College Facilities

Students are responsible for the cleanliness and housekeeping in their bedroom and non-communal household areas

1. Student accommodation must be kept clean and tidy at all times.
2. Bathrooms and gyps should be kept clean and tidy at all times. Detailed cleaning instructions are included in this document.
3. Crockery and cooking utensils should be washed and put away immediately after use.
4. If anything is spilled on walls or carpets, clean immediately. Then inform Housekeeping as soon as possible.
5. Food must be stored appropriately in a cupboard or in a refrigerator.
6. General refuse and rubbish from your room should be bagged up and taken to the bottom of your staircase for the Housekeeping team to collect.
7. All recyclable refuse and food waste should be placed in the allocated bins in your household gyp.

1. The Housekeeping Department will be happy to answer any questions you may have or provide further information and advice if required. Please contact housekeeping@queens.cam.ac.uk in the first instance.
2. Housekeeping will clean all communal bathrooms and kitchens Monday – Friday.
3. For Undergraduate rooms, the Housekeeping team will complete a service clean of student bedrooms and en-suite facilities, empty bins and vacuum the floor on a once every two weeks. Please note, that on occasions, the days the service is completed may fluctuate due to resources available at the time. Postgraduate services may vary, please refer to your accommodation licence.
4. The Housekeeping Department will be carrying out periodic room inspections to ensure that reasonable standards of cleanliness and upkeep are being maintained. To avoid disruption the inspections will be completed directly after your room has been serviced by the team. After the inspection a member of the housekeeping management will contact the occupants of the room if it is necessary to make improvements to your accommodation.

Vacation Period: During the Christmas and Easter vacation periods all Silver Street college accommodation will be cleaned once. All Members are requested to ensure your room is left in a condition that facilitates the team to complete the task effectively. All Members that have participated in the buyback scheme will have a full deep clean before they return to their accommodation.

You are looking after your accommodation room and communal areas not just for yourself but also for your fellow residents, for the housekeeping team to effectively assist with maintaining your areas and for those who will use these areas in the future.

Maintaining a good standard of cleanliness and hygiene in your accommodation areas is very important to your personal wellbeing, it will also dramatically reduce the chances of spreading disease and infection caused by inadequate cleaning and incorrect storage of food provisions.

Quick reference guide to when and how:

Bathrooms

• Flush the toilet after use, and if required, brush
• Wipe shower screen thoroughly after every use
• Twice per week – Clean toilet and sink areas.
• Once per week – Sweep and Clean the floors with the appropriate chemicals as indicated in the chemical guidance

Gyps

• Follow the working together guidance displayed in your allocated Gyp room.
• Ensure the sinks are clean and draining racks are clear of all used utensils / plates etc. after use.
• Keep surfaces clean and tidy – pack all items away after use
• Sanitise hard surfaces before and after use
• If the bins are full, empty them– Bulk bins are located: Main Site – Kitchen Loading Bay. Owlstone Croft – Behind the Porters Lodge
• Discard out of date food to the appropriate bins provided
• Do not allow bottles and cans to build up over the weekend, take them to the bulk recycling bin area in the Kitchen loading bay area

Bedrooms

• Daily – Sanitise high touch point areas e.g. light switches and door handles etc. Caution: To avoid electrical shock – Do not spray sanitiser directly onto light switches.
• Weekly – Vacuum floors, dust and clean hard surfaces.
• Maintain the general bedroom area in an orderly fashion.
• Report any maintenance issues immediately to help to maintain your facilities.

Cleaning cupboards will be left unlocked, please remember to return any items borrowed.

If you require additional items or a cupboard is locked please contact Housekeeping (housekeeping@queens.cam.ac.uk).

