A post-construction cleaning checklist takes a home from “the work is done” to “ready to live in.” After a remodel or new build, fine dust settles on every surface, inside cabinets, and along every edge. A regular clean doesn’t reach most of it. So here’s what a professional post-construction clean covers, room by room, and how to get the home ready for it.
Why Construction Dust Needs Its Own Clean
Sanding, cutting, and drywall work create very fine dust. It drifts into vents, settles on trim and light fixtures, and keeps coming back if you only wipe the obvious surfaces. That’s why a post-construction clean works from top to bottom: ceilings and vents first, then walls and fixtures, and floors last. For background, the EPA’s page on indoor particulate matter explains why fine particles in indoor air are worth removing.
Post-Construction Cleaning Checklist: The Kitchen
Kitchens collect dust in every cabinet and on every appliance, so they come first on our post-construction cleaning checklist:
- Wiping cabinets and drawers, inside and out
- Cleaning counters, the backsplash, the sink, and the faucet
- Cleaning appliances, inside and out
Post-Construction Cleaning Checklist: Bathrooms
New tile and fixtures often come with a film of grout haze and caulk residue. So in each bathroom, we cover:
- Cleaning the toilet, sink, tub, and shower
- Cleaning mirrors, fixtures, and hardware
- Cleaning tile, and removing light grout haze and caulk residue
Every Room on the Post-Construction Cleaning Checklist
Dust doesn’t stay in the rooms where the work happened. As a result, every room gets the same top-to-bottom treatment:
- Dusting ceilings, corners, walls, and vents
- Dusting light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Wiping baseboards, trim, doors, and door frames
- Wiping switches, outlet covers, and door handles
- Cleaning interior windows, sills, and tracks, and removing stickers and labels
- Wiping closet shelves and rods
Floors: The Last Step of Post-Construction Cleaning
Floors come last, after the dust from above has come down. We finish with:
- Vacuuming all carpet
- Vacuuming and mopping all hard floors
- Removing light paint specks and adhesive residue, where it’s safe for the surface
Before the Cleaning Crew Arrives
A few steps before the clean help the post-construction cleaning checklist go smoothly. First, plan for your contractor or a hauler to take the construction debris away, because removing and hauling away debris isn’t part of a post-construction clean. Also, finish any last repairs before the final clean, because patching and touch-ups create fresh dust. In fact, we can handle those punch-list repairs too, and then clean on the same schedule.
When to Schedule the Final Clean
Timing makes a big difference. Book the final clean after the last trade has finished and the punch list is done, but before furniture and boxes move in. If someone sands, drills, or touches up paint after the clean, fresh dust settles again. On the other hand, an empty home lets us reach every shelf, cabinet, and floor on the checklist.
Also, give the dust time to settle. Fine particles can hang in the air for a while after the last cut, so cleaning a day after the work ends usually catches more of it.
What Isn’t Included
A few items sit outside the checklist. Besides hauling debris, we don’t move heavy furniture or appliances. Outside window glass isn’t included either, although you can add it for windows we can reach without a ladder. Finally, we don’t handle hazardous materials, active biohazards, pest infestations, mold remediation, or unsafe working conditions.
How Post-Construction Cleaning Is Priced
Every project is different, so we price post-construction cleaning by the project. Your price depends on the property’s size and type, the work that was done, its current condition, and your timing. Tell us what work was done and what’s left, and we’ll confirm your fixed price in your quote before we start.
Missed something? If it’s part of your cleaning, tell us within 24 hours and we’ll come back and fix it at no charge.
Common Questions About Our Post-Construction Cleaning Checklist
Do You Haul Away Construction Debris?
No. Removing and hauling away construction debris isn’t included. We clean the dust and residue the work leaves behind.
Can You Handle the Punch-List Repairs Too?
Absolutely. Tell us about both in your request, and we’ll quote them together. Repairs come first, then the final clean.
How Is Post-Construction Cleaning Priced?
By the project: the property’s size and type, the work that was done, its current condition, and your timing. Your fixed price is confirmed in your quote before we start.
Get the Home Ready to Live In
We clean after remodels and new builds across Greater Seattle, from our base in Lynnwood to Seattle, Bellevue, Edmonds, Shoreline, Bothell, Everett, and Renton. Homeowners, builders, contractors, and real-estate professionals all get the same post-construction cleaning checklist.