Cleaning tips
We would like to give you some tips on how best to take care of your surfaces, furniture
and fittings. Some detergents can damage surfaces. Please use mild detergents or cloths
that clean without detergent.
Flooring
Here are some tips on how to keep your floors looking good for longer.
Stop dirt at the front door!
Always have a good-sized doormat inside your front-door to prevent dirt coming into your
home. You are not allowed to have a mat outside your front door due to fire prevention
regulations.
How to care for different materials
Here are some tips on how to clean different types of flooring.
Linoleum and parquet flooring
Use primarily dry cleaning methods (vacuum-clean, sweep or dry-mop).
If you use wet-mop you must wring it out properly before you start. Use clean water with a
few drops of mild detergent, e.g. washing-up liquid.
Plastic flooring
Use primarily dry cleaning methods (vacuum-clean, sweep or dry-mop).
Wet-mop the floor occasionally. Use clean water with a few drops of mild detergent, e.g.
washing-up liquid.
When spring-cleaning, you can use stronger detergents but you must rinse the floor thoroughly with clean water afterwards.
Wet-room flooring
Don’t let the water form pools on the floor. Use a shower or window scraper to scrape the
water down the floor-drain.
Don’t leave the scraper so that the rubber is in direct contact with the waterproof floor.
Wet-mop the floor occasionally. Use clean water with a few drops of mild detergent, e.g.
washing-up liquid.
Ytterligare tips!
Remove stains before they have been absorbed into the varnish and wipe clean using
clean water on a damp cloth if necessary. Use a well-wrung cloth.
Both parquet flooring and linoleum can be damaged by excessive amounts of water or
water that is too hot, by strong detergents such as perchlorethylene, thinner, acetone and
methylated spirit.
PLEASE NOTE! Do not use abrasive or steel wool as this can scratch the veneer surface.
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Kundcenter
Tel 08-458 10 10 | Fax 08-458 10 15
information@sssb.se
www.sssb.se
Walls
Painted walls should be washed with lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Work from
the bottom up, from the floor to the ceiling, and rub carefully with a sponge so as not to
damage the surface. Rinse clean with lukewarm water. Plasticised wallpaper can also be
wiped clean using a damp cloth or sponge. You may need to try several times before you
succeed.
Remove fingermarks by rubbing carefully with a white eraser. Food stains can be removed
using undiluted non-abrasive detergent. Rinse clean with lukewarm water afterwards.
Greasemarks on wallpaper are always a problem. Try putting a piece of blottingpaper over the stain and carefully ironing it with a warm, but not too hot, iron until
the stain has been absorbed. Repeat this process until the strain has gone.
Ceilings
Only kitchen and bathroom/WC ceilings can be washed. These are often somewhat
shinier than the ceilings in the other rooms. An evenly dirty ceiling can look nicer than one
that is blotchy after being washed. Please ask your house caretaker for advice. Perhaps
repainting the ceiling would be a better option?
Not all ceilings can be cleaned, so consider this before you start. An evenly dirty ceiling
can look nicer than one that is blotchy after being washed. Please ask your house caretaker for advice. Perhaps repainting the ceiling would be a better option.
All ceilings can be dusted using a duster attached to a long broom-handle or using the
vacuum-cleaner brush nozzle.
Cupboards and other wooden fittings
Painted and varnished surfaces should be washed with water and a mild detergent. Rinse
with clean water and wipe dry afterwards. Ammonia-based detergents, scouring powders,
other strong detergents and nylon scouring pads should be avoided as they can tarnish
and scratch the surface.
Windows
The easiest way to clean the windows is to use a scraper to remove the liquid. (If its cold
outside, use an ammonia-based window cleaner.) Then wipe the glass dry. Alternatively,
you can use what’s called a “miracle cloth” to clean the windows, then you won’t need any
fluids. Don’t forget to clean between the double-glazing and around the window-frame as
well.
Choose a dull day to clean the windows - it’s easier to see the stains then. On sunny
days the windows dry too quickly and can easily get streaked or blotchy.
Bathroom/shower-room
Watch out for damp and mould. It is easy for soap residue to get stuck in the tiling and
provide a breeding-ground for mould. It is of extra importance to keep poorly ventilated
areas clean, e.g. behind the bath-tub. Dirt can easily build up and attract moisture in such
areas.
