Post-Construction Cleaning

Purpose

Define the post-construction cleaning service performed after a renovation, remodel, or new build is mechanically complete but before the customer occupies. This is a specialty service distinct from move-out cleans because post-construction has DRYWALL DUST in every surface, often paint residue, sometimes construction debris in unexpected places. The right approach is multi-pass - gross debris first, then fine dust, then finish-quality clean.

Scope

Applies to:

• New residential construction final clean (before customer move-in)
• Major renovation final clean
• Addition or interior remodel final clean

Excludes during-construction "broom clean" services (those are basic debris-removal, billed differently), and any work where lead or asbestos may be involved (specialty hazmat-trained contractor required).

Responsibilities

• Dispatcher confirms construction phase + asks about hazardous materials at booking; flags pre-2000 properties for additional inquiry
• Lead cleaner runs the multi-pass protocol + photo-documents
• Customer (or builder) verifies the home before occupancy

Procedure

Pass 1 - Gross debris (1 - 2 hours per residence)

1. Walk every room. Note any items left by the construction crew (nails, hardware, scraps, partial cans of paint, debris bags). Remove + dispose per builder agreement.
2. Vacuum HEAVILY with a shop vacuum first - drywall dust, sawdust, debris. Don't use a household vacuum yet (the filter won't handle the dust volume).
3. Sweep all hard floors to remove the loose dust + debris layer.
4. Wet-mop hard floors with plain water to remove the next layer of fine dust. Multiple bucket changes; the water turns gray quickly.
5. Vacuum carpet with shop vacuum to remove drywall dust embedded in the pile.
6. Wipe down high surfaces - ceiling fans, light fixtures, top of cabinets, top of door frames. These collect dust the customer never sees but that re-falls onto everything below.

Pass 2 - Fine cleaning (2 - 4 hours per residence)

1. Vacuum + wet-clean all baseboards thoroughly. Drywall dust gets in every joint.
2. Clean window glass + sills + tracks.
3. Wipe down every cabinet - inside + outside. Drywall dust gets in cabinets.
4. Clean appliances thoroughly - inside refrigerator, inside dishwasher, inside microwave, inside oven, behind range.
5. Clean light fixtures + ceiling fan blades.
6. Clean every switch plate + outlet cover.
7. Clean every door + door frame.
8. Vacuum carpet again, this time with a regular HEPA-filter vacuum, multiple directions.
9. Mop hard floors with appropriate finish cleaner (not just water).
10. Clean bathrooms as part of deep clean.

Pass 3 - Final inspection (30 min - 1 hour)

1. Walk every room with the customer OR document with photos for the builder.
2. Check every surface from multiple angles - drywall dust shows from one angle and disappears from another. Window light especially reveals missed dust.
3. Spot-clean anything missed.
4. Final photo documentation of every room.

Acceptance Criteria

• All construction debris removed
• No visible drywall dust anywhere (verified by multiple light-angle inspection)
• All cabinets interior + exterior clean
• All windows + sills + tracks clean
• All baseboards + trim clean
• Walk-through photos documented
• Customer signs the field report

References

• ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard
• EPA RRP Rule (Renovation, Repair, and Painting) for lead-paint situations
• Manuall internal: Deep Cleaning Service, Move-Out / Move-In Cleaning