Residents, visitors, buyers and tenants all form their impression of a building in the same thirty seconds: walking through the entry and riding the lift. A smeared glass door, a gritty lift track or a stained foyer carpet tells them the building isn’t cared for. Here’s how to keep these spaces looking their best.
Foyers and entrances
Glass
Entry doors and sidelights collect fingerprints, nose prints from dogs and kids, and salt spray in coastal buildings. Clean both sides every visit, plus push plates and handles. Use a squeegee and lint-free cloths; streaks show badly in afternoon sun.
Floors
- Polished stone, porcelain and terrazzo: dust mop then damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner. Acidic or harsh products can etch natural stone permanently.
- Vinyl and sealed concrete: sweep and mop; periodic machine scrub.
- Carpet: vacuum every visit with a commercial upright; steam clean periodically.
- Entry matting: the best floor protection you can buy. Vacuum every visit and clean or replace when saturated.
Touch points
Intercoms, door handles, lift buttons and letterboxes are touched by everyone. Wipe and sanitise every visit.
Letterbox areas
Junk mail piles up fast. Removing it and providing a recycling tub keeps the area tidy.
Lifts
Stainless steel
Lift interiors and doors are often brushed stainless steel. Clean with the grain using a dedicated stainless cleaner and microfibre. Never use abrasive pads or chlorine-based products, which scratch and pit.
Mirrors and glass
Clean every visit with a streak-free method.
Floors
Lift floors take the heaviest traffic in the building. Vacuum or mop every visit, including corners where grit gathers.
Door tracks (sills)
Grit and debris in lift door tracks look bad and can affect door operation. Vacuum them every visit. Never poke tools into the door mechanism, and leave anything mechanical to your lift contractor.
Buttons and handrails
Wipe and sanitise every visit.
Lift protection on moving days
Removalists can wreck a lift interior in one trip. Many buildings require lift protection blankets for moves, booked through the building or body corporate manager. Our guide to moving-day cleaning explains how to manage this.
Corridors
Long internal corridors show wear at doorways and turns. Vacuum every visit, spot-clean stains as they appear, and schedule steam cleaning every 6–12 months. Wipe skirting, door frames and fire equipment cabinets monthly.
How often?
| Building type | Foyer and lift frequency |
|---|---|
| Small low-rise block | Weekly or fortnightly |
| Mid-rise with lift | 2–3 times a week |
| High-rise tower | Daily, often with a quick afternoon touch-up |
| Mixed-use / hotel-style | Daily or more |
Busy buildings may benefit from a short daily presentation clean rather than one long weekly visit.
Products that protect finishes
The wrong product can permanently damage a building’s finishes. Some common mistakes to avoid:
- Acidic or vinegar-based cleaners on marble, limestone or travertine etch the surface and leave dull patches.
- Bleach on stainless steel can cause pitting and rust spots.
- Too much water on carpet leads to wicking stains and odours.
- Oily polishes on floors create slip hazards.
- Ammonia-based glass cleaners on tinted film can damage window film.
A professional cleaner uses the right product for each surface and follows the manufacturer’s care guidance.
Fingerprints and high-touch surfaces
Intercom panels, lift buttons, door handles and push plates are among the most-touched surfaces in any building. Cleaning them every visit improves presentation and hygiene. In busy buildings, an extra mid-week wipe of touch points is an inexpensive addition.
Entry matting: the unsung hero
Most of the dirt in a building walks in through the front door. Good entry matting, both outside and inside the door, traps grit before it reaches the foyer, lifts and corridors. Mats should be long enough for several steps, vacuumed every visit and periodically cleaned or replaced. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce wear on flooring.
Lighting and presentation
A spotless foyer still looks tired with dead globes, dusty light fittings and dim corners. Cleaners should dust accessible fittings and report blown globes promptly. In some buildings, simple globe replacements can be handled by our general maintenance team during regular visits.
The difference detail makes
Foyers and lifts are where residents notice if a cleaner has cut corners. That’s why our checklists photograph them every visit, and our supervisors inspect them regularly. You can see the results in our client portal.
Book a free site visit or read about our common area cleaning service.
By Strata Cleaning Co. · 1 September 2026