Cripps

• AA 2nd floor next to room 5 and 6 cupboard H42
• BB 2nd floor next to room 16 cupboard H45
• CC 2nd floor next to room 26 cupboard H61
• DD 2nd floor next to shower 18 H102
• EE 2nd floor next to room 15 H154
• FF 2nd floor next to room 10 H175

Fisher

• T ground floor entrance cupboard H2
• V 2nd floor cupboard H8
• W 2nd floor Left hand side cupboard H16
• X 2nd floor cupboard H28
• Y ground floor entrance cupboard H31

Old Court

• F entrance ground floor cupboard H217

Erasmus

• K 2nd floor next to the small kitchen

Docket

• Q 2nd floor in Bunker 6
• R top floor kitchen on the right hand side
• S 2nd floor in Bunker 6

Friars

• M ground floor entrance cupboard H243
• N ground floor entrance cupboard H249
• ground floor entrance cupboard H254
• P ground floor entrance cupboard H260

Owlstone Croft

• D Block – ground floor on the left side of the entrance
• B Block – 1st floor cupboard labelled 37
• A Block – 2nd floor in front of the room A43
• B Block- 3rd floor opposite the front door H302 door number 42

Outside Properties

• Main cleaning cupboards
• Vacuum all exposed areas of the carpet that you can reach, including under tables, desks, and chairs etc.
• Use this time to check the condition of room fixtures and furniture – Especially any serious issues such as water leaks, electrical faults, radiator leaks, unusual smells

The following guidance is to assist you with maintaining your accommodation and communal areas within your household.

Precaution and safety notice

For your own safety and protection you should ensure you use the correct chemical for the task and follow the guidance for use as set out in this guide.

Please refer to the ‘Know your cleaning chemical’ guide for directions on how to use the cleaning chemicals.

Cleaning items required – Blue disposable cloth – only use what is needed for the task

Chemical Guidance: Use TASKI Sprint 200 Pur-Eco Multi-Purpose Cleaner

• Dust all the furniture and surfaces starting at one point and working around the room systematically.
• Clean all the general surfaces in your room / bedroom i.e. desks, chairs and shelving etc. with Sprint 200
• Start with high dusting, paying particular attention to cobwebs, tops of mirrors, doors, picture rails and notice boards.
• Dust around the window ledges and radiators.
• Vacuum all exposed areas of the carpet that you can reach, including under tables, desks, and chairs etc.
• Wipe over – Wash with warm soapy water any areas which have been splashed with liquids, especially around the waste bin e.g. the skirting boards and paintwork.
• Use this time to check the condition of room fixtures and furniture – especially any serious issues such as water leaks, electrical faults, radiator leaks and any unusual smells. Any incidences should be reported to the maintenance team immediately by Email: maintenance@queens.cam.ac.uk

Housekeepers Advice: We advise that disposable gloves should be worn at all times when cleaning the bathroom areas leaving the toilet until the last task.

Cleaning items required – Red disposable cloth – only use what is needed from the student supplies cupboard.
Chemical Guidance: Suma SANI 4IN1 Washroom cleaner and TASKI Sprint 200 Pur-Eco Multi-Purpose Cleaner (for mirrors only).

HOW TO

Bath and Shower –

1. Spray the Sani 4in1 cleaner onto your red disposable cloth as opposed to the surface. The proceed to clean all around the bath and shower, including the shower door, paying particular attention to any stubborn marks, lime scale and any remnants of personal grooming products such as shampoo and shower gels.

Housekeepers Advice: Spray a small amount of 4IN1 onto stubborn marks and leave for approximately 5 mins for the chemical to work. Once completed wipe over with a damp cloth.

1. Remove any hairs or debris from the filter and plug hole
2. Rinse the bath / shower with clean hot water.

Main Vanity Unit Mirror and Wash Basin –

Housekeepers Advice: Always rinse of the cloth when a task is completed as this will aid in the cleaning process and avoid a build-up of film on the cloth.

1. Basin & Taps – Clean all sides of the taps and chrome fittings to a shiny finish using the Sani 4in1 Cleaner and sponge, then dry cloth. The base of the taps must not have build-up of dirt, lime scale or cleaning agent.
2. Wipe around any touch points and fixtures e.g. the towel rail, toilet roll holder.
3. Clean the mirror using the Sprint 200 and a clean dry blue cloth

Cleaning Your Toilet –

Cleaning items required – Red disposable cloth – only use what is needed

Chemical Guidance: Suma SANI 4IN1 Washroom cleaner – Trigger Spray and foaming bottle for the bowl area only

Housekeepers Important Notice:
Please do not flush the red or blue disposable cloths down the toilet, as this will cause blockages to the system which could lead to disruption to the use of toilet facilities in your accommodation area.

