If you've just had building work done, here's the honest answer: "the builders cleaned up" and "the space is actually ready to use" are two completely different things. Most disappointment with after builders cleaning comes down to not knowing what should be included — so here's what a proper job actually covers, stage by stage.

It's not the same as a regular clean

Construction dust behaves differently to household dust. It's finer, it's abrasive, and it doesn't just sit on surfaces — it works its way into vents, light fittings, window tracks, the tops of door frames, behind radiators, and inside cabinets that were closed the whole time. A normal clean (hoover, wipe surfaces, mop floor) will make a room look clean and completely miss this. Within a day or two, that dust resettles and the "clean" space looks dusty again. That's usually the moment people realise they needed a specialist job, not a standard one.

What should actually be included

A proper after builders clean covers:

• Full dust removal — not just visible surfaces, but light fittings, sockets, switches, extractor vents, window ledges and tracks, skirting boards, and the tops of anything tall (wardrobes, cabinets, door frames)

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• Fixture and surface detailing — kitchen units, worktops, sinks, taps, bathroom fittings, cleaned and checked for adhesive, paint, or

silicone residue left behind by trades

• Glass and window cleaning — inside (and often outside) glazing,

frames, and tracks, since this is one of the first things anyone notices

• Floor cleaning appropriate to the finish — tiles, hardwood, and

stone all need different treatment; the wrong product at this stage

can damage a brand-new floor

• Removal of protective film, stickers, and paint splashes from

appliances, glass, and fittings

• A final walkthrough check — a good cleaner checks their own work

against what's actually finished, rather than just clocking off when

the time's up

What it should not include

Worth knowing this too, so you're not caught out:

• Structural repairs or fixing damage (chipped tiles, scratched glass, dented joinery) — that's on the trade that caused it, not the cleaner

• Heavy rubble or waste removal — that should already be cleared by the builder before the clean starts

• Hazardous material handling (asbestos, chemical residue) — that

needs a licensed specialist, not a standard cleaning team

The one thing to get in writing before work starts

Get "final clean" specifically scoped in your contractor's quote or

agreement — not just assumed. Ask exactly what's included, because "clean" means wildly different things to different people. A five-line scope agreed up front saves a very awkward conversation at handover.

When to book it

As soon as you know your completion date — not after. The tighter the gap between "trades finish" and "you need the space," the harder it is to get a specialist team scheduled properly rather than rushed.

If you're in Dublin and want to see what a properly scoped after

builders clean looks like in practice — what's covered, how it's

priced, and what "done properly" actually means —

Hexaclean Solutions' after builders cleaning specialists page breaks it down in detail.