Use this as the scope you hand to a cleaner, or as the list you walk the site with before your client does. It covers the tasks that appear on commercial handover snag lists in Melbourne, in the order the work should be done.

Before you start

Three things determine whether the rest of the list is achievable.

Debris out first. All rubbish, offcuts, packaging, protective boards and film removed from site before detailed cleaning begins.

Work high to low. Ceilings, bulkheads and high surfaces before joinery, joinery before floors. Floors are always last.

Vacuum before wiping. HEPA-filtered vacuum on every surface first. Wiping fine dust without vacuuming just spreads it.

Get the sequence wrong and every item below has to be repeated.

Ceilings, walls and high surfaces

  • Ceiling tiles, grilles, vents and registers vacuumed and wiped
  • Air conditioning filters checked and cleaned
  • Light fittings, diffusers and exit signage cleaned
  • Sprinkler heads, smoke detectors and speakers dusted
  • Bulkheads and tops of partitions dusted
  • Walls spot-cleaned, scuffs and hand marks removed
  • Cornices, ceiling perimeters and service penetrations dusted
  • Tops of door frames and door leaves cleaned, both faces
  • Paint spots and adhesive removed from walls and frames

Joinery, fixtures and fittings

  • All cupboards and drawers cleaned inside and out, including runners
  • Tops of overhead units and cabinet kicks vacuumed and wiped
  • Benchtops cleaned and, where applicable, polished
  • Shelving cleaned and protective film removed
  • Handles, hinges and hardware cleaned and polished
  • Switches, power points and data plates wiped, paint removed
  • Skirtings, architraves and reveals wiped
  • Appliance interiors and exteriors cleaned, all film and stickers removed
  • Silicone smears and sealant residue removed
  • Labels, barcodes and manufacturer stickers removed from all fittings

Glass, windows and partitions

  • All internal and external glass detailed both sides where accessible
  • Glazed partitioning and door glass cleaned, checked in raking light
  • Frames, reveals, tracks and drainage channels vacuumed and wiped
  • Protective film removed from all glazing
  • Adhesive residue, paint spots and silicone removed from glass and frames
  • Mirrors cleaned and polished
  • Balustrades and glass screens cleaned
  • Manifestation decals cleaned around without damage

Wet areas

  • Tiles cleaned and grout haze removed
  • Grout lines detailed, construction residue removed
  • Tapware, spouts and outlets cleaned and polished
  • Basins, sinks, toilets, urinals and showers cleaned
  • Shower screens detailed, film removed
  • Floor wastes and drains cleared of grit and debris
  • Mirrors, cabinets and dispensers cleaned
  • Extraction fans and vents cleaned
  • Cistern tops, brackets and pipework wiped
  • Kitchen and tea point joinery cleaned inside and out

Floors and final walk

  • All floors vacuumed with HEPA filtration
  • Hard floors cleaned to suit the surface: vinyl, tile, timber, polished concrete
  • Grout and edges detailed where floors meet skirtings
  • Carpet vacuumed thoroughly, spot-treated where marked
  • Paint, adhesive and plaster residue removed from floors
  • Lift and stair thresholds cleaned
  • Entries, balconies and immediate external areas swept and washed
  • Final walk in daylight and under artificial light, checking glass and floors from a low angle

That last item catches more defects than anything else on the list. Streaks and residue only show at certain angles.

Turn the checklist into a scope

A checklist is only useful if it is attached to the engagement. Have your cleaner confirm the scope in writing, room by room, and note anything excluded so there are no variations at invoice time.

We do this as standard: a written scope of works before we start, a fixed price, and resourcing to your handover date. If your client flags a cleaning item afterwards, we return and fix it.

Send us your project details or call 0431 265 151 and we will scope it against this list.