Your Essential Guide to the Post Construction Clean Up Checklist for a Spotless New Build in Sonoma County

Why a Checklist Matters Here

Pass final inspections without drama. Permit Sonoma expects the building to be complete, unlocked or accessible, with fixtures installed before final inspection. A clean, organized site helps approvals go faster and avoids “call us when it’s ready.”

Protect health and finishes. Construction dust can be ultra-fine. Using HEPA vacuums, microfiber, and non-abrasive methods prevents scratched glass and dull paint.

Deliver a photo-ready, move-in experience. Whether it’s a Healdsburg tasting room or a Windsor office suite, polished surfaces help leasing and sales teams hit the ground running.

The 3-Phase Post Construction Clean Up Checklist

Phase 1: Rough Clean

• Remove bulk debris and packaging; stage recyclables and landfill items by stream. For debris boxes, verify the provider is allowed where you’re placing the container.
• Sweep and HEPA-vac high-traffic areas; magnet-sweep exterior where fasteners may be present.
• Rough window scrape and sticker removal using correct blades and angles.
• Leave clear paths for trades to finish punch items.

Phase 2: Detail Clean

• Top-down dusting (ceilings, beams, vents, fixtures).
• Wipe walls, doors, trim, and baseboards; sanitize switches and plates.
• Cabinets: vacuum and wipe inside/out, shelves, and toe-kicks.
• Kitchens: appliance exteriors, backsplash haze, counters, sinks, and fixtures.
• Bathrooms: grout haze, silicone smears, mirrors edge-polish, and fixtures.
• Mechanical rooms: clean return and supply grilles; wipe access panels.
• Interior glass: safe scrape, squeegee, and polish.

Phase 3: Final Touch & Punch

• Floors: dust mop, HEPA vacuum, then finish—extract carpet; neutralize and burnish resilient or apply appropriate hard-surface care.
• Stainless: remove films and fingerprints; polish to uniform sheen.
• Smudge patrol on handles, handrails, partitions, and mirrors.
• Joint walk with the superintendent; close out remaining specks.

Room-by-room mini checklists

Lobby, Reception & Common Areas

• Dust high surfaces (bulkheads, beams, signage), door tops/frames, and millwork.
• Detail clean thresholds, floor transitions, baseboards, and wall protection.
• Wipe and sanitize push plates, switch plates, badge readers, elevator buttons, and handrails.
• HEPA-vac and damp mop floors; remove tape residue and paint specks from hard surfaces.
• Final polish on reception desks, transaction counters, and display fixtures.

Conference Rooms & Collaboration Spaces

• Clean table undersides/legs, chair bases, and casters; remove plastic films and labels.
• Detail AV components, touchscreens, control panels, and cable grommets.
• Wipe glass partitions, marker boards, and door lights; remove fingerprints and smudges.
• HEPA-vac carpet edges and corners; spot treat adhesive or dust lines.

Breakrooms, Kitchens & Cafés

• Remove protective films; clean cabinet interiors, shelves, and toe-kicks.
• Detail appliance exteriors (fridges, microwaves, dishwashers) and gasket edges.
• De-haze backsplashes, countertops, and stainless; sanitize sinks and fixtures.
• Degrease floor around prep zones; scrub and rinse floor drains where applicable.

Restrooms (Employee & Public)

• Descale and sanitize fixtures; remove grout haze and silicone smears.
• Clean partitions, dispensers, hardware, and under-mounts; polish mirrors.
• Wipe exhaust fan covers and door tops; detail tile base and corners.
• Mop with a neutral cleaner; verify no construction residue around drains.

Offices, Cubicles & Training Rooms

• Dust tops of systems furniture, panels, and overheads; vacuum drawer boxes.
• Wipe outlets, data plates, and new device covers; remove sticker residue.
• Detail window tracks, sills, and screens; clean light lens covers.
• HEPA-vac carpet (including edges) or dust-mop hard surfaces prior to final finish.

Retail Floor & Customer Areas

• Remove adhesive from shelving, gondolas, and price rails.
• Polish glass cases and product displays; clean fitting room mirrors and hooks.
• Detail entry mats and thresholds; spot clean walls and kickplates.
• Final floor pass: burnish/auto-scrub (hard floors) or extract (carpet) as needed.