DO NOT RE–USE ANY RED CLOTHS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO CLEAN YOUR TOILET

How To:

1. Flush the toilet before you start cleaning.
2. Using the brush To assist with cleaning we advise you push down some of the water in the bowl using the brush before you start the cleaning process.
3. Work around the toilet bowl applying the 4IN1 foaming bottle ensuring it goes up underneath and around the rim. Leave it to work for a few minutes.
4. Clean While the toilet cleaner works in the bowl area you can spray the washroom cleaner onto the cloth and systematically clean the cistern, handle, cover, seat, hinges, and the top of the seat rim and around the top of the bowl. Wipe underneath the toilet and all around the base of the toilet. Wipe the toilet brush sets and the bin.
5. Toilet Brush inside the toilet; underneath the rim, the bowl, and the bend of the toilet under the waterline.
6. Flush the toilet and clean the toilet brush in the flush water.
7. Finally, check the overall cleanliness.

Washing the Bathroom Floor –

Cleaning items required – Vacuum Cleaner, Mop & Bucket
Chemical Guidance: Suma SANI 4IN1 Washroom cleaner

1. Vacuum the floor paying particular attention to the edges and corners.
2. Fill the bucket with approximately 1 litre of cold clean water and then add 2 sprays of Sani 4in1
3. Swirl the mop in the cold water, then wring it out thoroughly (the mop should be damp not soaking wet)
4. Thoroughly wash the floor moving the mop in figures of 8 and making sure that the edges and corners are washed well.
5. Rinse the mop in the water and wring it out thoroughly
6. Carefully empty the mop bucket of used water in the toilet taking care that it falls directly into the water output area only and not around the outside of the bowl. Then flush the toilet immediately after.

Housekeepers Advice: Always wait for the floor to dry after mopping as it could potentially be slippery.

MOP and BUCKET: always use clean water, empty bucket every day, and never leave the mop full of water or standing in water in the bucket.

Cleaning items required – GREEN Cleaning sponge

Chemical Guidance: Spray D10 Suma Bac Cleaner and Sanitiser – Available in all gyp / kitchens.

It is important to assist the housekeeping team with maintaining these communal areas for you and your household by following the guidance below and by following the “Working together” guidance displayed in your Gyps / Kitchens.

HOW TO

Cleaning the Kitchen –

Housekeepers Advice: By completing the tasks below you will assist in the housekeeping team in effectively cleaning and maintaining the areas. Remember Always place all used cooking fat in the containers provided!

1. Washing up must be completed daily and not left overnight
2. Wipe down and wash all surfaces with D10 and a green sponge after use and leave clean at all times.
3. Wipe over the hob / cooker after use, inside and out.
4. Clean the floor after use if there is evidence of excessive food debris or any spillages which could cause a slip hazard. Use D1O cleaner on a blue cloth

Maintain the Fridges –

Housekeepers Advice: Regular cleaning up of spillages and loose food in your fridge will reduce the risk of cross contamination. Always dispose of out-of-date food items immediately in the bins provided. This is not only good practice, but will ensure there is enough space for everyone in your household.

Cleaning the Fridge –

1. Check regularly for out-of-date food and dispose of it in the correct bins provided
2. Clean up spillages immediately using a clean cloth and the D10 sanitiser provided in your gyp / kitchen areas

On a monthly basis complete a full deep clean of the fridge interior

1. Remove all food before cleaning the fridge.
2. Remove and wash shelves and any containers.
3. Wash inside using a damp cloth
4. Rinse and dry and replace shelving and food items

Please contact the Housekeeping team housekeeping@queens.cam.ac.uk if you require any advice, assistance or need to report an area that requires their attention which is above the normal usage levels

Guidance on how to deal with condensation and mould in your college accommodation

Please follow the downloadable link below for some useful information and guidance on reducing condensation in your room which if not treated could lead to isolated cases of mould around window frames and walls. If you suspect you have excessive condensation and mould which is beyond your control in your accommodation there are instructions in the guide on how to report it to the operational teams so they can assess and how they can assist.

Remember, timely action is essential to prevent further damage and maintain a healthy living environment.