Adding Construction Cleaning to Your Residential Cleaning Business

Many cleaning companies specialize in construction cleanup, and some offer it to their customers who are remodeling or moving into a new home. Although it's a dirty, messy job, construction clean-up services can be a profitable niche or add-on for your residential cleaning business.

Most construction companies subcontract their construction cleaning to these companies because they don't have the equipment and supplies needed for this type of cleaning. Also, most construction workers don't have the attention to detail that cleaning companies have, so they're better off sub-contracting this part of the project.

When bidding on a construction cleaning job, you may have to bid it two to three times the normal cleaning price. This is because it's much more labor intensive and more supplies are used to complete the job.

When just getting started in construction cleaning, many companies don't realize just how much work is involved in getting a home ready for occupancy. Here are the basic steps needed to perform construction cleaning:

1. Remove large debris, putting it into the dumpster on the site.
2. Sweep or use a heavy duty vacuum or back pack vacuum to remove construction dust and smaller debris, starting high and working your way down.
3. Dust or wipe down surfaces such as walls, door frames, ledges, stair rails, etc.
4. Start wet cleaning - bathrooms, kitchens, countertops and any other areas that to be cleaned with cleaning chemicals like all-purpose cleaners, stainless steel cleaners or window cleaners. Remove stickers from fixtures and clean the insides of cabinets and drawers.
5. Clean windows and window frames. You may need additional tools to remove drywall mud and stickers. Be careful when cleaning windows, as they are easily scratched.
6. Sweep or vacuum hard floor surfaces and wet mop, making sure all drywall mud and paint is removed. Some flooring may need additional service. For example, VCT tile may need the factory finish stripped off and a new finish put on.
7. Detail vacuum the carpet, including all edges. Also remove all drywall mud and paint. Some carpet may need to be professionally cleaned if the contractors didn't provide enough protection from dirt and debris.
8. Walk through the space, touching up any areas that need it.

Here are some of the tools and supplies you should have with you to perform this type of cleaning efficiently:

• heavy duty trash bags
• brooms (preferably both corn broom and push broom)
• dust pans
• heavy duty vacuum cleaner or back pack vacuum
• mop bucket and wringer
• mop heads
• buckets
• hose
• scrub brushes and scrub pads
• rubber gloves
• protective eyewear
• safety signs
• microfiber cloths
• putty knives
• window washing equipment
  • window bucket
  • golden glove or strip washer
  • squeegee
  • extra rubber blades
  • scrapers or razor blades
  • #0000 steel wool
  • extension poles
• step ladders
• extension ladders
• ladder bumpers
• cleaning chemicals
  • neutral cleaners
  • stainless steel cleaner
  • all-purpose cleaner
  • window cleaner