What after builders cleaning actually is
After builders cleaning (also called post-construction or sparkle cleaning) is the specialist clean that takes a property from 'tools down' to 'ready to hand over'. It's not a deep clean with extra effort — fine construction dust migrates into every surface, socket, hinge and cupboard runner, and it keeps re-settling for days unless it's removed methodically from ceiling to floor.
In London it's typically booked by developers, refurbishment contractors, property managers, letting agents and homeowners at the end of a kitchen, bathroom or full-flat refit. Insurance-backed teams with commercial vacuums and PPE do it in one pass; a domestic cleaner rarely can.
Three-stage process
Stage 1 — rough clean. Remove protective sheeting, tape, stickers on windows and appliances, large debris, offcuts and packaging. Bag paint splatters and plaster lumps. Vacuum every horizontal surface top-down with a HEPA commercial vac.
Stage 2 — detail clean. Every socket, switch, hinge, handle, skirting, door frame, radiator, window frame and light fitting is wiped. Kitchen units are cleaned inside and out, appliance protective films removed, oven and hob commissioned. Bathrooms are descaled and grout finished.
Stage 3 — final polish and dust-settle re-check. 24-48 hours after Stage 2, a shorter return visit picks up the secondary dust layer that always resettles. Skipping Stage 3 is the single most common reason a post-build clean fails inspection.
Room-by-room checklist
Kitchen: remove appliance films, wipe inside/outside every unit and drawer, degrease hob and extractor, commission oven, descale sink and taps, polish worktops, clear silicone smears, clean plinths and toe-kicks.
Bathrooms: descale tiles, screens, taps and shower heads, polish chrome, sanitise WC and basin, clean grout haze off new tiles, wipe extractor covers, mop and dry floors streak-free.
Bedrooms and living areas: HEPA-vacuum ceilings, cornices, walls, skirtings and floors, wipe every socket and switch, clean inside wardrobes and drawers, remove paint from door furniture, clean interior windows, frames and sills.
Communal / hallways: clean stair spindles, handrails, radiators, letterboxes, intercom panels, and vacuum carpets in overlapping passes. In blocks, protect and clean the lift lobby and any shared route the trades used.
What it costs in London
For a standard refurb, expect roughly £3.50–£6 per sq ft for a full three-stage clean, or a fixed price of around £280–£450 for a single kitchen or bathroom refit, £600–£950 for a 1–2 bed flat post-refurb, and £1,200+ for a whole-house renovation. High-end finishes (natural stone, brushed brass, hardwood, bespoke joinery) sit at the top of the range because they need method-specific products, not just more hours.
Prices climb when access is restricted (upper-floor flats with no lift, weekend-only access, single-lift buildings with time slots), when trades are still on site, or when the site was left dirtier than 'broom clean'. An honest quote asks for photos and the scope of works before pricing.
How to plan around the trades
Book the after-builders clean to start the day after the last trade leaves, not the same day. Silicone, paint and grout need to cure — cleaning wet sealant ruins the finish and voids the contractor's warranty.
For handovers to tenants, buyers or Airbnb guests, allow a 48-hour window between Stage 2 and the handover so the Stage 3 dust re-check can happen. For letting agents preparing an inventory, book the inventory clerk after Stage 3, never before.
What separates a professional job
HEPA-filtered commercial vacuums (not domestic uprights), pH-appropriate products for each surface, PPE, insurance that covers the trades' work as well as ours, a written scope, and a photo report at handover. If a quote skips any of those, the price is lower for a reason.