What should you do after a house renovation?

Now that the renovation is finally over, it is time to live and create new memories inside this new space! But before that, grab the vacuum cleaner and all the cleaning supplies. We’ve got some cleaning to do! Or is there a number that we could call for that?

It is always exciting to finally have your new house look and function the way you had in mind. Whether you’re building a house from scratch or buying a new or subsale home, renovation is inevitable. Renovating a house lets you customise your living space to suit your lifestyle. The process can be quite long and tedious but definitely worth it. There will be a lot of moving of things, loud noises and nights spent at the hotel. You might not be the one who’s doing all the heavy lifting but renovating a space is a big decision to make as it demands sacrifices of time, money and comfort. You have to be extremely well prepared to handle all the stress and unexpected twists and turns that come with it.

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What to do after renovating?

After all the back and forth with your house renovation contractors, your new house is finally ready! Congrats! Now that the renovation is complete, what is the next step? Post-renovation is all about cleaning up and placing your furniture. Before you spread those fur rugs on the floor and rearrange your art collection back on the wall, there are a few things that you need to do immediately after the renovation:

• Do the final walkthrough with your house renovation contractor. Check every corner and point out if there is any imperfection. Make sure the plumbing and electrical appliances are working perfectly. List down anything that needs touching up or fixing.
• You will also need to arrange to bring your furniture back into the space or delivery services if you have pre-ordered new ones. Take some time to read through new product manuals and fill out all online warranty forms. 
• Remove scrap and debris like boxes, plastic containers and used paintbrushes.
• Disinfect and sanitise all surfaces.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from the construction materials like paints, adhesives, sealants and coatings can cause respiratory issues, headaches or skin allergies. It is best to ventilate your home by opening up all your windows and doors to increase the airflow.
• Since you will be spending a lot of time in the newly renovated space, removing dust is crucial prior to the actual deep cleaning. Just run the vacuum and sweep the open surfaces.  

Deep cleaning your house after renovation is important to ensure that everything is in perfect order and of course, safe before you can proceed to actually live in the space. Your new house might look clean on the surface because your house renovation contractor has removed all the actual mess along with the larger debris for you, but look closer and you will notice there is plenty of deep cleaning work to be done. 

Get your cleaning tools ready before you begin. You want to be fully well-prepared because the process will require more tools than your routine house cleaning. You will need:

• Protection gear such as face masks and rubber gloves
• Standard cleaning supplies i.e., glass and mirror cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner and soap
• Carpet and floor cleaning products such as stain removers, non-solvent based cleaners, fresheners
• Mop and bucket
• Broom and dustpan
• Upholstery cleaning tools
• Scrubbing pads and brushes
• Microfiber cloths
• Window cleaning equipment
• Heavy-duty vacuum cleaner

Now the real work begins. Here are the areas you need to clean after a renovation:

Floor

Any remaining trash and debris need to be removed properly. The dusty surfaces, particularly the walls and ceilings as well as the floor need to be swept and vacuumed. For carpeted floors, you will need more than just a regular vacuum cleaner to get rid of all the trapped dust and wood splinters. Professional steam cleaning is highly recommended.

Carpet

Sure, putting a piece of plastic over your carpet helps keep the dirt off your carpet, but remember, carpet fibres can easily trap the fine wooden splinters and all of the dust. To deep clean your carpets, you’re going to need something more than a normal vacuum. If you don’t have the necessary equipment, as mentioned previously, it would be better to book a professional steam cleaning company to handle the job.  

Read more: Learn how to tackle the different types of stubborn carpet stains here. 

Doors, Drawers and Closets

The grime on the doorknobs along with other hardware need to be wiped clean. The same goes with the interior and exterior of all shelves, cabinets and closets. Use a soft cloth to wipe the surface. 

Lighting

Ceiling fans and lighting fixtures need to be dusted thoroughly. Dust reduces the efficacy of these appliances and needs to be removed immediately

Windows and mirrors

Windows and blinds need to be dusted thoroughly. Remove dust from the glass surface. Remember to use circular motions and it is always best to start from the top down.

Walls

You should always inspect your walls and check if there are any damages before you get started. It may not be the contractor’s intention to damage your walls, but accidents may happen. All the heavy tools and equipment can sometimes defile your newly painted walls. If that’s the case, repatch or repaint it to conceal the area. Only after that can you start the cleaning process. Use a mild detergent and water mixture to wipe down all surfaces in order to remove dust. 

