diff --git a/.claude/commands/apply.md b/.claude/commands/apply.md
index 0c7387e6..ec489921 100644
--- a/.claude/commands/apply.md
+++ b/.claude/commands/apply.md
@@ -337,7 +337,14 @@ Failures here are template-level problems: fix them in the `<CV_EXT>` source (e.
 
 ### 5e. Clean up build artifacts
 
-After the final clean compile, delete intermediate build files the compile command left behind — LaTeX toolchains leave `.aux`/`.log`/`.out`; a custom template's toolchain may leave nothing beyond the PDF. Keep the source file and the `.pdf`.
+After the final clean compile (and after 5b-5d have passed), delete the intermediate files the compile command left behind. Keep the source (`<CV_EXT>`/`<COVER_EXT>`), the `.pdf`, and every template asset (`cover.cls`, `OpenFonts/`, a custom template's files).
+
+- **Stock or custom LaTeX toolchain:**
+  ```bash
+  rm -f cv/main_<company>_<role>.{aux,log,out,fls,fdb_latexmk,synctex.gz} cover_letters/cover_<company>_<role>.{aux,log,out,fls,fdb_latexmk,synctex.gz}
+  ```
+- **Custom template whose compile command redirects to `build/`:** also `rm -rf cv/build cover_letters/build` (`/add-template` Step 4 already says `/apply` must delete it).
+- **Zero-artifact toolchain (e.g. `typst compile`):** nothing to delete.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e433efbb..47a1d30b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -27,6 +27,15 @@ per-file diff commands.
   `trustedDependencies`, the same set `security_guards.py` forbids in-tree, so a borrowed portal
   carrying one is read before it runs. `--dry-run` lists what it would install.
 
+### Changed
+
+- **`/apply` Step 5e names explicit cleanup shell commands for build intermediates**
+  (#531, `.claude/commands/apply.md`) - the step previously described deleting `.aux`/`.log`/`.out`
+  in prose, leaving artifact cleanup vulnerable to being skipped by agents. It now specifies explicit
+  `rm` commands for stock/custom LaTeX toolchains and redirected `build/` directories, timed after
+  log-inspecting steps 5b-5d complete, and explicitly preserves template assets (`cover.cls`,
+  `OpenFonts/`, custom template files).
+
 ### Fixed
 
 - **Fork-skip guards no longer run on a fork during a local test run** (`tests/_upstream.py`,