1. Confirm the trades are really finished
Cleaning before the deficiency list is closed means cleaning twice. Walk the space with your contractor, agree on what's still outstanding, and schedule the main clean for after the last repair, not before it.
2. Deal with the dust first
Fine construction dust settles on every surface and keeps drifting down for days. Ask your contractor or HVAC technician about changing filters once sanding and cutting are done; running the system with dirty filters can spread dust back through the space. Cleaning should start at the top (vents, light fixtures, ledges) and work down to the floors.
3. Book a final clean to handover standard
A final clean takes the space from "construction finished" to "ready to use":
- Stickers, labels, and protective film removed from fixtures, glass, and appliances
- Cabinets, shelves, and millwork cleaned inside and out
- Interior glass, frames, and tracks finished
- Washrooms and kitchens cleaned and made ready for first use
- Floors cleaned by surface type
See what's included in a post-construction clean for the full breakdown.
4. Move in furniture, stock, and equipment
Deliveries bring cardboard, packing material, and more dust. Keep them to a set window and clear packaging as you go so it doesn't pile up.
5. Check the things inspectors and customers notice
- Exits, exit signs, and paths clear of boxes and equipment
- Washrooms stocked and working
- Entrances, glass doors, and signage clean
- Lighting working, with fixtures free of dust and bugs
6. Book a touch-up right before opening
Between setup and opening day, surfaces collect dust again. A light touch-up the day before or the morning of opening makes sure the space looks the way it did after the final clean.
7. Line up routine cleaning from day one
Once you're open, routine cleaning keeps the space at that standard. Starting it straight away, rather than waiting until it's needed, is easier than catching up later.