The build is done. The punch list is punched. But walk through any newly finished commercial space in Schaumburg or Oak Park and you'll find the same thing: a fine layer of drywall dust on everything. Post-construction cleaning isn't janitorial work — it's a specialty, and skipping steps here is how you hand over a space that looks finished but feels gritty.
Why regular cleaners can't do this
Construction dust is different. It's finer than household dust, mildly abrasive, and it settles into HVAC systems, light fixtures, and every horizontal surface — including ones 12 feet up. Standard cleaning equipment just moves it around. Post-construction work needs HEPA filtration, staged cleaning passes, and crews who know the difference between a rough clean and a final clean.
The three phases
Phase 1 — Rough clean. Remove debris, stickers, and bulk dust. Sweep and vacuum all surfaces. This happens right after the trades leave.
Phase 2 — Detailed clean. The real work: HEPA-vacuum every surface top to bottom, wipe down walls, clean inside cabinets and closets, wash interior windows (frames, tracks, and sills — not just glass), scrub restrooms and kitchens, dust vents and fixtures.
Phase 3 — Final touch. After the punch-list fixes. Light dusting, floor finishing (polish or wax), glass detailing, and a full walkthrough with the GC.
Skipping straight to Phase 3 is the most common mistake we see — and the reason dust "comes back" a week after handover.
The full checklist
- Debris and trash removal, all areas
- HEPA vacuum: ceilings, walls, all horizontal surfaces
- Interior windows: glass, frames, tracks, sills
- Light fixtures and switch plates
- Vents, returns, and thermostats
- Cabinets, closets, shelving — inside and out
- Restrooms: full scrub, fixtures polished
- Kitchens/break rooms: appliances wiped inside and out
- Baseboards, door frames, and trim
- Floors: vacuum, mop, then finish (wax/polish/buff as specified)
- Stickers, tape, and paint specks removed from glass and fixtures
- Final walkthrough with photo documentation
Timing it right
Book your post-construction crew before the project finishes — good crews in Cook County run 1–2 weeks out. Schedule Phase 1 the day after trades clear, and leave 2–3 buffer days before client handover for Phase 3. Dust settles for 24–48 hours after heavy work; cleaning too early just means doing it twice.
What it costs (honestly)
Post-construction cleaning in the Chicago area typically runs $0.25–$0.60 per square foot depending on project size, debris level, and how many phases you need. A 5,000 sq ft office buildout usually lands between $1,500 and $3,000. Get the quote in writing with the phase breakdown — "post-construction cleaning" means wildly different things to different vendors.
Handing over a space soon? Talk to us — we'll scope it from your floor plans and give you a phased quote with a real timeline, not a guess.