How to Deep Clean a House After Renovation
1. Start with an Initial Sweep
Before jumping into proper cleaning, sweep up any large bits of debris that your hoover won’t be able to tackle. This is also the best time to pick up any dust sheets or leftover equipment and parts, just so everything is ready to clean.
2. Clean the Walls
A surprising amount of dust and debris can get stuck to the walls, so clean these before going any further. You can either wipe them down with a dry cloth or a soft brush depending on how dusty they are.
Ideally, you’ll want to knock everything directly onto the floor, avoiding getting it on furniture. This is also the best time to clean windows and light fixtures if needed, again knocking debris on the floor.
3. Clean Furniture and Surfaces
Next, clean furniture and hard surfaces, such as tables, fireplaces, and so on. As you can probably tell, we’re working at the top of a room and working down, with the goal of getting all the dust and debris either on the floor or in the hoover.
Apply this logic to this step. For example, wipe down the mantlepiece and fireplace and then clean the hearth. Hoover soft furniture if it can’t be removed and washed. For things like cushion covers, knock them outside and then wash them as this’ll be the easiest way to get them clean.
4. Hoover the Floor
In theory, any remaining construction dust should now be on the floor, making it fairly easy to pick up. It’ll be much easier to pick up dust from hard floors than carpet, so you might need to pass over carpets a few times to get them properly clean. Also, pick up rugs and shake the outside before hoovering just to make the job easier.
Next, mop everywhere you can. If you want a truly clean house after renovation, consider shampooing the carpets too. This will be far more effective at lifting construction dust than a hoover on its own. Dust sheets will hopefully protect you from the worst of the dust, but if not, a carpet cleaner will get the job done.
Tips for Minimising Renovation Mess
Deep cleaning your home after renovation work isn’t particularly difficult – it can just take a long time. Below are some tips to help you minimise the amount of work you need to put in when it comes time to clean.
Use Plastic Dust Sheets
If possible, lay down plastic dust sheets and tape them in place. These are far easier to clean than fabric sheets and they prevent dust from seeping through to the floor. Once the renovation work is done, simply pick them up and dispose of them.
Pack Away Small Belongings
If you’re concerned about cleaning smaller belongings (decorations, books, etc.), pack them up before work begins. Storing them out of the way means you can clean the shelves where they live and then just put them back, which is far easier than individually dusting lots of stuff.
Remove Soft Furnishings
Similarly, removing soft furnishings from rooms that’ll get dusty is the easiest way to keep them clean. Simply putting them in bin bags and then storing them away from the renovation work will be good enough. If necessary, take down curtains and store them away too.
Keep Windows Open
Having windows open will reduce the amount of dust that settles in your home because it helps to create airflow. If possible, have windows open on opposite sides of the house to create a draft so dust is sucked out of the house. This might result in dirtier windows, but they’re much easier to clean than a whole house!
Cover Bigger Furniture
For things you can’t remove, such as sofas and tables, cover them with tarpaulin. As with the dust sheet tip, this’ll help keep the worst of the dust off things, making clean up much easier.
Final Thoughts
Deep cleaning after renovation involves being methodical. Start at the top of the house, and the top of each room, working down. Knocking everything onto the floor is the most effective way of dealing with persistent construction dust.
Of course, the more you can do to prep your house before renovation begins, the easier the job will be. Once you have dates for the renovation work, pack and cover your stuff, and the deep clean after should be a breeze. You can trust your local cleaning services in London if you need a deep clean, or even if you need a regular cleaning for your home.