Tiled surfaces
Clean tiled surfaces with a mild detergent, e.g. a soft soap solution and a soft brush.
Never use toilet detergents, since they can cause the grouting to dissolve and the tiles
may fall off the wall. Use an old toothbrush to clean the grouting.
Please contact your house caretaker if you see that the grouting has come loose, if the
tiles sound hollow when you tap them or if they are cracked.
It is important to wipe clean ceilings, tiles and grouting about once a month. Otherwise, you can have problems with black mould, which feeds off residual soap and
skin. If we need to hire a cleaning firm when you move out of your accommodation
in order to remove mould from ceilings and joints, you may be liable to pay compensation.
Shower and hand basin mixer-taps
Clean the shower and hand basin mixer-taps with a mild detergent and soft brush. This is
also true for the shower-head nozzle.
Bath-tubs
The bath-tub is easy to keep clean if you wipe it after use. Calcium deposits and dirt are
difficult to remove if left to dry. Use a mild, non-abrasive detergent and a soft brush when
you clean, as enamel is a very sensitive surface.
You also need to clean under the bath-tub on occasion. Removing the front of the bath-tub
makes it easier to clean under the tub.
Hand basins
Clean the hand basin using a mild detergent and soft brush. Use a washing-up brush or
old toothbrush to clean round taps and plugholes. Don’t forget to clean underneath the
basin.
Toilets
You must clean the toilet on a regular basis. It’s normally sufficient to use a toilet brush
and detergent. A special toilet detergent is needed to remove calcium deposits. Calcium
deposits can also be treated with vinegar, which should be left in the toilet for two or three
hours. Remove detachable toilet seats before cleaning. These can be cleaned using normal washing-up liquid. Clean outside, inside and under the rim of the toilet.
Failure to clean the toilet will result in ugly brown calcium deposit stains. If we
need to hire a cleaning firm when you move out of your accommodation in order to
remove calcium deposits from the toilet, you may be liable to pay compensation. At
worst, we may have to replace the toilet completely and you may be liable to pay
for it.
Kitchens
Cookers
Wipe the cooker clean using lukewarm water and detergent after use. Never use steel
wool as this can scratch the surface. Use a washing-up brush on a normal cooker or a
soft cloth on one with a ceramic hob. You can buy an anti-corrosion agent at the hardware
store to keep the rings looking clean for longer. Wipe clean using kitchen paper.
Don’t forget to clean behind and around the cooker at regular intervals. Most cookers can
be pulled out so that you can clean behind them.
Ovens
The inside of the oven is covered with smooth enamel. Do not put aluminium foil on the
bottom of the oven as a protective measure as it may cause the enamel to crack. The
oven-door normally consists of two parts. You can remove the outer part to clean it.
Sink units
The easiest way to clean stainless steel sink units and tops is with a cloth, some water
and washing-up liquid. Don’t use a nylon scouring pad or steel-wool as they can scratch
the surface. Use a washing-up brush to clean in tight areas.
Calcium deposits can be removed using vinegar or half a lemon. If you want to
make the sink unit very shiny, use vinegar.
Fridges and freezers
Use lukewarm water, washing-up liquid and a soft sponge or cloth when you clean the
fridge and freezer. Be sure to wipe the surfaces dry afterwards to prevent ice from building
up. Don’t forget to clean behind and around the fridge at regular intervals. Most cookers
can be pulled out so that you can clean behind them.
Ensure to defrost your freezer on a regular basis. A defrosted freezer is both more energy
-efficient and keeps your food fresher.
If you are going away on holiday, you can place a bowl of charcoal or cat litter in
the unit after having turned it off. This will absorb any bad odours that otherwise
have a tendency to form.
Kitchen fans
The fan casing must be cleaned often in order for the fan to work properly. Clean the fan
casing using warm water and washing-up liquid or soft soap. Always pull the plug out before cleaning the fan with water and only reconnect it when it has completely dried.
If there is a fire on the stove, there is a substantial risk of it spreading up into the fan unit.
Never try putting out a fire on the stove with water. Use a lid or similar implement to suffocate it.
Filters that are not cleaned wear out much more quickly. When inspecting the
apartment in connection with you moving out, you will be liable to pay for a new
filter (both the part itself and the work involved) if the old one needs to be replaced
due to insufficient maintenance.