After yesterday’s discussion about the renovation projects that were best and worst for your home’s value, we thought we’d help you clean up the mess. Not literally of course, we hate cleaning as much as you do. And somehow the mayhem left behind after our home improvement projects is always so much worse than we anticipated.
ServiceMaster has some great advice, and we’ve added a few tips of our own as well.
Done Renovating? If Cleaning Up is Your Worst Nightmare, Read On!
Completing a home renovation project is exciting.
But what about that mess? Nothing quite compares to the post-construction havoc: dust and debris everywhere, sticky, greasy surfaces and hand-streaked walls. According to the ServiceMaster blog, your primary focus should be first removing the multi-substance dust created by just about every home improvement project, which has a sneaky way of creeping into the most random nooks and crannies of your home. If dust isn’t dealt with promptly, it will make its way into your air ducts creating a health hazard for you and your family. Sometimes it’s worth paying a professional to delve into the dark recesses of your attic and ventilation system. But if you’re intent on the do-it-yourself method, ServiceMaster Clean® offers the following checklist to help you get through the construction clean-up process efficiently and effectively.
FIRST Vacuum Carpets and Upholstery
Vacuum all soft surfaces, removing and vacuuming each cushion and getting into the crevices of the furniture frame. It’s probably a good idea to give it a second round, too. Dust is more likely to escape into the air when vacuuming softer surfaces so it makes sense to clean them first. Tip: During the first round of vacuuming, often the wet/dry vac from your garage does a better job on heavily covered areas, and saves wear and tear on your household vacuum. It’s a good idea to bag all removable pillows and cushions after vacuuming. Remove them to the garage or a closed room until your cleaning project is complete.
Wipe Down Hard Surfaces
Clean hard surfaces from the top down, starting with the dust that has accumulated on your walls. Dry dusting will ensure paint and wallpaper won’t be damaged, but follow with a damp cloth to thoroughly remove dust. Check with your paint or wallpaper manufacturer to see if it will tolerate a little moisture and test a small area to be safe. Tip: If you feel you need to use a mild cleaner, after-shower sprays like ‘Method Daily’ or ‘Clean Shower’ are safe for almost any hard surface and will leave a fresh, clean aroma behind. Tip: After you’ve cleaned window blinds, wiping them down with a used dryer sheet will help repel the re-collection of dust.
Next, move onto moldings and cabinets using a duster. Make sure to target the interior shelves and hard-to-reach corners. Wipe off countertops next, and any other flat surfaces before tackling the floor. Sweep then mop the entire floor surface area.
Clean Air Vents and Replace Filters
If your project is of a larger scale, it’s likely that dust has made its way into your vents. Treating the air vents in the renovated area is critical for preventing the dust from spreading to other areas of your home. The last thing you want is for dust from the vents to immediately spread all over your newly sanitized home. Here’s how we suggest you proceed:
- Remove the vent covers from the surrounding walls and ceilings
- Clean each cover with soap and warm water, and let them dry thoroughly
- Carefully dust the inside surface of each duct with a soft, long-handle duster
- Attempting to reach beyond a bend or corner inside of the duct could cause damage
- Replace air filters with fresh ones before replacing the vent covers
Don’t Forget About the Little Things
Remember, dust gets everywhere, so remember to clean these areas as well:
- Ceiling fan blades
- Light fixtures
- Lamp shades
- Electronics
- Small appliances
And something we learned recently that you may not have thought of
Your Smoke Detectors- Smoke detectors and co detectors will not operate properly when dusty, and may even be permanently damaged by dust. For your health and safety be sure to carefully remove dust from the inside and cover of smoke and co detectors. A tiny electronics or computer vac works great for this. Tip: Better still, cover them with plastic wrap or a shower cap BEFORE your messy project begins. But don’t forget to uncover them each night between work days, when you head off to bed!
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2017. All rights reserved.
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Bill Salvatore / Arizona Elite Properties
Residential Sales, Marketing, and Property Management
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