The work is over, the house is beautiful, there is only one problem: the dirt! Well, finishing work is always like this, a real chaos.
But since there is nothing else to do, the way is to roll up your sleeves and go for post-work cleaning.
Before that, though, take a look at the tips we’ve selected below and see how to make this process faster and easier.
How to clean up after work
Let’s start from the principle that you took care to protect all your furniture and personal objects before the work begins.
With these covered and protected surfaces, cleaning after work is much easier.
That said, let’s continue with the post.
Do you know what the first step is to see the house clean again?
It is holding on to anxiety.
That’s right! It can happen to beat that crazy desire to start cleaning everything before the work is even finished, but resist this desire.
Wait for the bricklayer and the other professionals to finish all the work before starting the cleaning.
Do you know why? Why can you risk damaging a material that has just been installed, for example.
So hold on and wait for the work to finish, okay?
Now write down the next tips:
Remove the bulk
The most important part of post-job cleaning is removing excess waste, called coarse dirt.
It is essential before starting cleaning itself. That’s because you won’t be able to get rid of the dust if you don’t put an end to the rubble first.
Then separate the garbage bags and remove remnants of concrete, cement, pieces of packaging, remnants of floor and everything else that lies ahead.
Pack it all up and take it to your city’s solid waste collection center, also known as ecopoints, but never, under any circumstances, dump these leftovers by the rivers, streams or vacant lots.
If your city does not provide this type of service, it will be necessary to hire a bucket, as this type of waste cannot be disposed of in regular trash.
Dry cleaning first
Now that you can see the rooms in your home free of debris, then start dry cleaning, that is, do the dust removal.
Don’t even think about splashing water on the powder, unless you want to sit and cry over the booger generated by this combination.
If that is not your case, then start recruiting the vacuum cleaner. This device will be a great ally for cleaning after work.
With it, vacuum up all the dust accumulated in every corner of the house, including doorways, windows and even the ceiling if necessary.
Then, with the help of a dry cloth, remove excess dust from surfaces, such as furniture (if you have forgotten to protect them) and glass, for example.
When you complete this step you will see that the post-work cleaning is well in advance.
Watch the water
We already mentioned in the previous topic, but it is important to emphasize again. Avoid using water to clean the post-work.
At first, use only dry materials, such as a broom, cloth and vacuum cleaner. And even after you have removed the excess dust, it is still recommended to use water in moderation. This is because humidity is a major enemy of furniture and various types of finishes, such as wallpaper, plaster, laminate floors, among others.
And you don’t want to damage, for example, the floor you just installed in the house, do you? Therefore, resist the temptation to wash everything with a hose and use water sparingly.
Backwards
This tip is very important: always start cleaning the post-work backwards, that is, from the last room in the house to the first.
The idea is to carry the dirt so that the most distant rooms are clean and without the risk of getting dirty again.
Reminder: as soon as you finish cleaning an environment, close the door to prevent dust from other rooms from entering again into the one that is already clean.
Top to bottom
The idea here is similar to the previous one. This means avoiding soiling what is already clean again.
Therefore, always start cleaning at the highest parts of the room, such as ceilings, lamps, chandeliers, walls, windows, until you reach the floor.
Protect furniture and facilities
When doing post-cleaning, be careful not to damage the furniture and installations in the house with chemicals and water.
It is recommended to protect these objects using plastic sheeting (in the case of furniture) and adhesive tapes for sockets, switches and other smaller items.
Only remove the protection of these objects when cleaning is finished.
Glass
Glazing is often the most annoying part of post-cleaning. They need to be cleaned carefully and with a certain degree of dedication to stay clean, without stains or impregnated dirt.
If the glasses were installed during the work, they will most likely have glue and putty remains.
Cleaning should be done with vinegar and alcohol diluted in water and rubbed lightly over the glass, taking care not to scratch them.
Do not use steel sponges or sharp materials to remove debris. On the contrary, prefer to soak the dirt for a while before cleaning.
After removing all the dust and residues, do a fine cleaning with a slightly damp cloth and finish with a dry cloth, but remember to use a lint-free cloth.
Unlock the most important rooms
This tip is also super important in cleaning after work. The most used and essential rooms in the house must be cleaned first, as is the case with bathrooms, kitchen and bedrooms.
That way the house does not lose functionality and you can continue dedicating yourself to cleaning with peace of mind.
Use the right products
Always use the right cleaning products after work. This means that you should use paint removers when you notice paint splashing on the floor and other surfaces, for example.
In home centers and construction material stores it is possible to find specific products for post-construction cleaning for various situations, such as products for cleaning porcelain tiles, grout, glass, wood, among others.
Always consult the manufacturer’s recommendations before using the product and respect the usage guidelines.
Below is a list of materials and products that are essential for post-construction cleaning:
- Vacuum cleaner (with fine nozzle and nozzle for cleaning upholstery)
- Hair broom with soft bristles
- Thick bristle broom, brush type
- Squeegee
- Floor Cloths
- Spatulas
- Buckets
- Cleaning brush
- Dish washing sponge
- Neutral detergent
- White vinegar
- Alcohol gel
- Specific cleaning products (grout cleaner, glass cleaner, paint remover, etc.)
- Ladder
Take care of your health
In general, the products used for heavy cleaning are usually toxic and can cause allergies, respiratory problems, among other symptoms. Therefore, when cleaning after work, try to use gloves and even masks if possible.
Keep the house ventilated at the time of cleaning so that the strong smell will dissipate in the air and keep children and pets as far away from the place of cleaning as possible.
Call a cleaning professional
What if I don’t have time to do post-cleaning? In this case you can choose to hire a professional specialized in this type of service.
There are day laborers who dedicate themselves only to cleaning houses after renovations. It is worth consulting close to you how much this service can cost.
But, on average, it is already possible to say that a post-construction day laborer charges between R $ 170 to R $ 250. Depending on the size of your house and the number of rooms to be cleaned, it may be necessary to hire more professionals.
And one important thing: the post-labor day laborers deal only with heavy dirt, unlike a daily cleaner who does her usual household cleaning.
This type of professional knows the cleaning needs of a post-construction house and knows how to perform the job in the fastest and most efficient way, in addition to knowing the best products for removing waste.
Regardless of how the post-construction cleaning will be performed (by you or a professional) one thing is certain: after everything is clean you will be able to enjoy your home like never before. So, cheer up and throw yourself in the cleaning!
