Final Cleaning Checklist

The final clean is the most critical phase of post-construction cleaning. This checklist covers every surface, fixture, and detail that must be addressed before the space is presented to the owner, inspected for certificate of occupancy, or photographed for listing.

This checklist is based on 43 years of field experience and reflects the standards expected by Ohio general contractors, home builders, and building inspectors.

Kitchen (22 items)

• ☐ Cabinets — clean all exterior surfaces (doors, frames, end panels)
• ☐ Cabinets — clean all interior surfaces (shelves, floor, ceiling, back wall)
• ☐ Cabinet hardware — clean and polish (hinges, pulls, knobs)
• ☐ Drawer interiors — vacuum, wipe clean, check drawer glides for debris
• ☐ Countertops — clean with material-appropriate product (see product guide below)
• ☐ Countertop edges and backsplash seam — clean grout or caulk line
• ☐ Backsplash tile — clean face and grout lines
• ☐ Sink — clean basin, polish fixture, clean drain ring
• ☐ Faucet — polish, remove water spots, check sprayer
• ☐ Refrigerator — clean interior (shelves, drawers, walls, door bins, seals)
• ☐ Refrigerator — clean exterior (doors, handles, top, sides)
• ☐ Oven/Range — clean interior (racks, walls, floor, door glass inside)
• ☐ Oven/Range — clean exterior (cooktop, control panel, handles, sides)
• ☐ Dishwasher — clean interior (racks, walls, door, filter area)
• ☐ Dishwasher — clean exterior (door panel, handle, controls)
• ☐ Microwave — clean interior and exterior (turntable, walls, door, controls)
• ☐ Range hood — clean exterior, filter area, underside, light covers
• ☐ Kitchen island — all surfaces, including underside overhang where dust collects
• ☐ Pantry — clean shelves, floor, walls, door
• ☐ Light fixtures — clean, remove dust and any paint overspray
• ☐ Windows — clean glass, tracks, sills, frames
• ☐ Floor — vacuum and mop with appropriate floor cleaner

Bathrooms (20 items per bathroom)

• ☐ Toilet — clean bowl interior with toilet brush and disinfectant
• ☐ Toilet — clean exterior: tank, lid, seat (top and bottom), base, bolts, behind
• ☐ Bathtub/Shower — scrub walls, floor, and ceiling with non-abrasive cleaner
• ☐ Shower glass door — clean both sides, tracks, rollers, handles
• ☐ Shower fixtures — polish showerhead, handles, diverter, drain cover
• ☐ Vanity countertop — clean with appropriate product
• ☐ Vanity sink — clean basin, polish faucet, clean drain ring
• ☐ Vanity cabinet — clean interior shelves, drawers, doors, hardware
• ☐ Mirror — clean streak-free, clean frame/edges
• ☐ Tile walls — clean all tile surfaces and grout lines
• ☐ Tile floor — clean tile and grout, including corners and behind toilet
• ☐ Towel bars and accessories — clean and polish all hardware
• ☐ Toilet paper holder — clean and polish
• ☐ Exhaust fan cover — remove, clean, replace
• ☐ Medicine cabinet — clean interior, mirror, shelves
• ☐ Light fixtures — clean, remove dust
• ☐ Window — clean glass, track, sill, frame
• ☐ Door and hardware — clean door surface, handle, hinges, strike plate
• ☐ Baseboards — wipe top and face
• ☐ Floor — final vacuum and mop

Bedrooms & Living Areas (15 items per room)

• ☐ Walls — spot-clean handprints, scuff marks, and construction marks
• ☐ Ceiling — check for and clean any visible dust, cobwebs, or marks
• ☐ Baseboards — wipe top surface and face, all four walls
• ☐ Crown molding — dust all visible surfaces
• ☐ Door frames — wipe both sides, top, and edges
• ☐ Doors — wipe both sides, top edge (often missed — inspectors check this)
• ☐ Door hardware — clean and polish knobs/levers, hinges, strike plates
• ☐ Window glass — clean interior, streak-free
• ☐ Window tracks — vacuum and wipe clean
• ☐ Window sills — wipe clean, check for paint drips or caulk residue
• ☐ Window frames — wipe all surfaces
• ☐ Light fixtures — clean globes, shades, bases, bulbs
• ☐ Outlet covers and switch plates — wipe clean (check for paint overspray)
• ☐ Closets — clean shelving, rod, floor, walls, door/track
• ☐ Floor — vacuum, mop, or clean per floor type

