Post-Construction Cleaning for Builders in Winter Garden, Horizon West and Lake Nona
Drywall dust on every ledge, paint specks on the glass and a film on the new floors. Here is how we plan post-construction cleaning for builders after a new build or renovation, and how to fit it around your walkthrough and closing dates.
The trades leave, the punch list is almost done and the buyer walkthrough is on the calendar. Post-construction cleaning is the step that turns a finished job site into a home someone wants to move into.
We work with builders, contractors and homeowners in Winter Garden, Horizon West, Lake Nona, Windermere, Ocoee and across Central Florida. New construction in this area moves fast, and the cleaning often gets squeezed between the last trade and the closing date. Planning it early makes that squeeze much easier.
This guide covers what gets cleaned, how the phases usually work, where our team stops and how to schedule around closings and walkthroughs.
1 Why Construction Dust Is Different
Drywall sanding, sawing and grout work create very fine dust. It floats for hours, then settles on top of door frames, inside cabinets, on window tracks and in every HVAC register. One pass with a cloth just moves it around. It has to be vacuumed, then wiped, sometimes more than once.
In Florida, humidity makes it stick. Dust that lands on a damp window sill or a freshly installed tile turns into a thin film that looks clean from across the room and gray up close. That is what buyers notice when they run a finger along the baseboard.
2 Post-Construction Cleaning for Builders: Rough vs Final
Across the industry, post-construction cleaning is usually split into phases. The names vary from builder to builder, but the idea is the same.
| Phase | When it happens | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Rough clean | After drywall, paint and most trades are done | Loose dust and leftover residue removed from floors and surfaces so finish work can happen cleanly |
| Final clean | After the punch list, before the walkthrough | Every surface detailed: cabinets inside and out, glass, fixtures, baseboards, floors |
| Touch-up | Right before handover or closing | Quick pass for dust that settled again and any marks left by late repairs |
Most of our builder clients book the final clean and a touch-up. Tell us which phase you need and the stage of the job, and we will quote it. Details are on our Post-Construction Cleaning page.
3 What Gets Cleaned in a Final Clean
A final clean goes room by room, top to bottom, so dust from above does not land on surfaces that are already done.
Kitchen
Cabinet fronts, handles and shelves, countertops and backsplash, sink, outside of appliances. Inside the oven and fridge are add-ons at +$50 each.
Bathrooms
Tub, shower walls and glass, tile, toilets, vanities, mirrors and fixtures cleared of dust and residue.
Glass and windows
Window sills and blinds wet-cleaned. Glass and tracks can be added through our window cleaning service.
Trim, doors and floors
Baseboards, moldings, doors, frames and switch plates detailed. Floors vacuumed and mopped, carpet edges vacuumed.
Buyers do not see the framing or the wiring. They see the window sill, the inside of the cabinet and the corner of the shower. That is where the last day of a build gets judged.
Total Cleaning Services team
Walkthrough coming up? Get a builder cleaning quote.
Send the address, square footage, phase and target date. We usually reply the same day with a clear price.
4 Scheduling Around Walkthroughs and Closings
Book after the last trade
Painters, flooring and final electrical should be done. Every trade that comes back after the clean brings dust with it.
Leave a buffer before the walkthrough
Schedule the final clean a day or two ahead so there is time for a touch-up if the punch list adds work.
Ask for the first slot of the day
Our first appointment arrives on time. Later ones have a 1-hour arrival window, which matters on a tight closing day.
Give notice if dates move
Closings slip. We need 24 business hours of notice to reschedule; late cancellations and lockouts are charged 50% of the service.
Safety: what the builder should handle
Our team does not move items over 20 lb or climb above a two-step stool. Debris haul-off, dumpster loads, leftover materials and any high work, like tall foyer windows, two-story ledges or high fixtures, should be handled by the builder or a crew with the right equipment. For general job site safety guidance, see OSHA.
5 Post-Construction Cleaning FAQ for Builders
How much does a builder clean cost?
We price per job, based on the size of the home, the phase and how much dust and residue is left. Send the details and we usually reply the same day with a clear price.
Do you remove construction debris?
No. We clean dust, debris on surfaces and residue. Haul-off, heavy items and leftover materials should be cleared by the builder before we arrive.
Can you clean homes for a renovation, not a new build?
Yes. We clean after renovations and remodels as well as new builds, for homeowners and contractors.
What areas do you cover?
Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties, including Winter Garden, Horizon West, Lake Nona, Windermere, Ocoee, Gotha, Four Corners, Orlando and St. Cloud. See all our cleaning FAQs.
Hello, we are Total Cleaning Services.
Mariana Rocha grew up watching her mother clean homes in Brazil and built Total Cleaning Services on the same idea: treat every home like it is your own. Today our trained, background-checked team cleans homes and offices across Central Florida.
Finishing a build or remodel? Send us your walkthrough date and we will plan the clean around it.
Serving Winter Garden, Horizon West, Lake Nona, Windermere, Ocoee, Orlando and all of Central Florida.
