Whilst our dedicated cleaning teams are here to assist you in maintaining the cleanliness of your accommodation, it's important to remember that you also have a responsibility to keep your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and communal areas in good order.

Top tip: Working together makes the job quicker and easier. Make a rota with your flatmates for taking out rubbish and recycling, and cleaning your kitchen. 

What we do

It's important to be aware of the services our cleaning team provides throughout your stay in university accommodation.

In the kitchen, our cleaning teams will: 

  • Clean all surfaces and sink areas
  • Thoroughly clean cookers, grills and microwaves
  • Sweep and mop the floor
  • Wipe clean the front of fridges / freezers, cupboard doors, and drawers 
  • Replenish your bin bags to help you keep on top of things

This service happens once a week, during Monday to Friday. We recommend you check your kitchen and common room the day before your weekly top up clean / inspection.

In communal areas, our cleaning teams will:

  • Mop, sweep or vacuum all corridors, stairs and floors
  • Clean toliets, baths, washbasins and showers
  • Replenish toliet rolls

In shared bathrooms, our cleaning teams will: 

  • Clean all surfaces, and sink areas
  • Deep clean toliets and showers
  • Sweep and mop the floor
  • Replenish toliet consumables

This cleaning service happens three times a week and toliet rolls are topped up daily.

If you have an ensuite bathroom, this will be deep cleaned before your arrival. You are responsible for cleaning it the rest of the time.

What you need to do

You're responsible for keeping your bedroom and communal areas clean and tidy. 

You’re responsible for tidying and cleaning your bedroom, including:

  • vacuuming / sweeping regularly
  • cleaning surfaces (we recommend a non-bleach based cleaner)
  • cleaning your ensuite

A vacuum can be found in your kitchen. You can request additional vacuum bags online.

You're responsible for keeping your ensuite bathroom clean and tidy after you move into your accommodation. This includes mopping up any excess water on your floor to prevent mould and keeping plugholes clear to avoid blockages.

You'll also be responsible for buying your own toliet rolls - we'll supply one roll for your arrival.

You and your flatmates are responsible as a group for cleaning your kitchen. This includes:

  • regularly emptying your bins into the outside recycling bins
  • washing up and putting away crockery and utensils
  • clearing and cleaning your worktops, hobs, ovens, sink, windowsills and floors
  • clearing belongings and shopping crates off the floor
  • preparing for your weekly clean.

Always keep your hallway and fire escapes clear. Anything blocking either of these could be a potential hazard in case of an emergency or fire. Hallways will be cleaned every two weeks.

If you use your college common room, you’ll need to make sure it’s left in a clean and tidy condition when you’re done. Common rooms will be cleaned every two weeks.

Waste and recycling

  • Almost everything can go into your mixed recycling bin, glass bag, or food bin. 
  • We provide black bags for your general waste and clear bags for your mixed recycling. 
  • Please use the correct bags for each. 
  • Empty bins as soon as they’re full into the external bins outside.
  • Make sure you empty each bin into the correct container. 

Keen to learn more about waste and recycling at the University of York? Take a look at our waste and recycling pages.