This is the checklist our crews work from on commercial final cleans. We are publishing it in full so you can use it two ways: to brief whoever is cleaning your site, or to inspect the work before you sign off.
Print it, hand it to your cleaning company, and ask them to sign it back.
Before the crew starts
- Confirm all trades are finished and off site
- Confirm power and water are on
- Confirm HVAC is running and filters have been changed after construction
- Confirm floor finishes are cured and safe to clean
- Agree what stays and what gets removed
- Confirm where debris goes and who pays for the dumpster
Ceilings and overhead
Always first. Everything you disturb up here lands on what you have already cleaned.
- Ceiling grid and tiles vacuumed or wiped
- Exposed ductwork, conduit and pipework dusted
- Light fixtures cleaned, lenses wiped inside and out
- Sprinkler heads and smoke detectors dusted carefully
- Vents, diffusers and return grilles cleaned
- Ceiling fans and high shelving
Walls and vertical surfaces
- Walls wiped or dusted from top to bottom
- Adhesive, tape residue and stickers removed
- Scuffs and handprints removed
- Switch plates and outlet covers cleaned
- Corner guards and wall protection wiped
- Baseboards cleaned, including the top edge
Glass and frames
- Interior glass partitions cleaned both sides
- Window glass cleaned, construction film and paint specks removed
- Frames, tracks and sills vacuumed then wiped
- Mirrors cleaned
- Glass doors, including push plates and handles
Paint specks on glass need a blade and a steady hand. It is slow, and it is the detail building owners notice first.
Doors and hardware
- Door faces, edges and tops cleaned
- Frames and stops wiped
- Handles, hinges, closers and kick plates cleaned
- Protective film removed from hardware
Millwork, casework and cabinets
- Cabinets cleaned inside, including drawers and shelves
- Cabinet fronts, edges and toe kicks wiped
- Countertops cleaned and polished to the finish type
- Sinks, taps and drains cleaned
- Protective film removed from appliances and fixtures
Restrooms
- Fixtures cleaned and sanitised
- Partitions wiped both sides, including the tops
- Mirrors, dispensers and dryers cleaned
- Tile and grout cleaned, grout haze removed
- Floor drains cleared
- Dispensers stocked if that is in your scope
Floors – last, and by finish type
Different finishes need different work. This is where inexperienced crews cause damage.
- Polished or sealed concrete – dust mop, auto-scrub, avoid harsh chemicals that dull the finish
- VCT – scrub, and strip and wax only if that is in scope and the tile has cured
- LVT and vinyl plank – neutral cleaner only, no aggressive pads
- Carpet tile – vacuum thoroughly, then hot water extract if specified
- Ceramic and porcelain tile – remove grout haze, clean grout lines
- Wood – manufacturer-approved cleaner only, minimal moisture
Ask before anyone puts a machine on a new floor. A wrong pad on the wrong finish is an expensive mistake, and it usually cannot be undone.
Final pass before handover
- Walk the space with the checklist in hand
- Check corners, behind doors and inside cabinets
- Look at glass from both directions with the light behind you
- Check floor edges and under any remaining equipment
- Photograph each area for the record
- Sign off the checklist and file it
How to inspect the work
- The white glove test on high surfaces. Run a finger along the top of a door frame or a duct. Dust up here means the crew worked bottom up.
- Look at glass at an angle. Straight on, most glass looks clean. At an angle with light behind it, you see film and streaks.
- Open every cabinet. Cabinet interiors are the most commonly skipped item on a commercial final clean.
Use it as a contract document
The strongest thing you can do with a checklist like this is attach it to the quote. When the scope is written down and signed, there is no argument about what was included.
Every job we do gets a written scope and a photo-verified checklist filed afterwards. If you want a copy of the checklist we use for your building type, ask and we will send it.