Post-construction cleaning is not the same as regular house cleaning. The dust alone — fine drywall particles that settle on every surface, inside every cabinet, and deep into HVAC vents — requires HEPA-filtered equipment and a systematic multi-phase approach. If you try to clean a freshly renovated home with a standard vacuum, you'll redistribute the dust rather than remove it.
Green Planet Cleaning has cleaned hundreds of post-renovation and new construction homes across San Francisco, Marin County, and the East Bay. Here is exactly how professional post-construction cleaning works, what each phase includes, and how to know which service your project needs.
Phase 1: The Rough Clean
The rough clean happens during or immediately after construction, before final finishes are complete. The goal is to remove construction debris — wood scraps, drywall pieces, packaging materials, nails — and do a first pass on the heavy dust accumulation. This phase is often done in coordination with the general contractor.
During Phase 1, we use our Miele Classic C1 canister vacuums with HEPA filtration to vacuum all surfaces before any wet cleaning. This is critical: vacuuming first prevents drywall dust from turning into paste when it contacts water. We work systematically from ceiling to floor, covering walls, window sills, door frames, and all horizontal surfaces.
Phase 1 Rough Clean — What We Do
- ✓Remove all construction debris and packaging
- ✓HEPA vacuum all surfaces — walls, ceilings, floors
- ✓Vacuum inside all cabinets and drawers
- ✓Sweep and vacuum all floors
- ✓Remove construction stickers from windows (first pass)
- ✓Clear HVAC vents of surface-level dust
Post-construction cleaning requires specialized equipment and a systematic three-phase approach.
Phase 2: The Final Clean
The final clean is the most comprehensive phase and happens after all construction work is complete — every fixture installed, every appliance in place, every finish applied. This is the clean that makes the space ready for occupancy or handover.
Phase 2 requires a different approach than Phase 1. Now that surfaces are finished, we shift from heavy debris removal to detailed cleaning of every surface, inside every cabinet, every window, and every fixture. We use Mrs. Meyer's All-Purpose Cleaner for general surfaces, Bona Pro Series for hardwood floors, and Bar Keepers Friend for stainless steel fixtures and appliances.
Phase 2 Final Clean — What We Do
- ✓All surfaces cleaned and wiped — walls, trim, baseboards
- ✓Inside all cabinets, drawers, and closets
- ✓All appliances inside and out
- ✓Window cleaning — construction adhesive removal, tracks, sills
- ✓Bathroom deep clean — fixtures, tile, grout
- ✓Kitchen deep clean — counters, backsplash, sink
- ✓Floor cleaning appropriate to material (hardwood, tile, concrete)
- ✓Light fixtures and ceiling fans
- ✓Final walkthrough with punch list documentation
Key Takeaway
Never use a standard household vacuum on post-construction drywall dust. Fine drywall particles will pass through standard filters and be redistributed into the air. Always use HEPA-filtered equipment — it's not optional, it's the difference between cleaning and contaminating.
Why drywall dust is the hardest part
Drywall dust is composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate particles fine enough to stay airborne for hours. It settles on every horizontal surface — including inside HVAC ducts, on top of door frames, inside light fixtures, and behind appliances. Standard vacuums with paper bag filters will allow these particles to pass through and be expelled back into the air.
Our Miele Classic C1 vacuums use a 4-stage HEPA filtration system that captures 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. After vacuuming, we damp-wipe all surfaces with microfiber cloths — our ColoredClean™ system uses blue cloths for general surfaces and yellow cloths for bathrooms, preventing cross-contamination between areas.
"The biggest mistake homeowners make after a renovation is trying to clean the drywall dust themselves with a regular vacuum. You end up spreading it. You need HEPA filtration and a systematic top-to-bottom approach — otherwise you're just moving the problem around."— Green Planet Cleaning Operations Team
What does post-construction cleaning cost in San Francisco?
Post-construction cleaning in San Francisco is priced by square footage and scope, not by the hour. This gives you a predictable cost and ensures the job is done completely regardless of how long it takes.
| Service | Typical Range (SF Bay Area) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — Rough Clean | $0.08–$0.15/sq ft | During construction, debris removal |
| Phase 2 — Final Clean | $0.15–$0.25/sq ft | After all work complete, pre-occupancy |
| Phase 3 — Touch-Up | $0.05–$0.10/sq ft | Minor work, painting, flooring only |
| Full Package (1+2+3) | $0.25–$0.40/sq ft | Full renovations, new construction |
For a 1,500 sq ft, 2-bedroom renovation in San Francisco, a full post-construction clean runs approximately $840 based on our formula (4x the standard cleaning rate). Larger homes with more bedrooms and bathrooms will cost more. Per-square-foot rates above are industry averages for reference — our actual pricing is calculated based on your specific home layout. We provide exact quotes after a walkthrough or photo/video assessment.