Back-of-House, Warehouse & Loading

• Sweep, HEPA-vac, and damp mop slab; remove pallet debris and banding.
• Dust racking, conduit, and equipment guards; clean dock levelers and seals.
• Wipe electrical panels and label covers (exterior only); clear around eyewash and safety stations.
• Magnet-sweep where fasteners may remain; confirm clear, safe egress paths.

Mechanical, IT & Utility Rooms

• Dust water heaters, air handlers, and exterior panels; clean intake/return grilles.
• Wipe pipe insulation jackets, drip pans (exterior), and access doors.
• Remove packaging from filters, belts, and spare parts storage; sweep/mop floors.

Storefront, Interior Glass & Windows

• Use correct razor blades at the proper angle for sticker/overspray removal.
• Squeegee clean both sides of storefronts, sidelights, partitions, and door lights.
• Detail frames, tracks, and weep holes; finish with a lint-free wipe for a streak-free look.

Waste, Recycling & Local Compliance

1) Plan before you demo. Start by confirming the job’s jurisdiction—Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, or unincorporated Sonoma—because service areas and approved haulers vary. Set a baseline diversion target of at least 65% under CALGreen-level expectations and build that goal into your schedule, container mix, and subcontractor scopes. Map the roll-off location, truck approach, swap space, and any access constraints (downtown corridors like Railroad Square, retail centers, HOAs, limited delivery hours) so debris handling doesn’t choke your critical path.

2) Order the right containers. Use approved providers for C&D roll-offs and verify coverage, container sizes, and swap lead times before mobilization. Match your box mix to expected streams—for many projects that means a primary C&D recycle box, a secondary landfill box for contamination or true trash, plus specialty concrete/metal/clean wood bins when volumes warrant. If placement requires using the public right-of-way, coordinate any permits and traffic control with the city in advance so delivery doesn’t slip.

3) Sort and stage. Treat separation like a production task: label every box clearly, post simple bilingual signage with photos of acceptable materials, and give subs a 60-second tailgate talk on what goes where. Keep small, labeled “mini-stations” near high-waste zones—cabinet install, flooring, storefront glazing—so crews don’t walk debris across the site and cross-contaminate boxes. This tiny investment prevents costly contamination fees and keeps your diversion rate on track.

4) Track your diversion like a pro. Save every weight ticket and swap receipt, and attach them to your daily log or upload them same-day to your project drive. Take quick photos of each box before pickup to document material type, fullness, and separation. Maintain a running spreadsheet (date, box type, tons, destination) so you can produce CALGreen-ready numbers in minutes rather than hunting through emails at closeout.

5) Close out with clean paperwork. Wrap the job with a one-page diversion summary that totals tons, calculates the recycled percentage, and lists destinations, then attach all tickets and photos. Submit any city-specific forms—some jurisdictions, like Santa Rosa, require franchised haulers and may ask for diversion documentation—and include the entire debris package in your owner turnover binder alongside warranties and O&M manuals. A tidy paper trail signals a tidy project.

6) Handle special/hazardous items correctly. Keep universal waste (bulbs, batteries, electronics) out of C&D boxes and stage it for compliant disposal. Manage leftover paint, adhesives, and sealants according to label guidance or take-back programs, and control airborne dust by keeping debris moist during high-dust phases while using HEPA vacuums indoors. Smart handling protects worker health, finishes, and your schedule.

7) Avoid common pitfalls. Prevent contamination by covering boxes when unattended and performing quick daily checks; one bag of mixed trash in a concrete bin can trigger fees. Right-size your containers to the phase—too small means constant swaps, too big can block access—and pre-book your final swap 24–48 hours before the final clean so you’re not doing detail work around a full box on inspection day.

Scheduling Your Clean Around Inspections

Plan your rough clean after drywall sanding, your detail clean after finish installs, and your final touch just before the final inspection so dust doesn’t resettle. Permit Sonoma’s guidance emphasizes that buildings must be complete and accessible for final inspection—schedule cleaning to make that true.

Pro tip: During windy weeks or wildfire season, add an extra dust pass on window tracks and entries; Sonoma winds pull particulates into every gap.

Your Printable Post-Construction Clean-Up Checklist