5 Tips on Cleaning and Maintaining Cluster Mailbox Units

As the United States Postal Service (USPS) continues to encourage the use of cluster mailbox units (CBUs), you can expect to see more of these centralized mail delivery systems in apartments, neighborhoods, and other residential communities. CBUs streamline mail pickup and delivery for couriers by allowing them to collect and drop off mail for many residents at a single location.

Cluster Mailbox Unit (CBU): A centralized, USPS-approved mail delivery system that consolidates multiple mailboxes into one freestanding or wall-mounted unit.

Rather than visiting each resident's unit to drop off mail, a courier can visit the community's CBU, which contains a secure mailbox for each resident. But for property managers who are thinking of investing in CBUs, it's important to know how to clean and maintain them properly.

#1) Remove Problematic Tree Branches

Trees offer a natural source of shade that can create a cooler and more comfortable outdoor environment during the hot summer months. However, property managers should closely inspect and monitor tree branches overhanging their CBUs. If there's a large, dead tree branch directly over a CBU, it could damage the CBU when it falls. By removing problematic branches such as this, property managers can protect their CBUs from damage.

Q: Can falling tree branches damage a CBU?
A: Yes—dead or unstable branches can fall during storms or high winds, potentially damaging your CBU and interrupting mail service.

#2) Wash With Soap and Water

Using an environmentally friendly, biodegradable soap, property managers should clean their CBUs. While there are store-bought cleaning products that work well for CBUs and other mailboxes, a simple solution of liquid dish soap and water should suffice. For stronger cleaning power, vinegar can be added as well.

Q: How often should CBUs be cleaned?
A: At minimum, once per season or whenever dirt, bird droppings, or mildew visibly accumulates.

#3) Don't Use Wire Brushes or Abrasive Cleaning Pads

Using a wire brush or abrasive cleaning pad on a CBU isn't recommended. They may not cause any significant damage, but they can still scratch the surface. If a CBU features a powder-coated exterior, a wire brush or abrasive pad could remove this protective layer, leaving the CBU vulnerable to corrosion.

Powder-Coated Finish: A durable, baked-on coating applied to metal surfaces that resists chipping, fading, and rust.

Q: What’s the best tool to clean a powder-coated mailbox?
A: Use a soft sponge or microfiber cloth to avoid damaging the finish.

#4) Inspect for Damage

It's a good idea to inspect CBUs for damage on a regular basis. If a specific mailbox is damaged, the resident will usually report it, either to the mail courier or the property manager. There are times, however, when damage goes unnoticed. That’s why property managers should routinely check the structural integrity of each unit.

Q: What kind of CBU damage should I look for?
A: Look for loose fasteners, door misalignment, broken locks, and signs of tampering or vandalism.

Tenant Compartment: The individual mailbox within a CBU assigned to a specific resident.

#5) Shovel Snow During the Winter

During the winter, property managers should keep the space in front of their CBUs clear by shoveling snow. Allowing snow to accumulate doesn't just make it difficult for residents to check their mail—it poses a safety hazard. Residents or mail couriers could slip and fall, which is easily avoided by keeping the area clear.

Q: Does snow buildup around CBUs violate USPS access rules?
A: Yes—CBUs must be accessible at all times for USPS carriers, including during inclement weather.

Let Forsite Help Maintain the Quality of Your Community

Welcome to Forsite! You’ve found your best source for custom curbside mailboxes and cluster mailboxes. We manufacture and install upscale site amenities throughout the United States.

Forsite can provide you with everything for your Master Planned Community or Residential Development. Create a uniform, upscale appearance and increase property values by bundling Forsite’s integrated package of fashionable and durable mailboxes, post and wall-mounted lighting, street signs, monument and entry signage, and site furnishings like bollards, benches, litter receptacles, and bike racks.

About Forsite:

Welcome to Forsite! You’ve found your best source custom curbside mailboxes and cluster mailboxes. We manufacture and install upscale site amenities throughout the United States.

Forsite can provide you with everything for your Master Planned Community or  Residential Development. You can create a uniform, upscale appearance and increase property values by "bundling" Forsite’s integrated package of fashionable and durable mailboxes, post and wall mounted lighting, street (way) signs monument and entry signage as well as the desired amenities such as Bollards, Benches, Litter Receptacles and Bike Racks.

You can count on the experts at Forsite to help improve the quality of your community today. Contact us today to get started by talking to one of our experienced team members at 855-537-0200.