Most people see renovations as a necessary evil, a means to get the desired results. Renovations are expensive and time-consuming, particularly after the work is finished – massive cleaning ensues! This can often be a major deterrent to even having any work done.

The good news is that you don’t have to give up on your renovation even if you hate cleaning! Here are some of the best post-renovation cleaning tips that will help you maximise your efficiency, minimise mistakes, and save some money in the process!

Do some prep work

If you’re renovating a home that you already live in, a life-saving hack is to do prep work before the work starts – this will save you a lot of time and effort afterwards. Cover floors, all open surfaces and air conditioners with newspapers or thin nylon cover to protect them from dust, staining and grime. This will also protect your floors from any possible damage done by heavy renovation equipment. Also, keep the dust from entering other areas of your home by hanging plastic sheets or drop cloths on doorways. And, if possible, perform all cutting, sawing and sanding of wood or gypsum materials outdoors.

Perform a final check

Your next step, before cleaning, is to do one final walk-through to be sure there are no outstanding issues or repairs left to be tended to. It’s best to do this during low traffic hours so you have no one in the way while you’re tying loose ends and finishing details such as putting down flooring or the backsplash, and removing debris.

Clean up clutter

The debris and clutter that have piled up over time will make the place look messy and will discourage you even more. Take some time after the work has been finished to get rid of everything including things you’ve been holding on to for ages but will not find their rightful place in the new décor.

Once you’ve thrown out all the garbage, begin the rough cleaning phase – tackle the big pieces such as appliances, carpets, furniture, and similar before you turn to smaller things like lamps, ornaments and knickknacks on shelves.

Vacuum

After most renovation work, the biggest problem is usually the fine dust. Even if you prep everything and take all the precautions, dust is very sneaky and can never be completely contained. Unfortunately, if you leave it as it is, it can clog your HVAC and appliances and cause serious damage.

The best tool for cleaning fine dust is a damp microfiber cloth. Don’t make it too wet because it will turn dust to mud without sticking to the cloth. Make it barely damp and use it to lightly pick up the dust without soaking it. This is a process you’ll have to repeat on other surfaces and the cloth will get dirty fast, so make sure you have several of them. You don’t want to reapply wet dust back on clean areas.

Once all surfaces have dried, use a vacuum with a brush attachment to pick up any remaining dust. Vacuum everything thoroughly and take your time. Each room is different and requires different vacuum power settings depending on the floor type. While you tackle those thick rugs, save your time and effort by employing a robot vacuum cleaner to clean your tiled and hardwood floors.

Wipe everything down

After vacuuming, it's time to wipe everything down, particularly the walls that are often neglected. Walls can also harbour dust and various microscopic particles that are best cleaned by dry dusting. It might be a bit demanding since you need to wipe down everything, but with no paint yet applied, it’ll run smoothly. Even if the walls have already been painted, there’s no room for worry – all hope isn’t lost because all you need is a few damp cloths.

Clean air vents and filters

The air indoors after renovations can be of very bad quality due to chemicals and dust particles. This can potentially cause respiratory problems, so make sure you clean your air vents and filters. If you have a HEPA air purifier in your home, run it on high 24/7, and change or wash the filters frequently. If you don’t have one, consider renting one for the duration of the renovation and at least a week afterwards.

Clean everything else

After checking off all of the above fundamental steps, you can finally devote yourself to smaller clean-up tasks. With just a damp cloth, a few handy tools, and some effective cleaning products, no task will be an issue! Wash the windows, doors and doorframes, and all the light fixtures, ceiling fans, and other fittings such as door knobs and handles, so they, too, can sparkle!

House renovations can be exciting but very challenging at the same time. They not only test our budget limits but our nerves and patience, particularly when it’s all done and you want to get your home back and enjoy the changes, but post-renovation clean-up will not let you sit down and relax! Cleaning can take a long time and become a real nuisance, so hopefully, the tips listed here can help you develop a strategy to get it all done as quickly as possible.