The complete post-renovation cleaning checklist (Singapore edition)

If you've just finished a renovation, you already know: renovation dust is a different beast. It's fine, gritty, and it finds its way into places you didn't even know existed — inside drawers that were closed the whole time, behind appliances that were covered, on top of curtain rails three metres up.

A regular weekly clean isn't enough. The dust needs to be physically removed in a specific order, with the right equipment. Here's the full checklist for a thorough post-renovation cleaning job — feel free to use it yourself, or to check whether a hired cleaner is actually doing the work properly.

Before you start

• Confirm the job is finished. Do not clean while drilling, sanding or touch-ups are still under way. Follow the stated curing time for fresh paint, grout and sealant.
• Ventilate the unit. Open doors and windows where it is safe to do so. The National Environment Agency (NEA) recommends fresh-air ventilation during and after cleaning.
• Use suitable equipment. NEA recommends a vacuum with a HEPA filter for household cleaning. For cement, plaster or other construction residue, also confirm that the vacuum is rated for fine dust; use microfibre cloths, a soft-bristle brush and a stable stepladder.
• Order matters. Always clean top-to-bottom. Clean the floor first and you'll just have to clean it again.

The golden rule: top to bottom, dry before wet

Dust falls. So you start from the ceiling and work your way down. And always vacuum or dry-brush first before any wet wiping — wiping a dusty surface with a damp cloth just smears it into a paste.

Ceiling + walls

• Vacuum the ceiling corners, where the wall meets the ceiling and dust collects in cobweb-style streaks
• Wipe ceiling fans — top of blades + motor housing
• Vacuum the accessible aircon front panel and louvres without dismantling the unit. If dust has entered the coil or drainage system, book an aircon inspection so the appropriate service can be confirmed.
• Wipe down all walls with a dry cloth first, then a damp one
• Check above door frames and on top of doors (always missed)
• Light fixtures + lampshades — both inside and outside

Windows and frames

• Vacuum window tracks (where dust + grit settle)
• Wipe inside and outside of all glass
• Clean window grilles — both sides
• Wipe window sills
• Don't forget the tops of curtain rods and pelmets

Kitchen

The kitchen is usually the dustiest room because of all the cabinet work. Allow extra time here.

• Cabinet tops first, then doors, handles and lower plinths as you work down
• Inside every cabinet and drawer — open, vacuum, wipe
• If the fridge can be moved safely, switch it off and unplug it first, then vacuum the accessible floor and wall behind it. Leave coils and electrical parts to the appliance instructions or a technician.
• Hood and inside vent — degrease if it's been used during reno
• Stovetop, including under the gas burners
• Inside the oven and microwave
• Sink + tap + dishwasher (if installed)
• Countertops — be careful with stone surfaces (no acidic cleaners on marble)
• Behind the stove + above the hood
• Inside the under-sink cabinet — these collect water-damaged dust patches

Bathrooms

• Tile grout — fine cement dust gets trapped here. Brush it out.
• Shower glass — descale + polish
• Behind and underneath the toilet
• Outside of the toilet cistern, flush controls and lid
• Top of the mirror cabinet (yes, dust accumulates on top)
• Floor drains — flush + clean the strainer (fine cement grit washed down during reno is a common cause of a slow-draining bathroom later)
• Inside cabinet drawers (often left dusty by contractors)

Bedrooms + living areas

• Inside the wardrobe and all drawers — open, vacuum, wipe
• Behind the wardrobe (if accessible)
• Top of the wardrobe
• All skirting boards
• Plug socket faces (dust around the prong holes — use a dry brush)
• Top of door frames
• Air vents (if applicable)
• Behind sofa, bookshelf, TV unit

Floors — saved for last

• Vacuum (with HEPA filter) the entire floor surface, including baseboards
• Mop with neutral floor cleaner — twice. The first pass picks up the dust paste; the second polishes.
• Pay extra attention to corners and grout lines on tiled floors
• Wood floors: damp cloth, never wet

The areas almost every cleaner misses

These are the places most often missed during a rushed clean:

• Top of door frames and tops of doors
• Behind the fridge and washing machine
• Socket and switch faceplates only. Keep moisture and tools away from the openings; never insert a brush or cloth. If a fitting is damaged or dust has entered it, use an EMA-licensed electrical worker. See EMA's electrical-safety guidance.
• Inside the dishwasher seal
• Behind the toilet base where it meets the floor
• Inside the false ceiling access panel (where the AC piping runs)
• Top of the hot water tank

How long to allow

As at 31 July 2026, SparkFlow's service estimates are 5–7 hours for a 3-room HDB, 6–8 hours for a 4-room and 7–9 hours for a 5-room, assuming the unit is empty. Larger, furnished or unusually dusty homes may take a full day or more. Build that time into your renovation timeline instead of squeezing the clean into handover day.

A professional crew may complete both passes in one visit. A DIY clean can be split across two sessions if the dust load is heavy. Either way, inspect surfaces between passes and allow disturbed dust to settle before the final wipe.

The two questions to ask any cleaner

Before you book, ask:

1. "Do you use a HEPA vacuum?" If no — keep looking. Regular vacuums blow fine dust right back out.
2. "How do you confirm the residue is gone?" The number of wet-wipe passes depends on the surface and dust load. Ask for a final white-cloth check on cabinet tops, door frames and other high ledges.

The takeaway

Post-reno cleaning isn't a more thorough version of weekly cleaning — it's a different job. Top-to-bottom, dry-then-wet, with the right equipment and enough time. Done right, you should be able to run a white cloth along the top of any door frame and have it come back clean.