There's been a constant stream of projects around my home lately. They've ranged from exciting (new kitchen cabinets) to demoralizing (finding mold in our guest room ceiling), but they've all included a fair bit of construction dust. Along the way, I developed this checklist for cleaning up efficiently.
If you just finished a major renovation that required moving everything out of your home, you can probably skip a few steps. If your furniture was pushed into a pile and covered with plastic — as mine was for one project — you may need a bit more elbow grease.
- Clean the walls, including the molding. If the walls are newly painted, stick to dry dusting. If you kept the old paint, wipe them down with a damp towel. You can wrap the towel around a broom or extension duster to reach high places. If you have walls covered in textured wallpaper or a natural material like grasscloth, vacuum them with the brush attachment. For other wallpapers, wipe down with a damp cloth, making sure to spot check first.
- Vacuum. If your floors are carpeted, go over them a few times. If they're wood, tile, or linoleum, follow your vacuuming with a quick mopping.
- Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to clean any upholstered furniture that was "under wraps," including mattresses. Also include any fabric window treatments or accessories.
- Take down and clean light fixtures, unless you had new ones installed. If you have a ceiling fan, clean the blades.
- Unscrew and clean your vents with warm, soapy water.
- Use a damp rag to wipe down wood or metal furniture, knickknacks, and any other miscellaneous items.
- Check on and change the air filter(s) in your home. Painters sometimes remove filters while painting, and forget to put them back in. A missing filter could damage your furnace. If your filter stayed up during construction, it's best replaced with a new one.
Voila! Enjoy your new and improved space!
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Considering that in NYC the majority of dwellings built before 1978 could possibly be contaminated with Lead dust, cleaning up after a renovation could be far more health threatening than a simple clean up would resolve. The effects on children are especially dangerous and the site should be monitored before during and after to maintain a safe environment. A HEPA Vacuum (even the exhaust is filtered) is recommended for cleanup not to be confused with A HEPA Filter.
"Starting April 22, a new federal law will require contractors to contain and clean lead dust more carefully during renovation, repair and painting work. Workers will have to attend training, and the firms will have to earn certification to do the work." -Lead Free NYC
Great check list! I almost always forget something when I'm putting my home back together after a renovation - so this is especially handy. Good stuff!