What Are the DOs and DON’Ts of Final Cleaning Construction?

Finally, the construction of your dream house is complete. You may think the next step is to make a trip to Home Depot and pick out color schemes – not so fast. There’s still the crucial cleaning step, particularly the final cleaning construction. 

If this is your first rodeo, you may not know where to start – what’s the first step? What cleaning products do you use? Don’t fret; we’re here to help. 

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about final cleaning construction: the phases, the DOs, and the DON’Ts.

What is a Final Cleaning Construction?

Final cleaning construction is the last step of post-construction cleanup. It’s conducted after a building or property has been entirely constructed or renovated. Although it may be tedious, you can’t skip this step before prepping the house of living. 

It typically involves removing dust, debris, and other materials left behind during construction. You’ll need to thoroughly clean your windows, floors, walls, appliances, and fixtures. It’s not just crucial for aesthetics but also to ensure hygiene and avoid inhaling construction dust.

While final cleaning construction is a phase of post-construction cleaning, it also has its phases. That includes rough cleaning, interior cleaning, and exterior cleaning. Doing this cleaning in phases will help you break down the work into smaller, more manageable tasks. 

Let’s take a closer look at what each phase accounts for.

Rough Cleaning

A rough cleaning is essentially a quick sweep without any attention to detail. In this phase, you’ll pick up the bigger trash and debris like broken wood, glass, or leftover materials. Once construction is over, your house will be in a state of array.

The rough cleaning step is absolutely crucial – that’s when you pick up bigger, more hazardous materials like shattered glass, which could lead to cuts. Here’s the list of tasks for this phase:

1. Pick up large pieces of debris, trash, and materials using gloves and a trash bag. 
2. Run a quick vacuum and mop over the floors – just make sure there’s nothing left that could cut or scratch your feet. 
3. Wipe down all the surfaces in your home with a damp rag, including your walls, windows, and countertops.
4. Use a duster on noticeably dusty areas of the house, especially places where a drill, saw, or sander was used.

This way, you’ll be able to move on to the next cleaning phase without worrying about getting hurt or inhaling too much dust. While you’re at it, empty the trash cans, too – they’re probably overfilled from the construction. Don’t forget to dispose of hazardous materials according to your jurisdiction’s regulations. 

Usually, the rough cleanup is the builder’s or contractor’s job. Look at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines to ensure they do it correctly.

Interior Cleaning

Then, you can move on to a final interior cleaning. How long it takes depends on how many rooms you have and where the construction occurred. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few hours to a whole day. 

We recommend starting with the bathrooms and kitchen since those are the rooms you’ll need to use first. You’ll need to thoroughly clean every inch of the fixtures, appliances, cabinetry, and countertops. Leaving any construction dust or leftover materials in the kitchen can be a health hazard.

Then, move on to the bedroom and living room cleanup. If you have carpets, don’t forget to carpet every corner – you’ll be surprised at how much dust gets trapped there. You’ll find nails and screws lying around as well, so keep an eye out for those. 

Finally, don’t forget the ceilings. If there was a lot of construction dust circulating, you could use a long-handled mop to give the ceiling a quick wipe-down. Otherwise, use a ladder to get rid of scuff marks and smudges. 

Exterior Cleaning

For indoor-only construction, final cleaning of the home’s exterior may not be necessary. But if there is some outdoor construction, you can scrub the walls well. Here are the steps needed for a final construction cleaning of your home’s exterior.

1. Get rid of the debris and leftover materials around your home. 
2. Wash and dry the exteriors of your windows and doors. 
3. Sweep or vacuum around the garage, porch, and driveway.
4. Get rid of all the dirt and grime from the siding with a quick power wash.

Viola! Your final cleaning project is over. We agree—it takes quite a bit of elbow grease, so hiring professionals may be a better choice for most. 

DOs and DON’Ts of Final Cleaning Construction

While it may seem simple enough, a lot can go wrong when finishing up a post-construction clean. Here are some DOs and DON’Ts to keep in mind. 

DO Plan Ahead

Planning is essential when it comes to final cleaning projects – you can’t miss a single step! It’s not your daily cleaning chores, where it’s as simple as picking up the mop and getting to work.

Various things need to be planned beforehand: the number of rooms you’ll be dealing with, which room to tackle first, how long it’ll take, etc. Plus, you’ll need to invest in the right tools and equipment for a final clean. 

Plan these things to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted cleaning project.

DO Use Proper Cleaning Solutions

Different cleaning solutions work for various surfaces and tasks. Not only is it much safer to do your research, but it also saves you a ton of trial and error. 

For example, you can clean the walls with a typical all-purpose cleaner or a homemade vinegar-based solution. But floors require specific cleaning agents for hardwood and tile. You absolutely can’t mix them up!

DO Prioritize Safety

After construction, your home will be littered with broken construction materials like glass, wood chips, and nails. The cleaning process can be dangerous without the proper precautions taken. You’ll need to invest in safety equipment, including:

• Gloves
• Steel-toed boots
• Safety goggles
• Dust masks
• Hard hats

You’ll also need to keep the windows open for ventilation when dealing with construction dust.

DO Replace Caulking and Grout

Even if your home’s caulking and grout have been recently replaced, it will accumulate dirt and grime during construction. 

If you don’t have the tools or budget to replace them, scrub them down with an all-purpose cleaning solution. Finally, wipe it down with a wet sponge and let it air dry. You’ll need to repeat this process for your tiled floors, tiled walls, toilets, bathtubs, and sinks. 

DO Hire a Professional

In some cases, hiring professional post-construction cleaners may be the best option. This is especially true if the mess is more significant than average or includes quite a bit of hazardous materials. 

Plus, moving and construction can be lengthy and exhausting. Once your construction is over, hire professional cleaners to do the job. Take this opportunity to rest before you begin prepping the home for living.

DON’T Rush It

We get it – you’ve waited so long for the construction to be over. Waiting to complete another thorough cleaning may feel impossible, and you’re tempted to rush the final details. 

But don’t give into the impatience! This is your opportunity to move into a clean, hazard-free home, so take your time with the final cleaning. Trust us; the results will be worth all the wait and effort. 

Plus, when you notice the missed spots later on, you won’t have the motivation to clean them up.

DON’T Use Harsh Chemicals

You’ve just gotten brand new hardwood floors installed; the last thing you want to do is bleach or weather them with a harsh cleaning solution. That’s why we urge you to do your research about the proper cleaning solutions to use on different surfaces. 

For example, if you’re cleaning a countertop with a delicate finish, a harsh cleaning agent may undo all the work done in construction. These solutions often have bleach or acids that can strip away the finish or even discolor the surface. 

DON’T Ignore The Details

Most homeowners only clean up the more prominent and noticeable messes during their final construction cleanup. That’s a rookie mistake!

It’s not just about the walls, windows, or ceiling but the nooks and crannies, too. That includes the outlets, light switches, and even the window frames. It only adds a few minutes to your total cleaning session, but it’s worth the extra effort.

Otherwise, once you’re all moved in, you’ll wish you had paid them some attention. 

Hire Sunlight Cleaning New York For Final Cleaning Construction

Is final cleaning construction not your cup of tea?

Don’t fret! Hire our experienced and vetted team at Sunlight Cleaning, New York, for extensive post-construction cleaning services. Our competitive final construction cleaning prices will keep your project under budget, and we promise to leave your home sparkling clean.

Contact us today to book your appointment and get close to turning your brand-new home into a livable space.