On Saturday evening there is a birthday party in the building's shared room; on Monday the next family finds sticky tables, a full fridge and three rubbish bags by the door. Good communal room cleaning does not need professional equipment – it needs clear rules, a short checklist and a proper key handover.
This guide is for tenants, condominium owners, caretakers and property management in Switzerland. It shows how booking, cleaning after the party and handover can work so that the room stays pleasant for everyone.
Why the communal room so often causes friction
A room that belongs to everyone quickly feels like it belongs to no one. The causes of trouble are always the same: nobody knows exactly what is expected after use, there is no check at handover, and leftovers in the fridge or bags of rubbish are left for the next people.
The legal basis matters too. According to the Swiss German tenants' association, house rules are only binding if they form part of the tenancy agreement. The rules of use for the communal room should therefore be clearly communicated, displayed where everyone can see them and confirmed with every booking. In a condominium (Stockwerkeigentum), the owners' meeting decides the rules.
| Problem | Typical cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Sticky tables and floors | No clear cleaning duty | Checklist in the room and with the booking |
| Full fridge | Leftovers kept "for later" and forgotten | Fridge empty and open at handover |
| Rubbish by the door | Disposal not explained | Note on the collection point and collection days |
| Missing crockery | No check | Inventory list and handover with the caretaker |
1. Clear rules and a simple booking system
A booking system does not have to be complicated. A diary kept by the caretaker, a list on the door or an online calendar run by the property management all work well. What matters is that each booking names a responsible person with a phone number.
The rules of use should cover:
- times of use and the night-time quiet hours set out in the house rules
- who cleans the room and by when it must be handed back
- what happens to the fridge, crockery and rubbish
- how keys are collected and returned
- what happens in case of damage or poor cleaning
2. Before the party: check the condition
When you collect the keys, a quick walk round is worth it. If the room is already dirty, crockery is missing or something is broken, tell the caretaker immediately, ideally with a photo. That way you will not be blamed later for something that was already there.
3. Communal room cleaning after the party: the right order
The easiest way is to follow a fixed order so nothing has to be done twice:
- Tidy up: take down decorations, carefully peel tape off walls and doors, collect bottles and rubbish.
- Tables and chairs: wipe with a damp cloth, loosen sticky patches with a little washing-up liquid, put chairs back or stack them.
- Kitchen: wash up or run and empty the dishwasher, clean worktops, hob and sink.
- Fridge: empty it completely and wipe it out (see below).
- Toilet: clean the washbasin, toilet bowl and mirror, check toilet paper and soap.
- Floor: sweep or vacuum first, then mop.
- Air and lights: close the windows, reset the heating as you found it, switch off the lights.
After a big celebration, the guide Clean up after a party has more tips for glasses, stains and smells.
4. Empty the kitchen and fridge
The shared kitchen is the most sensitive area. Germs spread via hands, chopping boards, utensils and cloths. The Swiss food safety office (BLV) recommends cleaning worktops and utensils with hot water and soap after each step – and that applies after a party too.
The fridge is emptied completely at handover. Wipe the shelves and door seals and leave the door ajar if the rules say it is switched off between uses. To get rid of stubborn smells, see Clean your fridge.
5. Sort and dispose of waste properly
A party creates a lot of rubbish. Sort it while you tidy up: glass by colour, PET drinks bottles, aluminium cans, cardboard and paper. The overview from Swiss Recycle shows where each material is collected; also check your commune's waste calendar.
- Put household waste out only in official fee-paid bags and only at the permitted times.
- Do not take glass to the bottle bank late at night – quiet hours apply there too.
- Leave nothing in the communal room, the stairwell or outside the door.
- Take deposit bottles and crates back home with you.
Common mistakes
- Putting off the cleaning until the next day even though the next booking starts in the morning.
- Forgetting the fridge: leftovers become a smell problem within days.
- Dropping the keys in the letterbox without anyone checking the room.
- Tape on freshly painted walls: the paint comes off with it. Use removable hooks or existing picture rails.
For a plan that covers every shared area in the building, see the cleaning schedule for an apartment building.
Frequently asked questions
Who has to clean the communal room after a party?
Usually whoever booked it. Exactly what is required is set out in the rules of use or the house rules. If there are none, ask the property management or caretaker before you book.
Are the rules of use binding for tenants?
According to the tenants' association, house rules are only binding if they are part of the tenancy agreement. By booking, however, you normally accept the conditions of use. If in doubt, ask the property management or a tenants' association – this guide is not legal advice.
What if the room is already dirty when I get it?
Report it to the caretaker or property management straight away, preferably with photos and before your event starts. That makes it clear the mess was not yours.
Can I leave leftover food in the fridge?
No. The fridge in the communal room should be empty and wiped out at every handover. Take leftovers home or dispose of them properly.
Thanks for your feedback! Feel free to share the guide.
Thanks! What was missing? Drop us a line – we will improve the guide. WhatsApp
