completed.
Cleaning the Toilet
Apply toilet cleaner such as Q-Eco Toilet Cleaner or Selden ACT beneath the rim and around the inside of the bowl, ensuring the product reaches the areas where limescale and staining develop. Leave it for the contact time stated on the label, scrub thoroughly with a toilet brush and flush.
Use a bactericidal washroom cleaner to clean the outside of the toilet. Options are Apeal Washroom Cleaner, Delphis Eco Washroom Cleaner, Bio Hygiene Complete Washroom. Don’t for to clean the following:
- The flush button or handle
- Toilet seat and lid
- Seat hinges
- Outside of the bowl
- Base of the toilet
- Surrounding floor
Always work from the cleanest area towards the dirtiest and use a separate cloth for the toilet. In professional colour-coded cleaning systems, red cloths and equipment are normally reserved for toilets and urinals. Never use the same cloth on the sink, taps or other surfaces.
Cleaning the Sink and Taps
Remove toothpaste, soap residue and visible dirt from the basin before applying a suitable washroom cleaner. Pay particular attention to the tap handles, plughole, overflow and the area around the base of the taps.
In hard-water areas, limescale can quickly form around taps and inside the basin. Use Q-Eco Rapid Descaler to dissolve these deposits and restore the appearance of the surface. Always check that the product is suitable for the material, as acidic descalers can damage marble, limestone and other acid-sensitive surfaces.
After cleaning, rinse where required and dry taps with a clean microfibre cloth to help prevent water marks.
Cleaning the Shower or Bath
Soap residue, body oils and minerals from hard water can leave shower screens, tiles and fittings looking dull. Spray a Q-Eco Rapid Descaler, Apeal or Delphis Washroom Cleaner over compatible surfaces, allow the recommended contact time and agitate stubborn deposits with a non-scratch sponge or cloth.
Rinse treated surfaces thoroughly and use a shower squeegee to remove excess water from the screen and tiles. Doing this after every shower only takes a few seconds and can significantly reduce water marks, soap deposits and mould growth.
Hair should be removed regularly from the shower or bath waste to prevent slow drainage and unpleasant smells. Avoid pouring different drain cleaners or chemicals together, as this can produce a dangerous reaction.
Preventing Mould and Mildew
Bathrooms remain damp long after a shower has been used, providing ideal conditions for mould to develop on grout, silicone seals, ceilings and around windows.
To reduce the risk:
- Use the extractor fan during and after showering
- Open a window where possible
- Leave the shower door or curtain open to dry
- Remove excess water with a squeegee
- Do not leave wet towels on the floor
- Clean mould as soon as it appears
- Report persistent damp, leaks or ventilation problems to the landlord or accommodation provider
Use HG Mould Cleaner only on surfaces permitted by the manufacturer. Wear the stated personal protective equipment, ventilate the room and never mix a mould remover containing bleach with descaler, toilet cleaner, vinegar or any acidic product.
Cleaning the Bathroom Floor
Vacuum or sweep the floor first to remove hair and loose debris. Mop it using a correctly diluted bactericidal floor cleaner that is suitable for the flooring material.
Start at the furthest point and work back towards the doorway so that you do not walk over the cleaned floor. Allow it to dry and display a warning sign while the surface remains wet, particularly in shared accommodation where somebody may enter unexpectedly.
Don’t Forget the High-Touch Areas
Frequently touched surfaces can spread contamination between everyone using the bathroom. Regularly clean and disinfect:
- Door handles
- Light switches
- Tap handles
- Flush buttons
- Shower controls
- Cupboard handles
- Towel rails
Always clean visible dirt away before disinfecting and leave the product on the surface for its specified contact time.
A quick wipe after use and a thorough weekly clean will make a shared bathroom easier to manage. It also prevents one person from being faced with a major cleaning job at the end of the term or when it is time to recover the accommodation deposit.
Cleaning Your Bedroom and Study Space
Your bedroom is more than somewhere to sleep—it is also likely to be your main workspace for studying, writing assignments and attending online lectures. Keeping it clean, tidy and sanitised can create a more comfortable environment, reduce distractions and make it easier to concentrate.
Start by removing rubbish, empty food packaging, dirty cups and plates. Food residue can cause unpleasant smells and attract insects, so return used crockery to the kitchen rather than leaving it in the bedroom.
Dust regularly, working from higher surfaces down towards the floor. Pay particular attention to:
- Desk and shelving
- Windowsills
- Bedside tables
- Lamps
- Skirting boards
- Radiators
- The top of wardrobes
- Areas underneath the bed
Use any of the following on compatible surfaces.
- Germisan Cleaner and Sanitiser
- TopIT Sanitising Cleaner
- Delphis Eco Anti-Bacterial Sanitiser
- Spray & Wipe Cleaner and Disinfectant
- Selden Bac2Fresh Advanced Multi-Surface Cleaner
Once visible dirt and dust have been removed, sanitise frequently touched areas such as door handles, light switches, drawer handles and wardrobe handles.
Your desk is an important work surface and should be kept clean and uncluttered. Regularly clean and sanitise the desktop, particularly if you eat while studying. Keyboards, computer mice, phones, headphones and remote controls are handled frequently and can collect dirt and bacteria. Switch electrical equipment off first and follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Apply the cleaning product to a cloth rather than spraying it directly onto electronic devices.
Vacuum carpets and rugs regularly, including underneath furniture where accessible. Hard floors should be swept or vacuumed before being cleaned with a suitable floor product. Don’t forget upholstered desk chairs, which can collect dust, crumbs and hair.
Wash bedding regularly and avoid allowing damp towels or clothing to accumulate on the floor. Open the window each day where possible to improve ventilation and reduce condensation, stale odours and the conditions that encourage mould.
A few minutes spent tidying and wiping surfaces each day can prevent the room from becoming overwhelming. A clean, organised and sanitised bedroom gives you a healthier place to sleep and a more pleasant, productive space in which to study.
