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Post-construction cleaning checklist
The final clean goes top to bottom with the floors last: vacuum the dust off ceilings, walls, ledges and vents, take off labels, tape and paint specks, vacuum and wipe inside every cabinet and drawer, clean the glass, frames and tracks, wipe every surface twice, then do the floors. The rule that matters most: start only when the last trade has finished. A painter touching up or a flooring crew finishing after you means cleaning the house again.
Edit the post-build list
The final clean after the trades leave, high to low with the floors last. Take off what the contractor is handling and add what this build needs.
Post-construction cleaning checklist
- Walk with the contractor: trades done, what stays, labels to keep
- Photograph chipped tile, scratched glass and paint flaws you find
- Packaging, offcuts and loose debris out; spare tile and paint set aside
- HEPA-vacuum ceilings, walls, ledges and door tops, high to low
- Vent covers, returns and light globes: dust out, covers washed
- Ceiling fans, recessed trims and smoke alarm covers dusted
- Stickers, tape and protective film off fixtures and appliances
- Paint specks, caulk and grout haze off glass, tile and hardware
- Windows: glass both sides, frames and sills; tracks vacuumed out
- Cabinets and drawers: vacuum the sawdust inside, then wipe each shelf
- Kitchen: appliances inside and out, range hood, sink and faucet
- Bathrooms: tub, shower glass, toilet, vanity and fixtures polished
- Baseboards, door frames and their top edges wiped in every room
- Closets: shelves, rods and floors vacuumed and wiped
- Second wipe of counters, sills and ledges once the dust settles
- Floors last: vacuum, then wash hard floors; edges by hand
- Garage and entry swept; door tracks and thresholds vacuumed
- Tell the contractor the HVAC filter needs changing after the build
- Final photos room by room before the owner’s walkthrough
Rough, final or touch-up: which clean does the contractor want?
Construction cleaning is usually sold in three phases, and contractors often say “a clean” meaning one or all of them. The rough clean happens mid-build: debris out and floors swept, before cabinets and paint. The final clean is this checklist, once the trades are done. The touch-up is a quick pass just before the owner’s walkthrough or move-in, after punch-list fixes have stirred up dust again. Quote each phase as its own line.
Should you price post-construction windows separately?
Yes, per pane. Property Refresh in Chicago charges $8 a pane, both sides, for standard post-construction glass and $15 for large or storefront panes, with frames, tracks and heavy residue extra (checked October 2026). At that rate 30 standard panes come to $240 in glass alone, before tracks. Construction glass is slow: paint overspray, mortar splatter and label glue come off with a blade and patience, and a flat house price usually hides that time.
Ask before you scrape. Some tempered glass scratches under a razor because of tiny particles fused to the surface when it was made, and the marks show in low sun. Read the window maker’s care sheet, or test a bottom corner with plenty of water and a new blade held flat. Leave the energy-rating stickers on until the contractor says the final inspection has passed; inspectors often want to see them.
What does the contractor check at the final walkthrough?
The places dust hides: inside drawers and cabinets, the tops of door frames and upper cabinets, light globes, vent covers, window tracks and the line where the floor meets the baseboard. On tile they look for grout haze, and on fixtures for paint and caulk smears. Walk it yourself first with a flashlight held low across the floors and counters; light skimming a surface shows the film your eye misses straight on.
Frequently asked questions
What protection does the crew need for construction dust?
Fine dust from drywall sanding and from cutting tile, stone or concrete can carry silica, which you should not breathe. Use a HEPA vacuum instead of a broom or a blower, which only lift it into the air, and wear fitted N95 respirators or better while you dust. Open windows and run a fan blowing out, and keep the home’s HVAC off while you work.
Do you clear the leftover materials and debris?
Packaging, offcuts and loose debris, yes. Dumpster loads and construction waste are the contractor’s job or a junk removal quote. Leftover paint, spare tile and extra flooring usually stay, because the owner needs them for repairs. Stack them neatly in the garage or a closet with the labels showing, and ask before throwing any of it out.
Should the HVAC filter be changed after a post-construction clean?
Yes, and say so even if it is not your job. If the system ran during the build, the filter is loaded and the ducts may be too, and the house will keep dusting itself after you leave. Changing a filter is quick; duct cleaning is a separate trade. Tell the contractor in writing, so dust after move-in is not blamed on your clean.