Cleaning Staircases & Landings
Staircases are among the most heavily trafficked surfaces in any multi-storey Ontario home, yet they're often among the least thoroughly cleaned. The combination of foot traffic, pet activity, and the awkward geometry of stair treads and risers means stairs accumulate more dirt per square foot than most floor surfaces — and cleaning them properly requires specific technique.
Carpeted Stairs
Carpeted staircases in Ontario homes need vacuuming at the same frequency as carpeted floors — weekly for high-traffic homes, bi-weekly for lower-traffic households. A handheld vacuum or stair attachment on an upright vacuum works better on individual treads than dragging a full-size vacuum down the staircase. Work from top to bottom — vacuuming disturbs debris upward, which falls to lower treads.
The stair nosing (the front curved edge of each tread) and the crevice where tread meets riser accumulate significant debris that standard vacuuming misses — use a crevice tool to address these areas monthly.
Hardwood and LVP Stairs
Hard surface stairs need both dry and wet cleaning. Sweep first (top to bottom), removing debris from tread surfaces and corners. Follow with a barely-damp microfibre mop or cloth for each tread — avoid any standing water on wood stairs. Railings and balusters should be wiped down monthly; they accumulate hand oils and dust at the contact points.
Landings
Stair landings are in practice cleaned as floor surfaces — but they tend to be awkward shapes that get partially skipped during routine cleaning. Ensure landings get the same full treatment as adjacent floor areas.