How to Clean Post Construction Dust after Renovation? Best Way & Extra Tips

At Paul's Cleaning (Melbourne) Company, we know that most projects, be it light remodelling or heavy construction, leave behind a ton of dust as dirt, drywall, sawdust, various debris, and more. The biggest mistake one can make during the process is to clean dust last.

Dust and fine particle leftovers are a primary goal of our professional after-builders post-renovation cleaning service, as most ingredients on the average list of building materials pose severe risks of respiratory issues and toxic exposure, extremely dangerous to children. That is the best way to clean dust after construction.

Controlling how fine particles spread starts from the beginning of the job, and it’s something you or your landlord needs to monitor at all times.

Excess accumulation of dust is harmful to your property, as it makes cleaning rooms extremely difficult. Tiny toxic debris could stay around for good. If you breathe in construction dust, it can cause asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a lot more.

Taking preventive actions is a lifesaver! Literally.

So, what is the best way to clean dust after renovation? Here are some of our expert post-construction cleaning tips to help you cleanse your property from builder debris:

Before You Start Construction Works

Prepare the site so dust is easier to clean after construction works or renovation.

Protect Your Floors from Dust

You have a choice for floor protection, depending on the type:

Carpeting is especially prone to dust damage from remodels because small particles easily get stuck to the soft fabrics and settle on the padding for good.
Wooden floors can also sustain damage during renovations, and they scratch easily from minor debris when you drag heavy objects around.

Read:

How to Clean Construction Dust from Wood Floors?

The best way is to invest your time and effort in quality floor care, including plastic covering, sticky mats and corrugated plastic for areas with heavy traffic. If you cannot protect, mop or opt-in for specialised hard floor cleaning after builders are done.

Cover or Remove Your Belongings

We rarely insure possessions against damage during renovation works. The best way to protect your belongings is to remove them from the construction area, especially if the items are personal or expensive.

If there’s furniture you cannot move, cover it with plastic sheeting and avoid dropping heavy items on top.

Seal Your Ducts

The fine dust particles can find their way through all kinds of small crevices, settling in them and contaminating the air for prolonged periods. Sealing return ducts prevents them from getting into the HVAC system, which can then spread throughout your entire home, no matter the house size.

By covering all the vents in the renovated property, you protect airflow around the house and your furnace filter from clogging after newly-done property improvements.

Isolate the Work Area

Don’t let the dust spread to areas you don’t renovate.

“Sometimes it’s impossible to simply close a door and contain renovation debris in one room,” comments Veejay’s Renovations. If you’re renovating an open kitchen or stairwell, chances are the dust will spread everywhere. Fortunately, most home improvement stores sell plastic dust barriers you can attach to the walls and seal off areas from the rest of the house.”

Read: How to Clean a Kitchen That Hasn't Been Cleaned in a Month

The best way is to ensure there’s a single entry point to the construction works and ask your contractors to carry out the messiest jobs outside wherever possible.

Prepare Cleaning Gear

There are a few cleaning items you will find necessary during the process. Construction works come with a lot of dust and dirt, so it’s natural that you must wipe or vacuum in between the sawing and the hammering.

Here’s a list of the items you’ll need in your construction cleaning toolkit:

A powerful vacuum + extra filters;
A broom;
A mop;
Old towels for bigger messes;
Soft towels for gentle surfaces;
All-purpose cleaner;
Wood polish;
Face masks and gloves;
A bucket for water or detergent.

How to Clean Construction Dust from Walls

Clean Dust on Unpainted Walls

It’s best to clean walls before you paint them because otherwise, the presence of debris and dust can compromise the quality of the paint job.

Make sure all the furniture is properly covered before you proceed.

Use a broom to displace the bigger dust deposits.
Use a vacuum cleaner to gather all the dust from the walls and the floors. You might have to repeat these steps because dust disperses in the air and then settles down.
After that, you can optionally wash the walls, but it’s not mandatory since the place is new, the walls are not painted and the paint can cover any minor stains.
Use soapy water and a soft towel If you decide to wash.
Start from the top part of the wall and work your way down, this way you won’t miss any spots and leave stains.
Leave the walls to dry completely before painting.

Clean Dust on Painted Walls

If your walls are freshly painted, which is the usual case with renovation works, you will have to wait for the walls to dry completely before you’ll be able to clean them from the dust. In this case, it’s not recommended to use a broom, because it will damage the integrity of the paint. Use a vacuum and try not to touch the surface of the walls.

