Cleaning priorities in Zimbabwe shift noticeably across the year. Planning around the seasons is far more effective than cleaning the same way in November as you do in July.
Rainy season: November to March
This is the hardest quarter for any building. Mud arrives on every pair of shoes, humidity keeps surfaces damp, and anywhere with poor ventilation starts to grow mould.
- Fit proper entrance matting: an internal and external mat at every door traps the majority of the soil before it reaches your floors
- Increase floor cleaning frequency at entrances and lobbies; this is where carpet damage happens
- Check gutters, downpipes and drains before the rains and again mid-season
- Inspect ceilings and wall corners monthly for early mould; treat it immediately rather than painting over it
- Keep bathrooms and kitchens ventilated, so run extractors and open windows even when it is cool
- Dry wet umbrellas and coats away from carpeted areas
- Vacuum upholstery more often; humidity holds dust in the fabric
- Dehumidify or ventilate store rooms holding paper records
Post-rains reset: April
This is the single best month of the year for a full deep clean, and the reason so many businesses schedule their major carpet extraction and window cleaning for April. The rain has stopped, the dust has not yet started, and everything the wet season damaged is still fresh enough to correct.
- Full hot-water extraction of carpets and upholstery
- Deep clean and reseal hard floors
- Full window and glass clean, inside and out, including frames and tracks
- Treat any mould and repaint affected areas
- Pressure-wash driveways, paving and building exteriors
- Clear and clean gutters now the rains have finished
Winter: May to August
Cool, dry and dusty. Windows stay shut, heaters run, and indoor air quality drops, which matters more than most people realise for anyone with allergies or asthma.
- Clean heaters and air conditioning filters before first use
- Increase dusting frequency, because dry air keeps fine dust airborne and circulating
- Wash curtains and blinds, which collect dust heavily in this period
- Deep clean mattresses and bedding; dust mites concentrate in winter bedding
- Ventilate deliberately for a short period each day even when it is cold
- Watch for condensation on cold glass and wipe it before mould establishes
Dry and windy season: September to October
The dustiest stretch of the year. Fine red dust gets into everything and settles on every horizontal surface within hours of being cleaned.
- Dust with microfibre, not feather dusters. A feather duster moves dust from one surface to another
- Increase the frequency of glass and window sill cleaning
- Change air conditioning and vehicle cabin filters
- Keep windows closed during the windiest hours and ventilate early morning or evening
- Clean external light fittings, security cameras and signage
- Prepare for the rains: service gutters, check roof flashing, clear drains
Year-round, regardless of season
- Sanitise high-touch points continuously. This never becomes seasonal
- Maintain a quarterly deep clean cycle in addition to routine cleaning
- Keep water tanks cleaned and inspected on schedule
- Service and clean extraction, air conditioning and ventilation systems annually
Building a simple seasonal calendar (deep clean in April, filters and fabrics in May, exteriors in September, gutters in October) costs nothing and prevents most of the problems that otherwise arrive as emergencies.
Need this done properly?
Our teams do this every day, with the equipment and training to back it up. Free assessment, written quote.
