Construction projects result in amazing changes to our living and working spaces but leave behind a blanket of debris and dust that can pose a great challenge to get rid of. Whether you’ve just finished building your dream home or remodeling your office complex, you will need to have a solid plan to get your space looking spick and span. The crucial thing to remember is that patience and perseverance will come in handy in this kind of post-construction task. The following is an essential post construction cleaning checklist that you’ll find quite useful.

However, prior to getting started with your post construction cleaning, there are a few issues that need to be addressed. The first thing to do is to contain the dust and debris in the work area, making sure that it doesn’t get to other rooms and spaces. This will save you crucial time and energy, as well as reduce the size of the area that needs to be cleaned. Relocate any furniture and belongings to another room to prevent the dust from getting to the upholstery when cleaning begins. Any furniture that cannot be moved should be covered with old sheets or more preferably, plastic covers. You’ll also need to have a vacuum cleaner and a mop on hand to help you with the cleaning. Ensure the vacuum cleaner is in good working condition, and don’t forget to arm yourself with a dust mask.

Start at the very top

When it comes to post-construction cleaning, it is important that you do it in an organized way as opposed to doing it randomly. You want to start from the ceiling and work your way down to the floor. Vacuuming will remove a lot of the dust, particularly any light and loose debris that is more likely to move around when you eventually try to sweep it away. As you clean the ceiling and upper areas of your property, be sure to pay close attention to the ledges at the top of door frames and windows where dust can settle. The same is true for ceiling fan blades and light fixtures that could do with a bit of vacuuming.

Move to the walls

Once you are done with the ceiling, the next area to start cleaning is the walls. Depending on the kind of walls you have, there are various ways you can clean them. Generally, some warm water, soap, and towels will prove beneficial in this part of the cleaning because damp towels get rid of the remaining dust without spreading it around. Here are the different kinds of walls that your property may have:

Unpainted walls

It is imperative that you clear any dust from your walls if you plan to paint them after the cleaning job. This will make sure that you don’t end up with a shoddy paint job, which will be the result of painting over debris and dust. You can choose to either use a broom or vacuum cleaner to clean up the dust. However, washing the walls at this point may not be necessary considering that they haven’t been painted.

Painted walls

If your walls were recently painted, you want to strictly use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust; a broom can interfere with the paint job. From there, you can use warm, soapy water and a soft sponge or towel to finish the job. Take care not to use too much soap as this may cause the paint to fade.

Wooden walls

A broom or brush will work great in removing the dust as these walls can cope with a rougher touch. However, take it easy not to mess up the lacquer. After that, you can wash the walls with a towel dipped in warm soapy water. If possible, supplement this using a mild detergent to effect a greater shine on the wood.

Finish with the floors

The best way to clean the floor will depend on the kind of floor surface you have. Rugs and carpets will normally trap much more dust inside the fabric and this will be handled better with a vacuum, as well as a dust brush extension. You can go as far as using a steam cleaner for a more vigorous clean up of the ingrained dust. If you are dealing with a hard-surfaced floor, sweeping or vacuuming should be your first step. Cleaning the floor with a damp mop before vacuuming risks scratching the surface with fine grains of the dust you are trying to remove. Use an appropriate cleaner for your floor surface when cleaning with a damp mop.

Remember the ducts

Always remember to vacuum the air vents and filters once you’ve finished cleaning up your home. These are crucial areas where dust can easily stay hidden and overlooked by most post-construction cleaners.