New Build Condo? Here's What to Clean First.

You get the keys to your brand new condo and everything looks perfect. Fresh paint, clean floors, shiny appliances. Then you run your finger along the top of a cabinet and it comes back grey.

New does not mean clean. I've cleaned hundreds of new condos across Toronto and Mississauga, from CityPlace towers to new builds along the Mimico waterfront and East Harbour, and every single one needs a proper clean before you move in.

What most people miss

HVAC vents and ducts: This is the big one. During construction, drywall dust, sawdust, and debris get into the ductwork. When you turn on the heat or AC for the first time, all of that circulates through your unit. You'll be breathing it in for months if you don't address it. Remove the vent covers and wipe them down. Vacuum inside the ducts as far as you can reach.

Film on windows: Whether you're in a new tower near Square One or along Bayview Avenue, your windows might look clean, but they probably have a hazy film. That's a mix of adhesive residue from manufacturer stickers and a coating from construction. Glass cleaner alone won't always cut it. Use a vinegar and water solution with a bit of dish soap. Wipe, squeegee, and check the light. You'll see the difference.

Inside cabinets and drawers: Open every cabinet and every drawer in the kitchen and bathroom. You'll find a layer of fine dust on every surface. Drywall dust is the main culprit. It settles everywhere during finishing work. Wipe every shelf and drawer bottom before you put anything in them.

Every flat surface: Countertops, windowsills, closet shelves, the top of the fridge. Construction dust is fine and light. It gets into every room and settles on anything horizontal. A damp microfibre cloth picks it up better than a dry one.

Grout haze on tile floors: If your bathroom or kitchen has tile, look closely at the grout lines. There's often a haze left over from the grouting process. A grout haze remover from the hardware store and a stiff brush will take care of it. Do this before you start your regular floor cleaning.

Your first priorities

Replace the furnace filter immediately: The filter that came with the unit has been catching construction dust since the system was first tested. It's likely already clogged. Put in a new one the day you get your keys. Then replace it again in a month.

Run the exhaust fans: Turn on the kitchen range hood and the bathroom exhaust fan. Let them run for a few hours when you first move in. They help pull fine airborne dust out of the unit. Open a window if you can to improve airflow.

Clean before you unpack: This is important. If you unpack boxes and set up your furniture first, you're trapping dust underneath and behind everything. Do the full clean while the unit is still empty. You'll be able to reach everything. Our move-in cleaning guide for the GTA has a full checklist for this stage.

How thorough should the first clean be

Very. This is not a surface wipe. Plan for a full day in a one-bedroom unit, longer for a two-bedroom. Every surface needs attention. Inside every cabinet. Behind the toilet. Under the kitchen sink. The top of door frames. The tracks of sliding closet doors.

It's a lot of work. But you only need to do it once. The process is similar to a post-renovation cleanup, where construction dust hides in the same places. After this reset, regular cleaning keeps everything in good shape. For ongoing tips, see our condo cleaning guide for small Toronto spaces.

A word about builder cleans

Some builders include a cleaning before handover. In my experience, those cleans are surface-level at best. They wipe what's visible and move on. They don't open cabinets, clean vents, or deal with grout haze. Don't assume your unit is clean because the builder said it was.

If you'd rather not spend your first day in your new home on your hands and knees, Portuguese Housekeeping Services does move-in cleans for new condos across Toronto and Mississauga. Give us a call and we'll do it right.