Post Construction Cleaning Checklist For A Detailed Cleanup

Completing a construction project is usually exciting for everyone involved — the client, the contractor and the construction workers.

However, finishing the actual construction work is not the last step of the project.

The last step is cleaning — and while it’s far less exciting, it’s just as important.

We’ve put together a comprehensive post construction cleaning checklist to help your team make sure that every room is left spotless after a project.

Digitize your checklists with doForms.
Try doForms for free!

What Is A Post Construction Cleaning Checklist?

A post construction cleaning checklist is a list of tasks to thoroughly clean the construction worksite after a project is complete.

It typically includes the areas that need to be cleaned as well as the type of cleaning required in each area.

The tasks on a post construction cleaning checklist typically include:

• Dust and debris removal
• Paint and stain removal
• Floors
• Windows
• Air ducts
• Bedrooms
• Living spaces
• Kitchen
• Bathrooms
• High-traffic areas
• Exterior areas

A well-organized post construction cleaning checklist is essential for:

• Streamlining the cleaning process and ensuring that no areas are overlooked
• Maintaining high-quality standards by providing a systematic cleaning approach, assigning responsibilities and fostering accountability
• Delivering a finished product that meets the expectations of residents, tenants or clients

Who Uses Post Construction Cleaning Checklists?

Post construction cleaning checklists can be used by businesses across a wide variety of industries. These include:

• Construction companies, to help present a completed project in the best condition to the client, improve customer satisfaction and boost the company’s reputation for delivering a clean final product.
• Real estate developers, to help prepare a new property for potential tenants or buyers, present a clean and inviting space and thus encourage leasing or sale.
• Commercial property managers, to help turn a newly constructed or renovated area into a clean and safe environment, ready to welcome tenants or businesses.
• Remodeling contractors, to help clean after the renovation and make sure the client can fully enjoy the updated space.
• Educational institutions, to provide a clean and safe environment for students and staff after renovation projects at schools, colleges and universities.
• Hospitals and other medical facilities, to ensure hygiene and sanitation standards along patient safety after construction and renovation projects.
• Hotels and resorts, to help create an exceptional guest experience after premises construction or refurbishment.

Whether you own a construction company, real estate company or hotel, a post construction cleaning checklist will help you improve customer satisfaction and boost your brand reputation​

Post Construction Cleaning Checklist Template

Depending on the facility, the key areas in your post construction cleaning checklist may vary.

We’ve put together a general template you can use to build your own cleanup checklist, which you can customize according to your needs:

1. Bedrooms & Living Spaces

If the construction work takes place indoors, chances are that the whole space will end up dusty (even if you can’t see it at first!)

For bedrooms and living spaces, your checklist should include:

• Vacuum and damp-mop floor surfaces to remove debris and residue
• Steam clean carpets and rugs to remove dirt and stains
• Dust and wipe light switches
• Dust and wipe windows and windowsills
• Dust and wipe tables, shelves, windowsills and other flat surfaces
• Wipe and polish knobs, handles, switches and other small elements
• Clean baseboards and walls of marks and stains
• Clean mirrors (if any)
• Clean and dust closets and shelves
• Take out the trash

2. Kitchen

Kitchens in both commercial and private properties demand a careful, meticulous approach to post-construction cleanup due to the high sanitary standards they need to meet.

For kitchens, your checklist should include:

• Remove marks or paint stains from walls and baseboards
• Deep-clean and disinfect all surfaces where food is handled
• Clean the sink and the stovetop using a degreaser
• Vacuum and mop the floor
• Clean cabinets and drawers inside and outside
• Clean kitchen appliances, including ovens, stoves, refrigerators and microwaves
• Clean windows and glass surfaces
• Clean doors, including doorknobs and door frames
• Clean light fixtures
• Polish stainless steel surfaces
• Clean and disinfect exhaust fans, filters and ventilation grills
• Remove all trash

3.Bathrooms

While bathrooms tend to be among the smallest areas on a property, be prepared to spend a significant amount of time and resources to make sure you leave these areas clean and sanitized for use.