Read more: Painting a wall on your own can be tricky. Check out our guide on 6 mistakes to avoid making with a DIY paint job to avoid a disastrous paint job.

If you want to take it a step further, check out the table below for a detailed post-construction cleaning checklist:

How do I remove  dust out of my new house after remodelling?

Having dust scattered all over your house is inevitable after a house renovation. These dust particles will end up in every corner of your house and if not removed properly, the air vents and ventilation system will be clogged with them. You have to immediately start cleaning dust before it settles on every surface of your house and causes damage. It can be done with all the cleaning tools and supplies that you already have at home. Here are some of the best ways to clean up concrete, plaster and construction dust after home renos:

1. Vacuuming your house

You might have covered your floors and furniture prior to the project but the dust will somehow still manage to get on your carpets and favourite couch. Remove all the covers and start vacuuming right away. Make sure you get to every nook and cranny. Removable cushions and rugs have to be taken outside and you have to beat the dust off them. Hard!

2. Cleaning dust

Dry dusting is the best method for your walls and ceilings to avoid damage to the freshly painted and decorated surface. Microfiber towels work wonders too.

3. Wiping all surfaces

All hard surfaces like bookshelves, tables, door frames and cabinets need to be wiped from top to bottom with damp cloths.

4. Changing your air filter

You don’t want the dust from the renovation area to get all over your new house. Don’t forget to clean or change your air filters with new ones. The grids can be cleaned with soap and water.

How to clean the air after renovation

The dusty air that lingers on inside your home is a common problem after renovation works. Cleaning dust can take days or even weeks. The dust particles are not only toxic, but could cause illness as they are small enough to get into the lungs and bloodstream. On top of that, it is also filled with toxic chemicals from paints, adhesives and cleaning products. They are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and most VOC fumes are carcinogenic.

It is best to contain the spread of dust while the renovation works are underway with plastic barriers and an air-scrubber. An air-scrubber will cost you extra but think about how it eliminates up to 90% of airborne microorganisms and 99% of surface microorganisms. Selecting VOC-free paints also helps in reducing the risk of dangerous fumes.

You may also want to consider frequent cleaning throughout the construction if it is possible. These are all the things that you must do once the renovation is over:

• Use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter to clear up dust from the floor, carpets and other surfaces. HEPA filter is a type of mechanical air filter that works by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps harmful dust and particles.
• Keep the windows open to increase air circulation.
• Use air purifiers in all the different areas of the house as dust can easily travel.
• Consider cleaning your air-con filter and the air-vents to remove any particles that may have settled there.
• Store all remaining paints and leftovers in tightly sealed containers. If you are not planning to use any of them again, consider giving them away or reselling them.

Read more: Some plants are said to have air-purifying qualities too. We’ve listed down the 8 best air-purifying indoor plants for your home. 

Who is responsible for cleanup after construction?

As the homeowner, you can actually do the post renovation cleaning yourself, but if you don’t have the time and all the right tools, you can hire a company that specialises in it to do it for you. If you worked with a designer throughout the interior renovations, chances are it is already prearranged and included in the package for you. 

The cleaning process is actually done in stages throughout the construction by these hired professionals.

First stage:  During this stage, the cleaning will be done after wiring work is completed, right before starting on the carpentry work (cabinets and such).

Second stage: The next one is after all the carpentry work has been installed.

Third stage: The last stage is a deep cleaning before handing over the site to you.

What are the rates for post-construction cleaning

The normal rate for post-construction cleaning is usually between RM300 to RM400 for a team of cleaners. They will vacuum and mop the floor thoroughly, wipe the furniture and all other hard surfaces and clean all the windows for you. The team also consists of a floor expert who will clean the tiles and marble.

You don’t have to worry about permanent stains on your new flooring. During construction, a layer of protection will be installed on top of the flooring to prevent damage and direct spillage onto the tiles. The floor expert in the team definitely knows how to clean tiles after renovation works. Your marble or wooden floor will also be polished to shine accordingly. 

Read more: Want to know about the different wooden floorings available for your home? Check this article out. 

Post renovation cleaning service

There are quite a number of cleaning service providers that specialises in post renovation cleaning for you to choose from. The prices vary depending on the type of service needed. These house cleaning service providers are available in most major cities like Klang Valley, Penang and Johor Bahru. They are mostly available for online bookings and are just a phone call away if you need to get more information. 

While deep cleaning post-renovation is doable on your own, it is good to know that expert services are easily available out there to cater to your different needs and location. It is always wise to make sure that you are on the right track and in the good hands of professionals.

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