Keeping Elevators and Stairwells Clean: The Most Neglected Zones in Multi-Level Buildings

When it comes to maintaining a clean and professional environment in multi-level buildings, whether it’s a corporate mid- or high-rise, a medical center, or a mixed-use office tower, most property managers and cleaning crews focus on the obvious high-traffic areas:

front lobbies, reception areas, and restrooms. But some of the most heavily used and most overlooked spaces are also some of the most important: elevators and stairwells.

These areas are high-touch, high-traffic, and critical to the everyday flow of tenants, patients, employees, and visitors. Yet they’re often given the bare minimum when it comes to cleaning schedules. Over time, this neglect not only creates a poor impression, it can lead to hygiene concerns, safety issues, and long-term wear that damages your property’s reputation.

Why Elevators Get Dirty Quickly

Elevators are a necessity in any multi-story building, and they see constant use throughout the day. Whether it's office employees heading to meetings, patients being transported between hospital floors, or clients visiting businesses in multi-tenant buildings, elevators are the backbone of building circulation.

That means they're also one of the highest-risk areas for germ transmission. Just think about how many people touch:

• Elevator buttons (inside and out)
• Handrails
• Walls and mirrors
• Doors and frames

Add in tracked-in dirt from shoes, smudges on stainless steel panels, and potential spills, and it’s easy to see how elevators can look and feel unsanitary fast.

Stairwells: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

While elevators may get occasional surface wipe-downs, stairwells are even more frequently neglected. Often tucked away in less visible parts of a building, stairwells may go days (or even weeks) without thorough cleaning.

That’s a problem because:

• Stair railings are high-touch zones, just like elevator buttons
• Dust, cobwebs, and trash often accumulate in corners and landings
• Stairwells can become slip hazards if spills or moisture are left unchecked
• Poor lighting and grime create a sense of insecurity for users

In buildings with high stairwell traffic, stairwells must be treated with the same care as other shared spaces. If they aren’t clean and well-lit, people will avoid them, leading to tenant dissatisfaction and excessive traffic at elevators.

First Impressions and Reputation

While visitors may only see your lobby briefly, they’ll likely spend time in elevators or walking stairwells. These transitional areas say more about your facility than you may think. Dirty walls, scratched metal surfaces, fingerprint-smudged buttons, or garbage on stair treads create an instant sense of neglect.

For medical centers, this can shake patient confidence in hygiene. For corporate buildings, it reflects poorly on all tenants. And for commercial property owners, it reduces the value proposition you offer to prospective renters.

Clean elevators and stairwells demonstrate that your facility is:

• Professionally managed
• Health- and safety-conscious
• Respectful of tenants and visitors

The Safety Factor

Neglecting cleaning also opens the door to liability concerns. Dirt and grime in stairwells can hide spills or make it harder to spot hazards. Handrails covered in sticky residue or bacteria-laden grime aren’t just gross; they're also a public health issue, especially in shared environments. In poorly lit or rarely used stairwells, lingering moisture can also lead to mold growth on walls or ceilings, creating both health risks and unpleasant odors.

A proactive cleaning schedule reduces risks by:

• Removing tripping and slipping hazards
• Keeping lighting fixtures and emergency signs dust-free and functional
• Ensuring handrails and buttons are regularly disinfected
• Catching wear-and-tear before it turns into damage

What a Professional Cleaning Routine Should Include

At ProEthic Building Services, we specialize in commercial cleaning for multi-level properties, and we know how important these high-traffic zones are to your facility’s function and image. A comprehensive cleaning plan for elevators and stairwells should include:

For Elevators:

• Daily disinfecting of buttons, rails, and door handles
• Wipe-downs of walls, control panels, and mirrors
• Floor vacuuming and spot-cleaning
• Regular stainless-steel polishing to reduce smudges
• Monthly deep cleans and seasonal touch-ups

For Stairwells:

• Sweeping and mopping stairs and landings
• Dusting of ledges, lighting, and exit signs
• Sanitizing handrails and door handles
• Cobweb and debris removal in corners
• Monitoring for spills, stains, or structural damage

Cleaning crews must be trained to clean efficiently without disrupting foot traffic, and they should have the tools to reach difficult corners and high spots safely.

Elevate the Standard of Clean With Our Top-Notch Cleaning Services in the Greater Phoenix Area

Don’t let neglected elevators or stairwells drag down the reputation of your entire facility. When you invest in full-building cleanliness, you invest in better health, safety, and satisfaction for everyone who walks through your doors.

Contact us at ProEthic Building Services today by calling (480) 725-8912. Schedule a walkthrough and let us recommend a cleaning plan that covers every level of your building.