If there’s too much dust left after the vacuuming, you can use some plain warm water, or slightly soapy water to wash away the remaining dirt. You can use a soft sponge or a towel to wipe them clean.

Read: How to Clean Paint Off the Carpet

Clean Dust on Wallpapered Walls

Cleaning dust from wallpapered walls is quite simple. The only difficulty you could meet is if the surface of the wallpaper is embossed. The relief can capture dust and make it very difficult to clean. You’ll need to spend more time with the broom.

First, use the broom or a brush to remove the dust lodged in the wallpaper.
Then use a vacuum to clear out the walls and gather the dust you just irritated. If the room is big, you can work in sectors, to make sure every part of the wallpaper is properly taken care of.
After that, you can wash the walls with some warm water and a soft towel if you still feel they’re dirty.
Provide the room with good ventilation and thus speed the drying process.

Clean Wooden Walls

Wooden walls are quite durable, but you need to protect the varnish, as it protects the otherwise gentle surface.

Start by dusting using a broom or a brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner.
Use small amounts of warm soapy water and a gentle cloth to remove the remaining residue from the walls.
Add a mild supplement to make the wood shinier and healthier-looking.

How to Remove Construction Dust from Flooring

Dust in Carpets and Rugs

Dust on carpeted areas can be a real scourge when cleaning after renovation.

Don’t add water to the mix under any circumstances, because it worsens the situation, up to impossible to repair!
Vacuuming and hot-water extraction are the only things that can save a carpet. Water mixed with construction dust will turn into mud that will eventually stick to the padding of the carpet and destroy it.
Use a strong vacuum cleaner with a new filter, which will provide efficient airflow.
You can use an upholstery attachment with a brush, it will pick up the dust and the vacuum will gather it a lot easier.
Set the vacuum to the highest suction option and trickle through the entire carpet twice.

There’s a quick test to determine if there’s still dust on the carpet: jump up and down, if there are no dust clouds coming up, you’re probably good to go.

Consider our professional carpet cleaning service for outstanding results.

How To Clean Hardwood Floors After Construction

Hardwood floors scratch all the time during remodels, so you need to proceed gently, and dusting floors is the first step when wondering how to clean construction dust from wood floors. Many vacuum cleaner attachments can be harsh on the surface, so you need to use a broom or a soft brush attachment.

Once the dust is gone, proceed to:

Mop the floor with a soft towel and plain warm water.
Leave it to dry, and in the end polish the entire floor with a suitable wood polishing product.

The polisher will leave the floor sparkling and the dust won’t stick to it, which is a double win.

How To Clean Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring is one of the most durable flooring options on the market, so it can withstand some dust and dirt during your home improvement efforts. Therefore, you can try all kinds of things to clean it and won’t have to worry about damage.

We recommend the following steps similar to cleaning hardwood floors:

Dust and sweep first, then mop.
Use the vacuum to dust, but be careful with the attachments again, the soft brush is still the best choice.
Use warm water with a soft cleanser to mop the floor clean.
After that, just dry with a soft towel to avoid any marks.

How To Clean Tile Floors

Many surfaces around the house are tiled – bathrooms, kitchen splashbacks, the kitchen floor, etc. Many people think that pouring some water on the tiles is enough to remove the construction dust, but this is just a common misconception because dust can get lodged in the grout and harden.

The first thing you need to do is vacuum the floor or wall.
Fill a bucket with warm water and a mild tile cleaner, and wipe the surface with a microfiber mop or cloth.
Wipe and buff the tiles with a dry microfiber cloth for a shiny finish.
Avoid using sponges, because they are porous and can miss some dirt.
Use a circular motion while you clean tiles, to avoid dust accumulation in the tracks and grout.

Consider professional tile and grout cleaning.

After Construction Cleaning, Wrap up

Renovation and construction dust leftovers are hazardous to health, and the best way to manage is thorough after builders cleaning. It’s hefty, it takes time, gear, and attention to detail, but it’s something you should absolutely not neglect.

Follow our post-construction cleaning tips for a hazard-free home!

Author:

Dmitri Kara

Started as a jack of all trades back in early 2012, Dmitri Kara is a recognized expert in a wide range of domestic and commercial trades. Dmitri Kara has appeared on reputable outlets such as Today.com, Metro.News, Telegraph.co.uk, ReadersDigest.com, Quote.com, Reviews.com, Plus.net, IkeaHackers.net, and many more. You can get in touch at https://twitter.com/@dmitrikara.