The 87 things a post-renovation cleaner should check.

Renovation contractors in KL vary wildly in how clean they leave a unit at handover. Some sweep the floors and call it done. A small number actually run a wet wipe over the cabinetry. None of them, in my twelve years on this side of the business, has ever cleaned the inside of an aircon vent.

The checklist below is what our crews run during a post-renovation visit. We are publishing it for a reason: even if you do not use Bayleaf, you can hand this list to your contractor or to whichever crew you have hired and hold them to it. The 24 hours after handover and before move-in are easily the most important cleaning hours your home will ever see.

Pre-walk through

1. Take photos of every visible defect before any work begins.
2. Confirm the contractor has removed all builder rubbish, not just bagged it.
3. Verify aircon servicing was actually done if it was in the scope.
4. Note any wet patches near plumbing — these need investigation, not cleaning.

Kitchen

5. Wipe inside every wall cabinet, top shelf to bottom.
6. Hinge wells and concealed runners — vacuum, then wipe.
7. Underside of upper cabinets where lighting cables run.
8. Backs of base cabinets where plumbing emerges.
9. Drawer interiors, including any silverware caddies.
10. Soft-close mechanisms tested and wiped.
11. Inside of oven cavity, hob underside, extractor filter.
12. Counter joints where silicone bead meets stone.
13. Splashback grouting — leachate removal where present.
14. Sink basin and underside, including grinding flange.
15. Tap chrome, including the back where it joins the wall.
16. Cabinet doors — both faces, plus the edges.

Bathrooms (apply to each)

17. WC inside, outside, base ring, behind the cistern.
18. Basin, including the drain plug mechanism.
19. Mixer tap chrome, including the underside.
20. Shower screen, both faces, including the bottom seal.
21. Shower tray base, including the floor drain.
22. Showerhead descaled and wiped.
23. Tile faces, both wall and floor.
24. Grouting — particularly anywhere cementitious leachate is visible.
25. Bath ledge, if a tub is present.
26. Toilet roll holder and any chrome accessories.
27. Mirror, including the silvered edge for hairline scratches.
28. Extractor fan grille — lift it, wipe both sides.
29. Floor drain — clear builder debris caught in the trap.
30. Skirting tile, especially behind the WC.

Bedrooms (apply to each)

31. Wardrobe interior, every shelf and drawer.
32. Top of wardrobe (yes, with a ladder).
33. Sliding wardrobe tracks, vacuum and wipe.
34. Behind sliding mirror doors — easily forgotten.
35. Bedside socket faceplates wiped.
36. Skirting along three walls (the fourth tends to be behind the bed).
37. Door, both faces and top edge.
38. Door frame, including underside of the lintel.
39. Curtain track or rail if installed pre-handover.

Living and common areas

40. TV unit interior compartments.
41. Floor-to-ceiling windows, internal face.
42. Floor-to-ceiling windows, external face.
43. Sliding track full length, vacuumed then wiped.
44. Curtain pelmet, if installed.
45. Aircon vents — lift the louvre grille, wipe both sides.
46. Aircon condensate tray — accessible from front grille.
47. Ceiling fan blades, including the housing.
48. Recessed downlighters — wipe the rim and the bulb.
49. Light switches — particularly the screw heads.
50. Power sockets — switches and screw heads.
51. Door stops — handed by handed.

Floors (whichever finishes)

52. Cement leachate removal from tile.
53. Hardwood — primer or sealant overrun check.
54. Laminate — joint checking for swelling.
55. Skirting boards — entire run, both sides where free-standing.
56. Transition strips between rooms.
57. Door undercut — clean both faces.
58. Floors mopped twice with pH-neutral chemistry.

Service yard and balcony

59. Washing machine exterior, lid, soap drawer.
60. Dryer drum if installed.
61. Service sink, including the chrome strainer.
62. Balcony floor — high-pressure if appropriate, brush if tiled.
63. Balcony railing — both faces.
64. Floor drain in service yard, including the trap.
65. Outdoor power socket faceplate.

Glass and reflective surfaces

66. Front door peephole, both faces.
67. Internal glass partitions, both faces.
68. Display shelving glass.
69. Light fittings — pendant interior, chandelier crystal if any.
70. Splashback glass behind cooktop.

Tape and adhesive removal

71. Window sticker residue.
72. Masking tape edges on door frames.
73. Protective film on appliances, fully removed.
74. Adhesive on light switches from masking work.
75. Stickers on glassware in display cabinets.

Final pass

76. Infrared lamp dust check on dark surfaces.
77. Top of door frames — easy to forget.
78. Top of cabinetry — same problem.
79. Behind appliances if pulled forward earlier.
80. Re-mop floors after furniture has been replaced.
81. Empty all cleaning waste off-site.
82. Photograph the unit after the visit for the customer's file.
83. Note any maintenance issues for the customer's builder.
84. Leave a single-page summary on the kitchen counter.
85. Confirm move-in date and crew availability.
86. Lock and seal the unit on departure.
87. Return keys via the agreed handover process.

Daniel co-founded Bayleaf in 2014 and personally supervises post-renovation visits in the Klang Valley. Send him a note via [email protected].