What Is Included in Strata Cleaning? A Complete Sydney Guide

Strata properties rely on clean, well-maintained shared spaces to create a comfortable environment for residents, visitors and building users. But if you are organising strata cleaning for an apartment building, townhouse complex or other shared property, you may be wondering: what is included in strata cleaning?

A typical strata cleaning visit focuses on the common areas used by residents and visitors. Depending on the property and agreed cleaning scope, this may include entrances, foyers, hallways, lifts, stairwells, shared floors, bin areas, accessible glass and other communal spaces.

In NSW, common property generally includes areas used by residents collectively, such as driveways, gardens and shared building areas. The owners corporation is responsible for maintaining common property, while regular cleaning is considered part of the day-to-day running costs of a strata scheme.

However, not every strata property needs exactly the same cleaning routine. Building size, foot traffic, facilities and cleaning frequency all influence what should be completed during each visit.

What Does a Typical Strata Cleaning Visit Include?

A professional strata cleaning service generally covers the areas that receive the most daily use.

For many Sydney strata properties, a regular cleaning visit may include:

• entrance and foyer cleaning
• hallway and corridor cleaning
• lift cleaning
• stairwell cleaning
• vacuuming and mopping shared floors
• wiping high-touch surfaces
• cleaning accessible shared glass
• tidying bin and waste areas
• removing visible litter
• cleaning common outdoor areas where included

The exact checklist should always be based on the building’s agreed cleaning scope.

Entrance, Lobby and Foyer Cleaning

The entrance is one of the first areas residents, guests and contractors see when entering a strata building.

Routine cleaning may include:

• sweeping or vacuuming entrance floors
• mopping hard surfaces
• removing visible marks
• wiping entrance doors
• cleaning accessible glass
• wiping intercom panels
• dusting or wiping letterbox areas
• cleaning entrance mats

Because these spaces usually experience regular foot traffic, keeping them clean helps maintain the overall presentation of the property.

For buildings looking for professional strata cleaning Sydney services, entrance areas are usually one of the highest-priority parts of the cleaning schedule.

Hallways and Corridors

Shared hallways connect apartments, lifts, stairwells and entry points, so they can quickly collect dust, dirt and marks.

A strata cleaner may:

• vacuum carpeted hallways
• sweep hard flooring
• mop appropriate surfaces
• remove visible dirt and debris
• wipe shared doors
• clean handrails where required
• remove cobwebs
• attend to visible marks on common surfaces

The cleaning method will depend on the type of flooring and how frequently the area is used.

Lift Cleaning

Lifts are another high-use area in many strata buildings.

Regular lift cleaning may include:

• vacuuming or mopping lift floors
• cleaning mirrors
• wiping stainless-steel surfaces
• removing fingerprints
• wiping lift buttons
• cleaning lift doors
• removing visible marks from internal surfaces

Because lift buttons, doors and handrails are frequently touched, they usually require regular attention as part of a structured strata cleaning services Sydney plan.

Stairwells and Fire Stairs

Stairwells can be overlooked because they may receive less traffic than the main foyer or lifts. However, dust, cobwebs and debris can quickly build up.

Routine strata cleaning may include:

• sweeping stairs
• mopping applicable surfaces
• cleaning landings
• wiping handrails
• removing cobwebs
• cleaning visible marks on doors and walls where included

It is important to separate cleaning from building compliance work. Cleaners may clean these spaces, but fire system inspection and certification are separate responsibilities. NSW strata properties also have specific obligations to keep common property safe and properly maintained.

Shared Floors and Carpeted Areas

Floors are often among the most visible parts of a strata property.

Depending on the surface, routine cleaning can include:

• vacuuming carpets
• sweeping hard floors
• mopping tiled or other suitable surfaces
• spot cleaning visible marks
• paying extra attention to high-traffic areas

However, routine floor cleaning should not be confused with periodic deep cleaning.

For example:

Regular visit: vacuuming common-area carpet
Periodic service: carpet steam cleaning or deep stain treatment

If your strata property needs deeper carpet care, Make Clean Services also provides professional carpet cleaning.

High-Touch Surfaces

Frequently touched surfaces can quickly show fingerprints, marks and grime.

Depending on the building, cleaners may wipe areas such as:

• lift buttons
• door handles
• handrails
• intercom panels
• common switches
• shared entry surfaces

Including these areas in a regular cleaning checklist helps keep busy common areas looking consistently presentable.

Bin Rooms and Waste Areas

Bin areas are another important part of strata cleaning because they can become untidy quickly.

A cleaning visit may include:

• sweeping the surrounding floor
• mopping or washing surfaces where required
• cleaning visible spills
• removing loose rubbish
• wiping accessible surfaces
• deodorising where needed
• keeping the area tidy

However, tasks such as moving bins, managing waste collection or deep washing the room may depend on the individual service agreement.

Shared Glass, Doors and Accessible Windows

Glass surfaces at building entrances and in common areas often show fingerprints and dust quickly.

Routine cleaning may include:

• entrance glass
• internal glass panels
• mirrors
• glass doors
• accessible shared windows
• visible marks on glazed surfaces

Full-scale or high-access window cleaning may be scheduled separately rather than included in every visit.

For larger or specialist window cleaning requirements, you can learn more about Make Clean Services window cleaning.

Car Parks and Outdoor Common Areas

Some strata properties also include shared external spaces such as driveways, courtyards, pathways or car parks.