Windows — All Locations (8 items per window)

• ☐ Interior glass — clean and streak-free
• ☐ Exterior glass — clean (if accessible)
• ☐ Window tracks — vacuum debris, wipe with damp cloth
• ☐ Window sills — wipe clean, check for caulk or paint residue
• ☐ Window frames — wipe all four sides
• ☐ Remove ALL stickers, labels, and manufacturer stickers (interior and exterior)
• ☐ Remove paint overspray — use razor blade at 30° angle with soapy water
• ☐ Screens — vacuum or wash, reinstall

Stairways & Hallways (10 items)

• ☐ Stair treads — clean per material (wood: dust mop; carpet: vacuum; tile: mop)
• ☐ Stair risers — wipe clean
• ☐ Handrail — clean and polish entire length
• ☐ Balusters/spindles — wipe each one individually
• ☐ Newel posts — clean all surfaces, polish cap
• ☐ Hallway walls — spot-clean marks and handprints
• ☐ Hallway baseboards — wipe top and face
• ☐ Hallway light fixtures — clean
• ☐ Hallway floor — vacuum and mop
• ☐ Under-stair storage (if applicable) — clean interior

Laundry Room (8 items)

• ☐ Washer hookup area — clean wall, floor, valve area
• ☐ Dryer vent area — clean around vent connection, verify lint-free
• ☐ Utility sink (if present) — clean basin, faucet, traps
• ☐ Cabinets/shelving — clean interior and exterior
• ☐ Countertops — clean
• ☐ Light fixtures — clean
• ☐ Baseboards and walls — wipe
• ☐ Floor — vacuum and mop

Garage (8 items)

• ☐ Garage floor — sweep, shovel, or scrub (pressure wash if concrete is stained)
• ☐ Garage door interior — wipe down panels
• ☐ Garage door tracks — clean
• ☐ Garage door opener area — dust
• ☐ Electrical panel — clean surrounding area, maintain 36" clearance
• ☐ Storage areas — clean shelving and floor space
• ☐ Light fixtures — clean
• ☐ Windows (if any) — clean glass, tracks, sills

Mechanical / Utility Areas (10 items)

• ☐ Water heater area — clean floor, dust unit exterior
• ☐ Furnace/air handler area — clean floor and surrounding area
• ☐ HVAC registers — remove each register, clean register and surrounding opening, replace
• ☐ HVAC return air grilles — clean grille and opening
• ☐ HVAC filters — replace with new filters (confirm size with GC)
• ☐ Thermostat — wipe clean, ensure not blocked by dust
• ☐ Electrical panel — wipe exterior, ensure area is clean and accessible
• ☐ Smoke detectors — dust exterior, verify green light
• ☐ CO detectors — dust exterior, verify operation
• ☐ Sump pump area (if applicable) — clean area around pit

Exterior & Entry (8 items)

• ☐ Front entry — sweep, scrub, or pressure wash
• ☐ Front door — clean both sides, hardware, threshold, weatherstripping
• ☐ Rear/side entries — sweep and clean
• ☐ Patio/deck (if applicable) — sweep, remove debris
• ☐ Exterior windows — clean all accessible glass
• ☐ Exterior light fixtures — clean
• ☐ Mailbox/address numbers — clean and polish
• ☐ Driveway — sweep or blow debris from construction

Countertop Product Guide

Final Quality Check

• ☐ Walk entire home with flashlight — check at eye level and above
• ☐ Run white glove test on top of door frames, window casings, and cabinet tops
• ☐ Check all windows from multiple angles — look for streaks in different light
• ☐ Check all floors on hands and knees — look for missed spots, adhesive, dust
• ☐ Open and close every drawer and cabinet — verify clean interior
• ☐ Test every faucet — verify no lime/adhesive residue after water contact
• ☐ Photograph every room for documentation
• ☐ Note any damage or defects discovered during cleaning for GC