Cleaning Tips

Post-Construction Cleaning Tips for Vacation Rental Hosts

With every renovation or new construction, the last task is to ensure the site is safe, neat, and organized. Although post-construction cleaning is best left to expert cleaners, property owners still must understand what it entails. This enables them to coordinate the different phases of the construction work or renovation, and eventually be able to welcome guests into their new space.

By The Turno Team

Last updated: November 18, 2023

Tools and Supplies for Airbnb Construction Cleaning Services

Some post-construction cleaning tasks need very particular equipment and tools, but generally, construction cleanup can be done using these easily available cleaning supplies:

  • A vacuum cleaner with different nozzle attachments
  • Heavy-duty trash cans or bags
  • Mops, wringers, or dusters
  • Degreasers like baking soda, white vinegar, and lemon juice
  • Window cleaners
  • Putty knives and scrapers
  • Painter’s or masking tape
  • Microfiber cloths
  • Cleaners and disinfectants for bathrooms
  • Broom and dustpan
  • All-purpose cleaner or soap
  • Personal protective equipment such as dust masks
before and after image of a home undergoing renovations

Vacation Rental Areas for Post-Construction Cleaning

Once you have identified the right cleaning supplies and equipment, all the construction site areas in your short-term rental must be fully prepared for cleaning. Some of the main areas to be cleaned may include:

Indoor Areas

A new construction project or renovation often leaves a building’s interior, including the living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, dusty and messy.

The process of cleaning should involve dusting, wiping, vacuum cleaning, and mopping these areas. Appliances, bathtubs, showerheads, sinks, and stovetops must also be cleaned, and all trash should be collected and discarded.

Bathrooms and kitchens demand a more thorough cleanup since the spaces require high standards of hygiene.

Areas With High Traffic

Areas in a vacation rental that may be subjected to constant, heavy traffic are corridors, entryways, and doors into and out of the home.

Areas with high traffic are more prone to damage, which can be slowed down by regular maintenance and repair. Therefore, the cleanup checklist for such areas may involve ensuring lights are working and cleaning reflective surfaces accordingly.

Outdoor Areas

People are often tempted to leave unorganized outdoor areas of a construction site at the mercy of the elements. Nonetheless, outdoor spaces should be cleaned and organized during post-construction cleaning to help make your guests feel welcomed and comfortable in your rental.

Cleaning messy outdoor spaces may involve sweeping walkways and putting away construction supplies no longer in use.

Phases of Vacation Rental Post-Construction Cleaning

During and after your short-term rental renovation or new build, keep these steps in mind to ensure your property is guest-ready in no time.

Pre-Cleaning

You can actually start post-construction cleaning before the completion of your new build or renovation work.

Pre-cleaning may involve floor cleaning after the installation of drywall to get rid of irritating dust and dirt. In fact, the best way to clean construction dust is to prevent it from accumulating to the point of becoming overwhelming.

Rough Cleaning

Rough cleaning should be started once framing, plumbing, and electrical installation are immediately complete. This phase of cleaning entails the removal of large pieces of trash and debris. Then, vacuum cleaning or general dusting and sweeping should follow.

Generally, rough cleaning is vital for safeguarding the construction site from being overwhelmed by dust and debris.

male sweeping broken dry plaster from wooden floors

Light Cleaning

This post-construction cleaning phase involves numerous cleaning tasks and requires an array of supplies and tools. With light cleaning, rooms serving specific purposes, such as kitchens, are thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom. Other components installed in the building that need to be cleaned include windows, sinks, glass areas, and cabinets.

Due to the arduous nature of the light cleaning phase, property owners often prefer to hire cleaning professionals.

Final Cleaning

Also referred to as touch-up cleaning, this phase is usually undertaken a couple of days after a light cleaning. It’s essential to eliminate any dirt and dust that may have been left behind.

The final cleaning phase generally doesn’t take long since thorough cleaning has already been done. There may only be a need to clean concealed spaces and eliminate small imperfections like smears and fingerprints.

Tips for Cleaning Your Airbnb During Post-Construction

The most important tip when conducting a post-construction cleanup is to have a plan to follow. For example, one of the best post-construction cleaning practices is to clean one building space one at a time from the top to the bottom of a room. To make sticking to your plan easier, consider using a post-construction cleaning checklist.

Before you begin cleaning, however, gather and discard as much dirt and debris as possible to contain and reduce the spreading of construction dust. You should also protect building areas not affected by the renovation or new construction from getting littered by any spreading dust. Further, all ducts and vents should be sealed to avoid the trapping of dust.

Safeguard your possessions like furniture. Move your possessions away from areas needing a cleanup so that they are not left exposed to construction dust. Dust settling deep in upholstered fabrics may require costly supplies and equipment for cleaning.

Make use of a drop cloth. This material can assist in safeguarding your floors and even furniture against harmful construction materials and activities such as painting. Avoid using newspapers since they easily tear.

Home interior draped in sheets for construction work to happen

Should You Hire Professional Post-Construction Cleanup Services?

There is no doubt that post-construction cleaning is a laborious and delicate process. For this reason, many vacation rental property owners avoid handling the job themselves and instead leave it to experts. Hired expert cleaners come with lots of training, experience, and supplies necessary to complete the task.

Reasons to consider hiring post-construction cleaning services include:

  • It ensures the safety of guests who book a stay with you in the future. When using a professional cleaning service, there is less risk of harmful materials and equipment being left behind.
  • Professional post-construction cleaners have state-of-the-art equipment and supplies and are highly knowledgeable.
  • Because of years of training and experience, cleaning professionals understand that particular areas in a short-term rental home will need closer attention.
  • Cleaning will be done meticulously, following the tried and tested post-construction cleaning phases.

Find a Construction Cleanup Service Near Me

Airbnb hosting has become increasingly popular, as people are looking for passive ways to make extra income. For current hosts who are looking to renovate their vacation rental — or for aspiring hosts looking to build or invest in a new rental property — professional post-construction cleaning will be extremely beneficial.

To find professional cleaning services near you, visit the Turno cleaner marketplace.

The Turno Team Avatar
The Turno Team , The Turno Team researches and publishes articles designed to provide short-term rental Hosts, Property Managers, and Airbnb Cleaners with insightful, useful resources. Articles written by the Turno Team cover a wide range of STR interests, from the latest industry data and best practices to real-world, practical advice on running efficient, revenue-generating vacation rental businesses in an ever-changing market.