How to Safely Clean Up Construction Dust After Renovation

So, you just completed a much needed but exhausting renovation project. Now what? Well, renovation cleanup is usually the last step of your home improvement projects. Whether you've tackled the renovation yourself or you've been working with professional contractors in your home, construction dust cleanup starts the second all the tools are put away. Even if the contractors you’ve worked with have already done some amount of tidying up, a thorough cleanup is still necessary to ensure a clean, safe environment.

We'll look at some dust-removal tools that should be part of your cleanup arsenal and why post-construction cleanup should be a top priority to reduce the risk of airborne irritants.

Construction Dust Health Risks

If during your renovation project there has been sanding or sawing of wood, tile, or drywall, prolonged exposure to construction dust that’s not thoroughly removed can have a serious impact on your health. Consistent exposure to these irritants can cause respiratory problems and trigger allergy symptoms.

Whether you're using one or multiple home service contractors, talk to each one about what you can expect when it comes to the actual work and cleanup. A reputable contractor will be more than happy to explain the job and how they intend to do a thorough cleanup (including construction dust) after any project is complete.

Home Renovation Cleanup Tips

The same risks associated with long-term exposure to construction dust are also present when tackling the initial cleanup. If you have current or past respiratory health concerns or are sensitive to dust, consider hiring professionals to help remove construction dust from your living spaces.

Post-construction cleanup requires protective gear to guard your eyes and lungs from the particle pollution. We strongly recommend wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), including:

• Protective goggles that cover your eyes
• A professional-grade N95 mask
• Work gloves or rubber gloves if there's a chance you may encounter liquid chemicals

Post-Renovation Cleanup Tools

Depending on the size of your renovation project, you may consider renting some equipment to make cleanup a little easier (see below). Professionals typically rely on wet-dry vacuums, for example, to handle larger bits of debris and construction dust.

Related Topic: Cleaning Supply Checklist

Cleanup Renovation Dust Safely

Give yourself plenty of time to complete the list of steps below and consider bringing in a few helping hands.

For post-renovation cleaning, you'll need:

• A broom or long-handled duster
• A wet-dry vacuum
• Microfiber cloth
• Plastic sheeting

Now that you're equipped, it's time to get started.

• Seal off any areas of your home that weren’t affected by the renovation. If the construction area is still very messy, you may even consider covering doorways with plastic to avoid spreading dust into other parts of your home. If there’s furniture nearby, cover it with plastic or a bedsheet. You should also briefly cover any vents in the area to protect your HVAC system from dust.
• Dust elevated surfaces using a broom or long-handled duster. Use your microfiber cloth to tackle places you can easily reach. This can be a time-consuming process. You'll want to dust the ceiling, windowsills, window and door trim, and any hard surface dust might cling to, cleaning from elevated points in the room and working your way down toward the floor. The goal here is to move dust from difficult-to-reach places to lower surfaces that are easier to vacuum. It may take fine dust particles a while to settle, so after you’ve broomed and dusted high areas, wait about an hour before you clean the lower section and floor. This will also save you the time and energy of dusting twice. If you do the lower areas first, when you do the higher spots and the dust settles, you'll have to clean the lower areas again.
• Use a wet-dry vacuum to remove dust quickly and efficiently. It may take more than one pass to remove considerable dust accumulation. Watch for nails, splinters, bits of drywall, and other debris that may have been missed by the construction crew when cleaning.

The One-week Touch-up

A week later, you may need to do a second cleanup as more airborne construction dust has had time to settle. For this cleaning, you'll rely on some of the same cleaning equipment noted above, as well as a trusty mop.

• While it may not be necessary, consider wearing the same personal protective equipment to avoid contact with lingering construction dust.
• Dust the area as you normally would. You shouldn’t need to cover adjacent doors or vents with plastic at this point. Read our tips for dusting efficiently.
• Use a microfiber cloth to capture the finer dust on more hard-to-reach places like bookshelves.
• Use a mop to tackle the affected floors. Be sure to use the appropriate cleaner for your flooring material.

Now that your home renovation is truly finished, congratulations!

Get Professional Cleaning Help and Save Time

A renovation project can really revitalize your home space by creating a fresh, new look and feel. But you’ll enjoy your new and improved home more if it’s kept nice and clean. Molly Maid offers custom cleaning schedules and services that can help keep your home tidy and clean, including dusting to help remove any construction particles that might be lingering after your cleanup. To learn more or get started, give us a call or request an estimate today!