Summer Construction Complete? Make Sure These Items Are On Your Clean-Up Checklist!

New construction is often incredibly exciting – even though it may come with some stress, there’s nothing like enjoying a major update, a new addition, a remodel, or any other number of amazing ways to revamp your space. It’s also always a relief when it finishes, but when the dust settles – both figuratively and literally – it usually means a cleaning project to mark the process as officially complete. Now that the end of summer is approaching and most major construction jobs are coming to a close, here are the most important items to make sure are on your cleaning checklist.

Dust in the air

Construction dust doesn’t just live on surfaces – unfortunately, it’s in the air as well, which can continue to circulate it around the building. This means it’s in the air you breath, and getting all over you, your clothes, hair, and more all the time. To combat this, try using a HEPA vacuum – which stands for ‘high efficiency particulate air’ – as these are able to trap much smaller particles than traditional vacuums. If you don’t already own one, which most people probably do not, you can always rent one for the time you need it – to make things easier, your contractor may be able to help you get one, so you can always ask them for advice.

It’s also worth considering running a HEPA air purifier around the clock for as long as necessary. Or, it’s also possible to rent a commercial-grade air scrubber. Just be sure to change any filters frequently, since they’ll be picking up debris constantly, and will become ineffective pretty quickly without proper maintenance.

Surfaces

Once the majority of the dust is out of the air so it doesn’t ruin your efforts, you’ll want to start getting all the dust off your surfaces and in the areas of the facility it likes to settle. You’ll still want to run the air purifier during this time, as it’ll be a process of re-releasing dust back into the air as you go. It’s important to remember that while dust seems microscopic and harmless, it is still a solid, which means certain surfaces can be scratched and damaged if you try to scrub them clean. Using a gentle duster that helps dust cling to it is a great way to go, or dry dusting with a microfiber towel – be sure to read any recommendations for the different surfaces you may be cleaning, such as painted walls and countertop materials.

It’s best to start with the walls, and then move onto moldings and cabinets. Don’t neglect the inside of the cabinets – even if they were closed, dust is small enough to slip through the gaps easily, and you don’t want debris getting all over your glasses and dishware for the foreseeable future while you’re eating and drinking. Then, exposed surfaces are the next order of business – such as countertops, landings, window sills, mantles, and more. Dust can settle on virtually everything, so plan to give every room that was affected a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling approach.

Floors

It’s best to do the floors last, because as you clean the surfaces, you’ll knock them down where they’ll eventually settle anyway. Instead of doing the same tasks over and over, move strategically to make cleaning as quick and (mostly) painless as possible. The HEPA vacuum will definitely be a part of this final stage of cleaning, and you’ll also want to use it on any furniture that may have been exposed during construction.

If you have hard floors – like wood, tile, or laminate – make sure to do some quick research on if there is anything you need to know to ensure you don’t cause scratches or damage. Tile is incredibly durable, and should be perfectly fine – however, softer materials or real wood will want to be handled with extra care to preserve their beauty.

The details

The difficult part about cleaning after construction is that it really can affect anywhere and everywhere. When it comes to the finishing touches, don’t forget ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, lamp shades, electronic equipment, small appliances, decorative items, and anything else that could possibly have collected dust. It can feel like a lot, but by moving thoughtfully and thoroughly, you can rest easy after the work is done and enjoy your new remodel to the fullest.

The process of construction and the following clean-up can be wearing on anyone, but the excitement of a new and improved space is well worth the short-term discomfort. Once you’re ready to tackle the final project head on, these to-do items will ensure the job is done quick, fast, and right – so you can enjoy your new and improved space the way you deserve.