Before you start

• •Construction crew confirmed complete — no active trades on site
• •Heavy-duty vacuum (HEPA-rated), mop with commercial degreaser, safety glasses

The procedure

Step-by-step, in order. Each step has the action and the reason it matters.

1. 1

   Phase 1 — rough clean (construction debris removal)

   Remove all large debris: scrap lumber, wire, tape, packaging. Sweep and vacuum all surfaces — dust settles floor-to-ceiling, top to bottom. Vacuum window tracks. Empty all construction waste into contractor bags. Phase 1 is complete when the space is debris-free.

2. 2

   Phase 2 — detail clean (per-surface attention)

   Windows: scrape paint overspray with a new razor blade, then glass cleaner. Fixtures: remove construction tape residue from all hardware, lights, and vents — adhesive remover on stubborn residue. Cabinets: wipe inside and out including drawer tracks. Counters: scrub grout lines and remove construction dust from inside cabinets.

3. 3

   Floors — type-specific cleaning sequence

   Hardwood: dry-sweep first, then damp mop with hardwood-safe cleaner (never soaking wet). Tile: grout haze removal with appropriate cleaner (grout haze on new tile is cement residue — requires diluted acid wash or commercial grout haze remover). Carpet: HEPA vacuum twice before considering done.

4. 4

   Surfaces — drywall dust is everywhere it doesn't appear to be

   Wipe all horizontal surfaces including tops of door frames, window sills, cabinet tops, and light fixtures. Drywall dust migrates into HVAC registers — wipe or vacuum register faces. The construction crew's definition of 'clean' is not the cleaning crew's definition.

5. 5

   Phase 3 — final walk with flashlight

   Walk the entire space with a flashlight at a low angle — this reveals smudges and dust that overhead lighting misses. Check: all glass streak-free, all switch plates clean, all registers clean, floors with no visible debris or footprints. Final photos before handoff.

Verify when done

• ☐All construction debris removed before Phase 2 begins
• ☐Paint overspray removed from all windows
• ☐Floor cleaned per surface type
• ☐Final walk with flashlight completed

Common mistakes

• ✕Mopping hardwood floors with a soaking-wet mop
• ✕Skipping tops of door frames and cabinet tops
• ✕Not removing paint overspray from glass before wiping
• ✕Final walk without a flashlight

Trainer notes

Drywall dust is the defining challenge of post-construction cleaning. It settles continuously for 24-48 hours after cutting. Schedule the final clean 24 hours after the last drywall work, not immediately after.

Common questions