Completing a home renovation feels like reaching the end of a long, challenging journey. After weeks or even months of disruption, you’re probably eager to finally enjoy the updated areas of your home. But before you can fully settle in, there’s one crucial step that is often overlooked during the planning phase: post-renovation cleaning.
While it might seem straightforward—just clean like you would any other room in the house, right?—it’s actually more involved than your usual upkeep or even a deep spring cleaning. In this article, we’ll walk you through the essential steps for tackling post-construction cleaning and getting your newly renovated space ready to enjoy.
Quick Summary
This article offers comprehensive guidance on how to effectively clean your home following a renovation. Key insights include:
- Essential cleaning supplies and safety gear are needed to tackle the unique challenges of post-renovation cleanup.
- A detailed, step-by-step cleaning process to ensure all surfaces and areas are dust-free and disinfected.
- Special considerations for different types of renovations, such as kitchens and bathrooms, which require tailored cleaning approaches.
- Tips for maintaining your newly renovated space to keep it looking its best.
- Advantages of hiring a professional cleaning service to achieve the highest standard of cleanliness without the hassle.
Preparing for Post-Renovation Cleaning
Before diving into the cleanup process, it’s important to gather the right tools and understand the safety measures needed to protect yourself. This section will guide you through the essential cleaning supplies and safety gear required to effectively remove post-renovation debris and dust.
Overview of Cleaning Supplies Needed
Before you begin the cleaning process, you must acquire a few tools to help you clean thoroughly. Some of these you may find in your cleaning supplies stash, and others you may need to purchase. Here is a recommended minimum list of tools and supplies you will need, although it may be extended depending on the scale of the post-renovation cleaning as well as your personal preferences:
- All-purpose cleaner with disinfecting properties;
- Mild dish soap for cleaning sensitive surfaces;
- Vacuum (you may want to purchase or rent an industrial vacuum that can handle a lot of debris and construction dust. Do not risk using your expensive home vacuum to avoid getting it clogged or broken);
- Microfiber cloths for dusting and cleaning surfaces;
- Latex gloves;
- Mop and bucket;
- Broom;
- Trashbags;
- A ladder (small or large, depending on the height of the ceilings in your home).
Extra tools that can be handy:
- dusting wand;
- scrubber brush;
- steam cleaner;
- vet-dry vacuum;
- Glass cleaner (any other specialized cleaner depending on your needs, like wood surfaces cleaner, etc.).
Safety Gear Recommendations
Post-construction cleaning will deal with a lot of construction dust, which can cause respiratory problems if inhaled and irritation if it comes into contact with the eyes. Even if your renovated space does not look like it has a lot of construction debris, it is still safer to wear a dust mask and safety glasses.
Also, note that your renovated space may have nails and other building materials that the workers could have left, so wear boots and gloves to protect yourself from sharp objects.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning After a Renovation
After the dust has settled, a thorough cleaning is crucial to enjoy your newly renovated space fully. From initial dust removal to deep cleaning surfaces, this section provides a systematic approach to ensure every corner of your home is impeccably clean.
Initial Dust Removal
After a renovation, one of the main issues is the dust that settles on every surface (and we mean every surface: floor, countertop, wall, window seals, chandeliers, carpets, and furniture). That is why right after the remodel is finished, you need to thoroughly clean the dust before doing anything else.
Here are some tips for cleaning dust in your home after a remodel:
- Use a dry microfiber cloth and a dust wand to remove the initial layer of dust. Using a wet cloth straight away can create more mess when too much dust is gathered on the surface.
- Clean top to bottom. This means you will dust the highest objects first and move down from there. This will ensure the dust does not fall on areas you have already cleaned.
- Don’t forget to reach all small and hidden areas, dusting window seals and baseboards.
- Vacuum and air out the room after dusting.
