Moving into the renovated space
An empty-home clean right before your furniture goes back in.
After renovation work
Post-Construction Cleaning in Boston
Post-construction cleaning in Boston deals with the part of a renovation few people plan for: the fine dust that settles on every ledge, inside every cabinet and along every window track after the contractor packs up. We start once the debris is gone, working to the contractor's schedule and a checklist you approve.
- Fine dust cleared from surfaces, fixtures and the inside of cabinets
- A rough clean, a final clean, or both
- Timed around your contractor, after debris removal
What the contractor removes, and what cleaning covers
Renovation cleanup splits into two jobs, and it helps to know which is which before you book.
Usually the contractor's job. Hauling debris, offcuts and packaging, taking the dumpster away, removing leftover materials and tools, and pulling up floor protection. Check your contract, since the details vary.
The cleaning job. Fine dust on every surface, the inside of cabinets and drawers, window sills and tracks, fixtures, light covers within reach, fingerprints and sticker residue on new fixtures, and floors that need more than one pass. We do not haul debris, leftover materials or dumpster loads, so those need to be gone before we arrive.
Post-construction cleaning checklist
Renovation dust gets everywhere, including rooms that were never part of the work. The checklist covers the work area and any rooms you add to it.
High surfaces and fixtures
- Light fixtures and covers within safe reach
- Ceiling fan blades and the tops of door frames
- Crown molding and high trim within reach
- Vent covers and return grilles wiped
Cabinets, shelves and closets
- Inside and outside of every cabinet and drawer
- Shelves, closet rods and closet floors
- Hinges, pulls and knobs where dust collects
Windows, doors and trim
- Window sills, with tracks vacuumed out and then wiped
- Interior glass cleaned once the dust is down
- Baseboards, doors and door frames by hand
- Switch plates and outlet covers
Kitchen and bathroom
- Sinks, faucets, tubs, showers and toilets
- Protective film and stickers removed from new fixtures where they come off cleanly
- Tile and counter surfaces wiped free of dust film
- Outside of new appliances, including the tops
Floors
- Vacuumed first to lift fine dust, rather than swept
- Damp-mopped, with a second pass where dust keeps coming up
- Edges, corners and thresholds done by hand
Grout haze left by a tile installer, paint overspray and cured adhesive may be beyond a cleaning visit. Describe what is there and we will tell you before booking whether it is in scope.
Rough clean or final clean?
Larger projects often need cleaning in two phases. Smaller ones usually only need the final clean.
| Rough clean | Final clean | |
|---|---|---|
| When it happens | After demolition and heavy work, before finishes go in | After every trade is done, before move-in or handover |
| What it focuses on | Clearing settled dust so finish work starts on a clean surface | Detail cleaning of every surface, inside cabinets and fixtures |
| Who it suits | Long projects, or homes still lived in during the work | Every renovation before the space is used again |
Coordinating with your contractor
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Share the schedule
When do the last trades finish, when does the dumpster leave, and when are the floors done? A final clean booked before the painter's touch-ups just has to be repeated.
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Confirm debris is out
Debris, materials and tools should be removed before the cleaning date. Leftover piles slow the work and get dusty all over again.
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Plan building logistics
Condo buildings may ask for elevator reservations, loading dock times or vendor registration, and some ask for paperwork such as a certificate of insurance. Mention it in the request so we can tell you before booking whether we can meet it.
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Keep utilities running
Water and power need to be on. Ask your contractor about replacing heating or cooling filters once the dusty work ends.
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Final clean and walkthrough
We work through the checklist, then you or your contractor look it over while the rooms are still empty.
Renovation dust in older Boston homes
Many older Boston homes, from triple-deckers to brownstones and rowhouses, have plaster walls. Opening them up produces a very fine, heavy dust that drifts well beyond the work area and settles in radiator fins, on stair treads and inside closets on other floors.
Newer condo buildings have their own rules. Contractors and cleaners may both need to book the service elevator or a loading dock slot, so share those requirements early.
Related cleaning after a project
Deep cleaning later
A detailed reset for a lived-in home months after the work is done.
Regular house cleaning
Ongoing visits once the dust has settled for good.
Renovated business space
Offices and shops after a fit-out start here.
What affects a post-construction cleaning quote
Every project is quoted from its own details. The biggest factors are:
- Size of the renovated area, plus any other rooms that collected dust
- The type of work: demolition and plaster leave far more dust than a paint touch-up
- One phase or two (rough clean and final clean)
- The number of cabinets, closets and built-ins to clean inside
- Windows and tracks, and how many passes the floors need
- Building access, elevator bookings and parking
The pricing page explains how quotes are calculated.
Post-construction cleaning questions
Do you haul away debris or leftover materials?
No. Debris, scrap, packaging and leftover materials are the contractor's to remove, or yours through a junk removal service. Our work starts once they are gone.
When should the final clean be scheduled?
After every trade has finished, including painters and floor finishers, and after debris is removed. Book it before furniture comes back in, so floors and cabinets are fully reachable.
Can a contractor book the cleaning directly?
Yes. Homeowners and contractors can both send the request. The scope is agreed in writing with whoever books, and access is arranged with whoever holds the keys.
Will one visit remove all the dust?
Fine dust can stay in the air for a while and settle again after the clean. That is one reason the final clean happens after all work stops. On dusty projects, a light second visit may be worth adding, and we will say so if we think it is.
Can I book post-renovation cleaning online?
You can request it online through the quote form at any time. The booking is confirmed once you approve the scope and the price we send back.
Do you clean air ducts or the heating system?
No. Air duct cleaning is specialist work and is not part of our service. Vent covers and grilles are wiped as part of the checklist.
Request a post-construction cleaning quote
Call or email us with the type of space, its rough size, your ZIP code and what you need done. We reply with a free quote, and nothing is booked until you approve it.