Regular cleaning may involve:

• removing litter
• sweeping loose debris
• clearing cobwebs
• cleaning accessible common surfaces
• removing visible dirt where practical

For heavier outdoor build-up, oil stains or surface grime, pressure washing may be required as a separate periodic service rather than part of every routine visit.

What Is Usually Done Every Visit and What Is Done Periodically?

One of the most important things to understand about strata cleaning is that not every cleaning task needs to happen during every visit.

A routine cleaning schedule usually focuses on maintaining the building’s most frequently used areas, while deeper or specialist services may be completed periodically.

The exact schedule should be customised to the building.

Does Every Strata Building Need the Same Cleaning Checklist?

No.

A small strata complex with limited shared space will have very different cleaning requirements from a large apartment building with several lifts, multiple entry points and busy communal facilities.

The cleaning checklist can depend on:

• number of apartments or lots
• building size
• resident and visitor traffic
• flooring types
• number of lifts
• stairwells
• waste areas
• car parks
• gardens or outdoor spaces
• shared facilities
• cleaning frequency

This is why experienced strata cleaners Sydney property managers should assess the actual property rather than applying the same generic checklist to every building.

At Make Clean Services, cleaning plans can be tailored to suit the needs of different properties and facilities.

How Often Should Strata Common Areas Be Cleaned?

There is no single cleaning frequency that suits every property.

If you are asking how often strata common areas should be cleaned, the answer depends mainly on how heavily the property is used.

For example:

• busy entrances may need cleaning several times each week
• high-traffic lifts may require more frequent attention
• smaller residential buildings may need fewer visits
• bin rooms may need cleaning based on waste volume and collection frequency
• carpets may need routine vacuuming plus periodic deep cleaning

A good strata cleaning schedule should consider both appearance and practical building use.

The goal is not simply to clean as often as possible. The goal is to create a schedule that keeps important common areas consistently clean without paying for unnecessary work.

Who Is Responsible for Strata Common Areas in NSW?

In NSW, the owners corporation is generally responsible for maintaining and repairing common property.

Common property may include areas such as:

• shared hallways
• common carpets
• driveways
• gardens
• structural areas
• shared building facilities

Cleaning can therefore form part of the regular management of common property.

The owners corporation may organise cleaning directly or arrange it through a:

• strata manager
• building manager
• strata committee
• professional cleaning contractor

A building manager may also help coordinate contractors and common-property maintenance.

What Should a Professional Strata Cleaning Checklist Include?

A professional strata cleaning checklist should cover the main shared areas of the property and clearly define what is included during each visit. This may include entrance areas such as floors, doors, accessible glass, intercoms and letterboxes, as well as internal common areas like hallways, corridors, lifts, stairwells and landings. Floor care may include vacuuming, sweeping, mopping and spot cleaning, while high-touch areas such as door handles, lift buttons, handrails and common switches should also receive regular attention. Shared facilities may require cleaning of mirrors, glass and accessible common surfaces, while waste areas may involve basic bin-room cleaning, removal of loose litter and attention to visible spills. External areas such as entry paths, shared outdoor spaces and car parks may also be included where required. Periodic services such as carpet steam cleaning, pressure washing, detailed window cleaning and specialist floor care can be scheduled separately depending on the property’s needs. A written checklist helps strata managers and owners corporations clearly understand the cleaning scope and expected service level.

What Is Not Automatically Included in Every Strata Cleaning Visit?

Not every service is automatically included in a regular strata cleaning visit. Some tasks may require separate scheduling, additional equipment or a different pricing structure. These can include professional carpet steam cleaning, high-rise window cleaning, pressure washing, floor stripping and polishing, pest control, gardening, repairs or building maintenance, private apartment cleaning and specialist hazardous cleaning. This does not mean these services cannot be arranged; it simply means they should not be assumed to be part of every routine visit. The agreed cleaning scope should always be confirmed before work begins so both the cleaning provider and the strata manager understand exactly what is included.

How Much Does Strata Cleaning Cost in Sydney?

Strata cleaning cost Sydney properties can vary considerably because every building has a different layout, size and service requirement. Pricing is usually influenced by factors such as the size of the strata complex, the number of common areas, cleaning frequency, foot traffic, the number of lifts and stairwells, bin rooms, car parks and any specialist periodic services that may be required. A small complex that needs limited weekly cleaning will usually have a very different cost structure from a larger multi-level building with high traffic and more shared facilities. Rather than relying on a generic price, the most accurate approach is to request a quote based on the actual property, service frequency and agreed cleaning scope.

What to Expect From Make Clean Services

Make Clean Services provides professional cleaning solutions across Sydney for residential properties, commercial premises, offices and real estate environments. The company uses tailored cleaning plans rather than applying the same approach to every property.

For strata properties, this means the cleaning schedule can be adjusted around:

• property size
• shared areas
• cleaning frequency
• high-traffic zones
• property-specific requirements

If you are looking for professional strata cleaning Sydney property managers and owners corporations can customise to their building, speak with Make Clean Services about a suitable cleaning plan.

Request a quote from Make Clean Services today to discuss your strata property and cleaning requirements.

Read More About Strata Cleaning

Continue exploring helpful resources from Make Clean Services:

• How to Choose a Strata Cleaning Service Provider in Sydney & NSW
• Professional Carpet Cleaning
• Professional Window Cleaning
• Cleaning FAQs

The NSW Government confirms that owners corporations are responsible for maintaining common property, while regular cleaning is treated as part of the ongoing day-to-day expenses of a strata scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions