A method for cleaning the surface of a semiconductor wafer is disclosed. A plasma ashing process is performed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer. The plasma ashing process is performed in a chamber that contains oxygen and carbon tetrafluoride (CF4). An ozone-containing deionized (DI) water cleaning procedure, an amine-based solvent cleaning procedure and a fluoride-based solvent cleaning procedure are then performed to clean the surface of the semiconductor wafer without over-etching the silicon oxide of the street. Finally, an oxygen plasma cleaning process is performed to remove any residual photo-resist.