Cairncross is a university hostel, so there is only so much you can expect. That being said, the staff was very friendly and helpful, the room was spick and span and we were offered a complementary bath towel, soap and shower matt. It was quiet and very well located.
Both the bathrooms and the kitchen could indeed be cleaner, however, much of it reflects the users, rather than the hostel.
Good value for your money.

Stayed here a couple of days mid-August just after the World Piping Championships so the city was busy and full of pipe bands.

I am a mom with 2 teenage kids - boy and girl - so was looking for something cheap, clean, safe with enough space so the two kids had some of their own.

Price - We paid about 120 GPB for two rooms for two nights - which is reasonable enough. They didn't have any singles left so we had to book 2 doubles. For 4 people it would have been very reasonable.

Rooms - The rooms were dorm-style with two beds, two wardrobes, two desks, two airmchairs and a sink. A bit on the shabby side so we felt at home (LOL). There is a phone in the room. You can purchase a phone card at the reception. The rooms were quite large - about double the size of where our friend was staying in an up-scale hotel. The rooms themselves were reasonably clean and they provided linens, towels and soap. Most of the rooms seem to be on one side of the hall with common facilities on the other. We were on the side with the common facilities and our rooms faced out onto some sort of garbage compactor area/parking lot so we were awakened each morning at 7:30 to the sound of forklifts and clanking. Try to get on the other side!

Common areas - There were several shared bathrooms and kitchens and a laundry on the floor. Bathrooms were a bit smelly and the shower stall was quite small. Common areas could have been a bit cleaner - although that's often what you get when a lot of young people are sharing. The kitchens were equiped with fridges, freezers, stoves, microwaves, kettles, dishes (tiny cereal bowls) , pots and pans (minimal), instant coffee, sugar, tea. People tend to leave things out on the table for other people to use after they go, so check before you shop:) Hope someone is enjoying my KD, baked beans and whiskey! There is a common area off the reception downstairs with TV, fussball, etc. No computers for visitors though. The nearest internet cafe is about a 15 minute walk across the U campus to the northwest.

Staff - Staff on reception were very friendly and helpful with questions. Cleaning staff were quite friendly as well. Things seem pretty relaxed, although security was good with the reception desk right next to the door. You have to either have a key or buzz to get in. There wasn't really anywhere secure to leave your luggage if you want check in early or leave it for awhile after checking out. They seem OK about leaving it in a common area but won't be responsible for it.

Area - About a block or two from Kelvingrove Hall and Park and the old U Glasgow Campus. Very pretty to walk around by day, although I would be very careful at night - as in most of Glasgow, which is a bit on the edgy side. The main problem would be drunken youths looking for trouble - they may look more dangerous than they really are but with a teenage girl and a teenage boy unlikely to keep looking straight ahead and walking on I didn't want to chance anything. Pipe band members were exchanging stories of personal muggings (not in this area but other areas of Glasgow) but these stories may have become bigger with time. There is a gas station about a block west with convenience stores where you can get milk, etc. There might be another grocery store nearby but we didn't see it. You can catch a #62 bus on Argyle ( a half block away) that will take you to and from city centre. There are several other buses that come by but that is the one we took. A day pass costs L2.30 for adults on the First buses. It costs about L5 to take a cab from downtown and it was a flat 15 to the airport. If you are on your own and don't have a lot of luggage you can take an airporter from Buchanan station for about L3.50.

All in all a comfortable cheap place to stay in Glasgow that is close to things and gives you the option of cooking for yourself. I would probably stay here again if I was staying in Glasgow - but I'm not sure if I would stay in Glasgow.