After the builders leave, the real work begins. No matter how careful you were whilst the building work was carried out, by covering floors and furniture with plastic sheets, a thick layer of dust can still remain. It doesn't matter if you were having a full house renovation or making a few minor changes around your property, builders dust can get into every nook and cranny and be the bane of our lives. The question is: how to remove dust – and quickly – to prevent allergies or diseases from forming? It can seem like an impossible, never-ending task to remove, but once you have followed our top tips on the best way to clean dust from your soft furnishings, carpet, walls and more, your home will be spick-and-span in no time.
What are the best ways to clean dust from your home post-renovation?
Clean dust from carpets and soft furnishings
No matter how hard you tried to cover all floors and furnishings to protect them, dust will inevitably sneak out. Once these small dust particles get trapped fabric items like upholstered furniture, carpets, mattresses, and curtains, it can cause damage to the fabric fibres, as the dust can loosen the weave. So, always remember to clean dust away after any renovation or construction work to avoid the dust settling, as the result will not only be unaesthetic but it may even cause allergies.
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The best way to clean dust is to get the hoover out and thoroughly run it over all soft furniture and carpet. Be sure to change the attachments on the hoover to make sure you reach all hard to reach areas – including the frames and underneath of furniture. If your sofa has removable cushions, it is best to take them outside and hit them until all the dust comes off.
Clean dust from the walls
You may be surprised but even your ceilings and walls can collect dust and dirt after building work. The best way to clean dust from your walls is dry dusting – this is essentially wiping off the particles without damaging the plaster or decorated surface. It's also a good idea to hoover all decorative mouldings and cornices to ensure you remove all dust particles lying around.
In some cases it is possible to use a damp microfibre towel, but this is dependent on the type of paint used for the walls. Refer to the manufacturer's website before cleaning the surface with moisture.
Wipe and polish furnishings and hard surfaces
Clean all hard surfaces in your home by wiping from the top and making your way down to the floor. This includes countertops, bookshelves, doorframes, coffee tables – simply any hard furnishings in order to get the house dust-free once again. Don’t forget the windowsills, window frames, and all the handles and doorknobs. Finish off by thoroughly mopping and polishing hard floors and tiles.
Clear the ventilation system
Dust and debris manage to muscle their way into just about anywhere, and that includes into the indoor air and through air vents. So, it's a good idea to check the ventilation of your home post-renovation to remove all dust from the air and vents. The best way to clean dust from air vents is to change the filters to halt the dust from flowing through your property, making more mess and perhaps even triggering allergies or respiratory conditions, such as asthma.
To do this, you will need to remove all grids covering the vents, clean each one with soapy water, and let them dry completely before putting them back. Replace all air filters with fresh ones even if they don’t look dirty, they will be, so ensure you change them.
The final touches for a dust-free home post-renovation
Once you have cleaned the main areas of your home and replaced your air vents, don't forget to clean dust from any fixtures and accessories too. Here are some home furnishings you may have overlooked when cleaning your home after builders have been in:
- Light fixtures
- Lamp shades
- Electronic devices (routers, TV, laptops)
- Appliances (coils of the fridge, extractor hood filters, air conditioner filters)
- Decorative items (picture frames, vases, magazine holders)
- Interior accessories (coat hooks, mirrors, curtain rails)
If you don’t have the strength to deal with the mess after the builders have been in, don't stress. Investing in a professional after builders cleaning service is a simple and efficient way to take the problem off your hands, and ensuring that you can get back to relaxing in your dust-free home in no time!
Feel free to get in touch with us with any questions – we're more than happy to help.
Feature image credit: Photographee.eu / Sutterstock