Deep Cleaning Surfaces
Now that you have tackled the base layer of dust and debris, it is time to get the wet cloth and all-purpose cleaner to deep clean and disinfect the surfaces. For this, you can use a microfiber cloth or an anti-scratch cloth for those more sensitive furniture surfaces.
This step includes going over the same areas you have already dusted to clean off any leftover dust, dirt, paint, etc. For most areas, you can use a cheap all-purpose cleaner since you may need a lot of it. However, you can also make homemade cleaners if you prefer a more natural option.
Since your newly renovated space can have various surfaces that need unique cleaning solutions to ensure they are not damaged, let’s take a look at some tips on deep cleaning different surfaces:
- Walls: when cleaning walls, it is recommended to use soapy water with a very mild cleaner and a damp (not wet) wall cleaning mop attachment. Remember that not every wall paint or wallpaper is the same, and you should research how to clean your walls safely. If your walls were newly pained during a renovation, make sure not to clean them for at least 2 weeks (or as long as is recommended by your contractor or paint brand)
- Wood: natural wood furniture should be cleaned gently, avoiding chemical cleaners or acids (take caution if you use vinegar or alcohol-based homemade cleaners as these may damage the finish layer). It is recommended to use water with a little bit of dish soap and a damp cloth.
- Painted cabinets: similar to wood, painted cabinets are also highly sensitive to chemicals in cleaners, and to preserve the paint coating, it is recommended to use only water or, if needed, a bit of dish soap in water and to go over with a dry towel to ensure no water residue is left.
- Stone: soapy water should be enough to clean your new countertops after a remodel, but if you plan on using a cleaner, keep in mind that natural stone is sensitive to abrasives, acids, or alcohol in cleaners, so make sure the one you choose is safe for stone. Also, avoid homemade alcohol or vinegar cleaners, as these will damage the sealing on your stone countertops.
Ventilation Tips
Airing out your newly renovated space is highly important to remove dust particles that can be left in the air even after cleaning and to reduce any chemical smells or VOC vapors. Opening windows and letting fresh air in is one of the steps of post-renovation cleaning.
If you want to ensure good air quality in the home, on top of airing out the rooms, you can also use air purifiers with HEPA filters to continue collecting the dust particles through the cleaning process.
Special Cleaning Considerations Based on Renovation Type
Different renovation projects introduce specific cleaning challenges. Whether it’s managing the delicate surfaces in a newly remodeled kitchen or the grout and tiles in an updated bathroom, this section offers tailored advice to address the nuances of each renovation type.
Kitchen Remodels
The aspect that complicates cleaning after a kitchen remodel is that unlike most rooms where you will have no furniture during the remodeling process, your kitchen will have all the furniture installed, which adds more areas to clean.
As we have discussed above, you need to be careful when choosing cleaning products not to damage materials used in your kitchen, whether it is painted cabinets, stone countertops, or natural wood furniture. Knowing the material will help you select the safest cleaning product. In most cases, as we have seen, soapy water and a damp microfiber cloth can do the job pretty well.
You will also benefit from having precision attachments for a vacuum to get any dust or debris left inside the new cabinet drawers, which can be hard to clean without a vacuum.
One unique aspect of post-remodel kitchen cleaning is ensuring your new appliances are disinfected and safe to use. Here are some tips:
- Wipe the appliances inside and out from dust and remove any packaging tape or plastic parts that were left on the appliance.
- Clean the fridge with a damp cloth inside and out. You can use soapy water for the outside of the refrigerator and vinegar-based solution for the inside since vinegar has disinfecting as well as smell-eliminating properties.
- After cleaning the oven, run it on high heat for around 30 minutes with open windows to eliminate the smell common for the first few times you use the oven.
Bathroom Updates
Bathroom cleaning is unique due to the amount of tile surfaces to clean and the grout stains that are left over from the tile installation process. To clean the tiles, you can use warm water and an all-purpose cleaner and gently rub the tiles with a sponge or nylon scrubbing pad.
