Post-Construction Cleaning Checklist: A Complete Guide
Deal with dirt, dust, and debris so your updated home isn’t a disaster area
Renovations and other home construction projects leave you with a beautiful, updated home. Unfortunately, they also leave you with dirt, dust, construction debris, and trash that you’ll need to deal with before the project can be considered truly finished.
Unless your contract says otherwise, the responsibility for post-construction cleanup falls squarely on you, so you’ll need a plan of attack. Our post-construction cleaning checklist has all the steps you need to return your home to its clean pre-construction state.
What Is a Post-Construction Cleaning Checklist?
Once your home construction project is complete, you might be ready to breathe a sigh of relief. But don’t relax just yet—construction leaves behind dirt, dust, and debris that you’ll need to clean up before you can enjoy your updated home. Creating a detailed list of everything you need to tackle can keep you organized and on track so everything gets done.
Even if only one area of your home was being worked on, the foot traffic, construction dust, and general disarray that comes with a construction project can spread throughout the whole house. A top-to-bottom clean ensures your entire home is clean, comfortable, and ready to enjoy.
Kitchen
Because your kitchen is where all your food prep happens, it’s important to make sure you clean it thoroughly. Kitchens have a lot of cracks and crevices where dust and debris can end up, so be methodical in your cleaning.
Wipe down countertops and backsplash with water and mild soap.
Wipe down cabinets and drawers (exterior and interior) with soapy water.
Clean range hood and filter.
Wipe down all appliances with soapy water.
Dust shelves, window and door frames, and other wooden fixtures.
Clean sink and faucets.
Clean windows.
Dust light fixtures.
Dust ceiling and wash walls.
Vacuum/sweep and mop floor.
Living Room
Your living room may not have as many surfaces that need cleaning as the kitchen, but construction can wreak havoc on this room, too.
Dust shelves, tables, window and door frames, and other wood.
Vacuum upholstery.
Wash throw blankets and pillows.
Clean all glass.
Dust light fixtures and fans.
Clean vents and filters.
Dust ceiling and wash walls.
Vacuum floor.
Bathrooms
For such a small space, bathrooms can be a big mess after construction. Because bathrooms are more humid than other rooms, you’ll need to make sure all construction dust is removed to prevent wet, sticky dust that can be difficult to deal with later on and may clog your plumbing if it goes down the drain.
Vacuum surfaces to remove dust or wipe with a dry cloth.
Clean and disinfect tub/shower, sink, and toilet, including faucets and other fixtures.
Vacuum exhaust fan.
Dust light fixtures.
Clean countertops and shelving.
Dust door and window frames, door, and other wood.
Clean windows, mirrors, and other glass.
Dust ceiling and wash walls.
Vacuum/sweep and mop floor.
Bedrooms
You’ll sleep better knowing your bedrooms are free of construction dust and debris. Because you spend so much time in the bedroom sleeping, you’ll want to be sure you’re breathing in clean, dust-free air.
Vacuum mattress and upholstered furniture.
Dust shelves, drawers, and inside closets.
Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans.
Clean vents and filters.
Dust ceiling and wash walls.
Dust door and window frames, doors, and other wood.
Clean windows and other glass.
Vacuum floor.
Exterior
Don’t forget about your home’s exterior after construction. The dump truck or dumpster may have taken the construction debris, but chances are, there will still be some signs that your home was a recent construction zone.
Remove any remaining trash or debris.
Sweep or pressure wash the driveway and walkways.
Sweep or wash decks, patios, and porches.
Check for any damaged landscaping.
Wash window exteriors.
Hose down or pressure wash siding and garage doors.
When to Call a Post-Construction Cleaning Pro
"Save receipts for any cleaning supplies, equipment rentals, or disposal fees incurred during the cleanup process. These receipts serve as proof of expenses related to cleanup efforts and can be submitted to insurance companies if necessary."
— Sean Foley, President of redbox+ Dumpsters
After a large-scale construction project, you may find that the cleanup is too much to tackle on your own. Consider hiring a local house cleaning service for a top-to-bottom deep clean to remove all traces of construction. Depending on the size of the area being cleaned and the extent of the work, the average post-construction cleaning cost is around $475.
If cleanup isn’t included in your construction contract, it may be worth it to budget the cost of a professional cleaning to save yourself the time and effort of a whole-house cleaning.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Some aspects of a post-renovation cleaning job are more DIY-friendly than others. So long as you have supplies, you can do your regular house cleaning tasks, reorganize all of your stuff, and put everything back in its proper place. However, if you have a whole lot of debris that requires disposal, consider hiring a professional junk removal service. This will save you a whole lot of time and hassle.
Another difficult aspect of this job involves the air. Renovations kick up a lot of construction dust, so cleaning the air is important for health reasons. You can set up air purifiers, open windows, and clean or replace the air filters on your own. However, think about hiring a local HVAC pro for duct cleaning. This is grueling and time-consuming work that requires plenty of experience and safety gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deep cleaning after a renovation is important to remove all the dust from construction. This will improve air quality, prevent health issues and increase the home’s comfort level. Also, debris and dust can stain new paint or scratch surfaces, ruining the renovation right from the get-go.
To remove new construction dust, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter on all surfaces, including furniture and carpet. Follow that up with a damp mop to pick up lingering dust on hard surfaces. Take some time cleaning appliances and ceiling fans. Finally, clean all of the air filters and properly ventilate the home. Stay away from sweeping, as this will spread the dust around.
Focus on cleaning the air after you’ve finished cleaning surfaces. Use air purifiers, moving them as necessary from room to room. The air filters should be cleaned or replaced, depending on the type of filters you have. Clean the air ducts by yourself or by hiring a pro. Finally, open doors and windows to ensure the space is properly ventilated.