For bathrooms, your checklist should include:

• Clean and disinfect toilets
• Clean and sanitize sinks and faucets
• Scrub and disinfect bathtubs
• Clean and disinfect showers
• Clean tiles with a non-abrasive cleaning material
• Wipe and polish mirrors and other reflective surfaces
• Take out the trash and sanitize the trash container
• Vacuum, mop and sanitize the floor
• Wipe and sanitize the walls
• Clean cabinets inside and outside
• Dust and wipe baseboards
• Clean light switches
• Remove construction stickers or protective coverings from bathroom fixtures
• Clean bathroom accessories, such as toilet paper holders and towel racks

4. High-Traffic Areas

High-traffic areas include entrances and exits, corridors, lobbies and other spaces where a large number of people pass through or gather.

In many cases — particularly when it comes to commercial properties — these high-traffic areas also have significant presentation value.

For instance, the lobby of a large company’s headquarters can make or break a potential customer’s first impression of the company.

High-traffic areas are also more susceptible to wear and tear — something that can be partially slowed by good upkeeping.

For high-traffic areas, your checklist should include:

Remove construction and demolition materials, such drywall pieces, wood scraps and packaging materials

Clear out dust and debris from vents and ducts

If there is hazardous waste, dispose of it in accordance with local regulations

Clean glass and reflective surfaces

Clean and test lights and switches

Dust and wipe entrance doors and doorknobs

Also Read: Home Inspection Checklist

5. Exterior Areas

To create a welcoming atmosphere from the moment your customers approach the house or building, don’t forget to clean the exterior.

For exterior areas, your checklist should include:

• Sweep and/or power wash walkways
• Pick up trash and debris
• Remove unused construction materials and equipment
• Sweep decks, porches and patios
• Clean garage doors or parking barriers
• Make sure that the landscaping design elements and décor are returned to their original positions

A comprehensive post construction cleaning checklist can help you make sure that all areas are inspected, sanitized and ready for use ​

How To Create A Post Construction Cleaning Checklist

To create a post-construction cleaning checklist:

• Use details: Make sure your checklist includes all areas of the construction site or building, including hard-to-reach areas, corners and edges where debris and dust may accumulate. Include everything from large surfaces like walls and floors to small elements like light switches and fixtures.
• Assign specific tasks: To improve efficiency and accountability, assign the cleaning tasks to individual team members and ask each team member to initial the task once complete.
• Start with dry cleaning: Begin the cleaning process with dry methods like dusting and sweeping to remove loose debris, then move to wet cleaning like mopping.
• Follow a top-to-bottom approach: To prevent dust and debris from falling on clean surfaces, clean from the top (ceiling fans and light fixtures) down to the bottom (floors).
• Prioritize safety: Make sure your checklists contain information about protective gear and enforce safety protocols while handling cleaning chemicals and equipment to avoid workplace incidents.

Digitize Your Post Construction Cleaning Checklists With doForms

A construction cleanup checklist helps ensure that the space where construction work took place is properly cleaned and sanitized after the project is complete. However, paper checklists can be messy, unorganized and expensive.

doForms gives you a simpler, more organized and cost-effective alternative. Our mobile electronic forms are an ideal solution for creating a post construction cleanup checklist, along with work orders, maintenance requests, employee schedules and more.

In addition to building your own forms or choosing from our extensive template library, doForms allows you to:

• Edit and share your checklists and reports with your team
• Store your checklists and other documents in a secure centralized location
• Access and retrieve documents in seconds from any mobile device or location
• Attach photos or videos to checklists and reports
• Capture electronic signatures
• Create and manage team schedules
• Manage payroll

Ditch your paper checklists and switch to digital post construction cleaning checklists today.

Take advantage of our free trial and experience the extensive benefits of our digital forms.

Ready to give digital checklists a shot?
Try doForms for free!

Post Construction Cleaning Takeaways 

Post-construction cleaning might not be the most exciting stage of a construction project but it’s an important stage.

A tool that can truly help you save time and resources during post-construction cleanup is a comprehensive post construction cleanup checklist — specifically, a digital checklist with doForms.

doForms allows you to create and manage your construction cleanup checklists, along with work orders, maintenance reports, employee schedules and more.

Thanks to our instant connectivity and secure file storage solution, your mobile forms can be seamlessly and instantly shared between team members, on the construction site or on the go.

Upgrade your post construction cleaning process by switching to doForms — for cost savings, better organization and a convenient, streamlined approach.