When cleaning your shower and bathtub, ensure that the drain does not have any debris from the renovation process and it works efficiently. Since your bathtub and/or shower will be new, you won’t need much more than just soapy water and an all-purpose cleaner. Still, if you encounter any particularly strong stains, add baking soda and dish soap to form a paste and scrub with a nylon scrubbing pad (do not use harsh scrubbers). However, remember that bathtubs and shower trays can come in different materials, some being easily damaged and needing extra gentle washing.
Maintaining Your Renovated Space
Post-renovation cleaning is a tiresome and meticulous process, but let’s face it—it’s also a rare opportunity to tackle every nook and cranny of your home and make it spotless. Since no one really has the time to do such big-scale cleanings regularly, we want to discuss some tips that can help you maintain your newly renovated and freshly cleaned space in order.
Routine Cleaning Tips
First, a bit of dusting done regularly will go a long way. Particular attention should be given to such surfaces as stained wood or painted cabinets since cleaning them with a damp cloth too often can lead to water damage. Keeping a consistent weekly dusting routine with a dry cloth is more than enough to avoid buildup that needs harsher cleaning.
Secondly, create a schedule to maintain a clean home regularly and not deal with old, hard-to-wash stains. This applies especially to cleaning faucets, grout, and areas prone to oil and moisture buildup, such as the top of kitchen cabinets.
Finally, invest in tools that can make your cleaning routine easier. Think of areas that you tend to dread cleaning. Maybe you can benefit from a robot vacuum cleaner, an electric grout brush, or a mop vacuum to do two tasks in one. One of such tools could be worth the investment if it frees you from the time-consuming cleaning task and helps you maintain an oderly home.
Preventive Measures for Dust Accumulation
There is nowhere to run away from dust accumulation, even with regular cleaning. However, there are some habits you can implement to minimize dust and debris:
- Vacuum often, especially if you have pets that shed.
- Air out the house frequently. However, consider the outside area of your home and prefer opening windows that do not face a busy road or construction site. If you live in a city try to air out the home early in the morning when there are less cars driving.
- Use air purifiers.
- Have designated home shoes to keep out the dirt brought from the outside.
- Use a doormat to trap dust and dirt.
Why Consider a Professional Cleaning Service?
Post-renovation cleaning is challenging once you consider all the details and the time required. Depending on the scale of your renovation and the time and tools you have, you may want to consider the option of a professional cleaning service.
Benefits of professional cleaning service:
- Expertise: Many cleaning crews are trained on what to look out for during a post-renovation cleaning and will notice areas you may miss. They also know what materials and cleaners to use to avoid damaging your new furniture and appliances. This saves time you would have spent researching all the right products or brands of cleaners.
- Thoroughness: A trained cleaner is not only efficient but thorough. They have access to professional cleaning tools that can make all the difference in the end result.
- Convenience: A team of cleaners will be able to tackle the cleaning much faster than you may yourself. It gives you peace of mind that after a tiring renovation process, you can finally sit back and have your renovated home ready to be enjoyed.
- Safety: post-renovation cleaning includes being around a lot of construction dust and VOCs; thus, having a professional cleaner take this job and uphold all the safety measures can protect you from these harmful particles.
Conclusion
In this article, we looked through the stages of post-renovation cleaning, what tools are necessary for it, and how to approach cleaning different surfaces and areas depending on the type of renovation. We also discussed what you can implement into your cleaning routine to maintain a clean space after the post-renovation cleaning. Cleaning your home after a renovation can be a daunting task, and while you can tackle it yourself, hiring a professional cleaning service is often worth considering. Wouldn’t it be great if your contractor left your home spotless and ready to enjoy, with nothing more for you to handle? At Premier Remodeling, we believe a renovation isn’t truly complete until our clients can fully relax and enjoy their refreshed space. That’s why we take care of a thorough professional cleaning before handing over the finished project. Contact us today to experience top-quality renovation services where every detail, including the cleanup, is handled with care.
