Campus cleaning
Concordia is committed to providing clean, safe and well-maintained spaces for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Cleaning is provided under the university’s custodial services contract, which establishes frequencies based on the type and use of each space.
As shared spaces, campus facilities are used by the entire university community. Everyone can help keep these spaces clean and welcoming by taking care of shared areas, disposing of waste and recycling in the appropriate bins and leaving spaces ready for the next person.
This page explains how campus cleaning services are delivered, what is covered by the cleaning contract, the responsibilities of Facilities Management, departments and individual space users, and how to report cleaning and maintenance concerns.
Cleaning services
The university works with several contractors to provide cleaning services, maintain exterior spaces and perform snow removal. Facilities Management oversees these contracts to help ensure services are delivered according to established service levels.
Cleaning frequencies vary depending on the type and use of each space. High-traffic areas such as washrooms and libraries receive more frequent cleaning than offices and other administrative spaces.
The cleaning contract outlines what services are provided, how often they occur and who is responsible for specific cleaning tasks.
Cleaning schedule by space type
General cleaning takes place Sunday through Thursday evenings so that campus spaces are ready for weekday use. Daytime maintenance cleaning is also performed Monday through Friday.
Some areas have different service frequencies during the two periods below to reflect seasonal changes in campus use and operational needs:
- December 21 to March 21
- March 22 to December 20
Select a space type below to view its cleaning schedule.
- Once every two months, year-round
- Four times a week, year-round
- December 21 to March 21: Twice a week
- March 22 to December 20: Once a week
- Three times a week, year-round
- Five times a week, year-round
- December 21 to March 21: Five times a week
- March 22 to December 20: Four times a week
- December 21 to March 21: Three times a week
- March 22 to December 20: Once a week
- Daily, year-round
Responsibilities
Employees and other individual space users
Some cleaning tasks remain the responsibility of employees and other individual space users. These include:
- Cleaning desk surfaces
- Emptying individual recycling bins into larger, central recycling stations
- Emptying personal mini bins into central waste containers
As part of Concordia’s Low Waste Initiative, individual garbage bins have been phased out across campus. Employees who choose to keep a personal waste bin are responsible for emptying it into larger, central waste stations.
Need a mini-bin or other low waste resources? Visit the Zero Waste Services page.
Routine cleaning
Routine cleaning services are covered by the custodial services contract, including the annual cleaning of all spaces. Cleaning is scheduled throughout the 12-month period according to the established service frequencies.
For office cleaning, signage is posted two business days before the scheduled service to allow occupants to prepare the space.
Additional cleaning services
Some services fall outside the standard contract and may be arranged through Facilities Management at the requesting department’s expense. Examples include:
- Carpet shampooing beyond the standard cleaning schedule
- Special cleaning before or after events
- Cleaning following renovations
- Interior window cleaning
- Furniture cleaning, disinfecting and dusting
- Cleaning appliances, including refrigerators and microwaves
If unsure whether a service is covered or who pays for it, contact the Facilities Service Centre.
Report clean-up and maintenance needs
If you notice a space that requires cleaning or appears to have been missed during scheduled cleaning, contact the Facilities Service Centre by emailing facilities@concordia.ca or calling 514‑848‑2400.
Many campus spaces have Near Field Communication (NFC) verification tags that allow Facilities Management to verify when an area was last serviced. When reporting a concern, provide the building and room number and, where available, the location of the NFC tag.