Powder puff checklist
Rev. 20081026 – post
Another multi-family construction management tool. Gratis. See also: Post-Tension Slab Checklist
Here are a few thoughts and a list for the cleaning crew. These can be negotiated with the cleaning subcontractor with/as the scope before they turn in a bid. You will probably have 1 or more cleans before the final/powder puff.
The interior – all rooms are cleaned.
Not limited to: common areas, halls, corridors, exit stairways, studies, offices, apartments, elevator, riser room, janitor closet, utility room, switchgear room, IT/data closet, storage, FSC, lockers, public restrooms, game rooms, snack bar, laundry, etc.
Vacuum
- Move furniture
- All carpet including closets
- All baseboards including closets
- All shelving
- All cabinets including under kick space, inside base and drawers
- All room corners
- Behind all doors
- All closets – including HVAC, water heater, etc.
Wipe clean all hard surfaces with no smudging or streaks, smooth to touch, no grit, no paint splatters, no sticky residue, no pencil marks,
- Flooring/stairs – VCT, ceramic tile, sheet vinyl, laminate, hardwood, etc.
- Tub
- Tub tile/FG surround
- Sinks
- Mirrors
- Toilets
- Plumbing trim – Shower heads, valves, escutcheons, faucets, etc.
- Counter tops
- Electric service panel
- HVAC and plumbing access panels and plates
- HVAC trim, grills, diffusers
- Switch/outlet plates
- Ceiling fans – including tops of blades
- Light fixtures – glass and bodies
- Thresholds
- Appliances – inside refrigerator, dishwasher, garbage disposal, oven and microwave, etc.
- Built-in furniture
- Cabinet/door panel faces
- Drawers
- Doors
- Furniture – tables, chairs/stools, bed frames, dressers, desks, etc.
- Window trim/sills/apron
- Window glass – inside and out
- Window screens installed
- Bypass door mirrors and frames
- Door and cabinet hardware – pulls, handles, knobs, push plates, kick plates, etc.
- Railing – stair, balcony, etc.
After clean arrange furniture per attached layout (attach your layout)
Remove all stickers not required by manufacturer for warranty
Rust stains removed from sinks, tubs, toilets, etc.
No carpet stains
Look behind toilets
Look in bypass tracks
Look in all corners
Look behind all doors
Look in kick space under cabinet base
Other scope issues
- Pressure wash exterior breezeway, concrete entries and stairs
- How many re-cleans after punch work by other trades – MEP
- Adequate equipment/materials to:
- Mop
- Sweep
- Vacuum
- Wipe down
- Scrapers for paint, glue, mastic, grout, sticker, gypcrete, etc. residue
- Bags/cans to remove all trash collected
- Ladders for exterior windows and screens
- Clean everything, etc.
Just for fun put in your earplugs and give this list to your kids next Saturday morning. Tell them they have to be done by Noon.
Mars.
Marshall Hansen 
Yes I’m going to give it to my kids and seat down watching then do it…in my dreams its going to happen.Lol.
By: Monica on July 11, 2017
at 10:33 pm
I am fortunate to have a great relationship with contractors, and 99% of our final cleans are done Time and Materials. Only a few contractors do we give a proposal for. Yea for the relationships that we have built and the great crew we have working for us.
By: Darlene V on December 6, 2014
at 9:31 am
Unfortunately most project managers REFUSE to do a Final Powder Puff walk through to check your work so you can go on to the next cleaning project. Not checking and walking with the cleaning manager allow them to call you back as often as they wish. We cleaned apartments and were finished several months ago. Those apartments sat vacant for over a month collecting dust and yes construction workers made their way back into these cleaned apts. to smoke and have their breaks leaving huge messes for us to reclean. NEVER AGAIN! We are not SLAVES!
By: JeanAnne on May 31, 2009
at 1:44 pm
Hi JeanAnne,
Thanks for writing. I know some projects are more of a challenge than others and some PMs are better than others. I know this from my own experience.
It sounds like you might need to change the wording in your scope to say exactly what you want.
Consider:
1)Primary clean before final punch – one time;
2)Final clean after final MEP trim/hot punch – one time. Specify you will notify on-site Super of completion of final clean. Specify time limit of PM/Super to respond and specify notice to be in writing, then if no response or punch list created by on-site Super then acceptance of final clean “as-is”, or something to that effect.
You are responsible for what is specified in your scope.
It sounds like you have done enough of these to know what can happen. If they won’t alter the scope before contract is signed then at least adjust your price to accommodate extra work. For example – if your price is $0.10/ft for two cleans and you think you will have to do at least one extra clean because of the last job then charge $0.14/ft or more. It’s up to you.
If the scope is too vague for everyone to agree what the responsibilities are for each party going in – don’t sign it.
Keep good written records of any conversations with on-site management personnel and your progress. Also, a daily field report is required on many projects. If PM does not supply a daily report form create your own and consistently fill it out. Completion targets, milestones and percentages should be noted. Phone calls are convenient but written communication/notices get results – email and/or fax to PM/Super issues you wish to be resolved.
You can say “no” just have the information, records and scope to back you up.
Take care,
Mars
By: marshansen on June 1, 2009
at 12:10 am