When to Schedule the Final Clean (and What Has to Be Done First)

Readiness checklist for an area

Call for the final clean when every item below is done in that area:

• Ceiling tiles, grilles, diffusers and light lenses installed
• Painting complete, except a small touch-up list
• Flooring installed. Resilient flooring adhesives and sealed concrete cured to the manufacturer's time.
• Casework, countertops and Division 10 accessories installed
• Above-ceiling work closed, with inspections done
• Trades moved out, and material and tools removed
• Power, water and lighting on, so the crew can see what it's cleaning

The right order

1. High dusting first. Clean structure, ducts and fixtures from the top down so dust falls before anything below is cleaned.
2. Walls, doors, frames and casework.
3. Restrooms, fixtures and accessories.
4. Interior glass.
5. Hard-floor finish and carpet last. Wax is applied after foot traffic from the other trades is done.
6. Exterior glass after exterior work and site work.
7. Touch-up right before the owner's walk.

Don't forget the HVAC

If the air handlers have been running during construction, plan the final filter change after the final clean. Otherwise dust from the system can settle on finished surfaces. Check your mechanical spec for filter and duct-cleanliness requirements.

Give the cleaner enough time

Ask the cleaning sub how many crew-days the final takes at your square footage, and schedule at least that many. Then add a buffer before the owner's walk for touch-up.

How NEAT runs it: we confirm readiness with your superintendent, sequence top-down, and leave a site lead on the job until the walk is complete.