Day 10 / 30 — My Python Data Cleaning Workflow: the exact 6 steps I run every time .
Let me be honest about something.
When I started learning data, I thought the exciting part was the analysis the dashboards, the insights, the "aha" moments.
Then I opened my first real dataset.It had null values in random columns. Dates stored as strings. Numbers stored as text. Duplicate rows that looked different. Column names like "First Name " with a trailing space.
That was the day I learned the real truth about data work:
80% of the effort happens before you write a single chart.
So I built a simple workflow I follow every time:
1. Understand the data
df.info(), df.head(), df.describe()
→Know the structure before doing anything.
2. Check missing values
df.isnull().sum()
→ Decide what to drop, fill, or keep based on context.
3. Fix data types early
Convert dates and numbers properly
→ Prevents issues later.
4. Handle duplicates carefully
Check first, then remove if needed
→ Not all duplicates are mistakes.
5. Clean column names
Lowercase, snake_case, no spaces
→ Makes everything easier downstream.
6. Validate again
Compare before vs after using describe() and shape
→ Catch anything unexpected.
Over time I learned You don’t need fancy tricks , you need consistency.
Because clean data isn’t just a step… it’s the foundation.
What’s the first thing you check when you open a dataset?
Drop it in the comments I read every single one. 👇
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“Break it. Fix it. Learn from it.” 💯