This is the checklist our crews actually work to. Use it to scope your own clean, to brief a cleaning contractor, or to walk a site and check the clean you paid for actually happened. It covers a standard residential or multi residential builders clean at the detail stage; the sparkle pass repeats the presentation items closer to handover.
Kitchen
- All joinery cleaned inside and out, shelves and drawer runners included
- Bench tops and splashbacks cleaned and polished, protective film removed
- Sink, tapware and drainer descaled and polished
- Appliance fronts cleaned, protective film removed, packaging cleared
- Rangehood and filters degreased
- Kickboards wiped and paint flecks removed
- Overhead cupboard tops cleaned even though nobody can see up there
Bathrooms and ensuites
- Tiles washed, grout haze removed
- Shower screens descaled and polished both sides
- Bath, basin and toilet detailed and sanitised
- Tapware and towel rails polished
- Mirrors and cabinets cleaned inside and out
- Floor waste grates lifted and cleaned
- Silicone lines wiped clean without cutting fresh beads
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wardrobes cleaned inside, shelves and rails wiped
- Skirtings, sills and architraves dusted and wiped
- Light switches, power points and door hardware cleaned
- Ceiling fans and light fittings dusted
- Sliding door tracks vacuumed and wiped
- Walls spot cleaned for marks and adhesive
Glazing
- All glass cleaned inside and out, scraped where render or paint has landed
- Frames, tracks and sills vacuumed and wiped
- Flyscreens dusted or washed
- Labels and stickers removed from every pane
- Checked in raking light before sign off
Floors
- Hard floors vacuumed and mopped to the edges and corners
- Paint, plaster and adhesive spots lifted without scratching
- Carpets vacuumed, edges included
- Stairs detailed including balustrade and handrail
Garage, external and common areas
- Garage floor swept and scrubbed
- Balconies and terraces swept, washed and glass detailed
- Entry doors, frames and external light fittings cleaned
- Letterboxes cleaned inside and out
- On multi residential: lobbies, lifts, corridors and bin rooms to the same standard
The final detail pass
- Every switch, handle and touch point rechecked
- Every drawer and cupboard opened one last time
- Floor edges and corners rechecked
- A supervisor walks the whole scope against this list with the site manager before sign off
What is usually NOT in a builders clean
Worth knowing before you compare quotes, because this is where cheap quotes hide their gaps: bulk rubbish and building waste removal, carpet steam cleaning, external pressure washing, and surface repairs are normally separate line items. A good quote names them either way so nothing is assumed.
For what each stage costs to run, see the 7 factors that set a builders clean quote, and for how long each takes, real durations from real programs.
We run this exact list as part of our builders clean service across 801+ handovers across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, with a supervisor sign off and a before and after photo report on every job. If you want it run on yours, send plans or site details and we will return an itemised quote inside 24 hours.
The Builders Clean team