What is a new construction cleaning? Quite simply, it’s a deep clean of a newly constructed home or business. You might be wondering what the point of it is, seeing as how everything looks brand-new already.
The idea behind it is that you want to remove any dirt and grime from the building materials before they have had time to set in. This will help protect your investment by ensuring no stains on the paint or plywood floors, for example.
It also makes sure that all surfaces are protected against future damage like rusting metal trim on windowsills and doorjambs, which can happen if left unchecked.
Cleaning Materials Needed
Vacuum cleaner: To pick up any fine dust particles left behind by woodworking tools like table saws and jointers. Run the vacuum to suck up all dust, chalk lines, and leftover sealant. Don’t forget to vacuum stairs, edges of baseboards, window sills, etc. Once you’re done, sweep the floor again to make sure no debris remains.
Broom, dustpan, and brush: Pick up sawdust and other debris stuck in the corners or hard-to-reach places. Sweep and clean up all the sawdust and additional waste insight.
Baking soda: Baking soda is a great product that you can use to remove odors from any surface. It also helps neutralize the fumes emanating from the paint, sealants, and stains used in new construction cleaning. Sprinkle baking soda on damp floors, then scrub using a mop.
Bleach: Bleach is an excellent cleaner for killing any mold and mildew. Make sure to mix it with water according to the instructions on its label, as too much bleach can be harmful. Bleach is also great for getting rid of grease stains and soap scum left on tiles after new construction cleaning.
Sponges: Keep a bucket of warm water, and do not forget to squeeze the sponges entirely before using them. Use sponges to wipe up construction adhesive and grime. Use it on the cabinets, doors, and other surfaces.
Polish: Polish can be used to get rid of fingerprints and dirt on newly painted walls. Make a paste using baking soda and water, then polish the appliances, cabinets, tiles, and other fixtures.
Mop, bucket, and squeegee: Mop the floor after vacuuming it. Clean both sides of windows and doors by using a squeegee to pull out water from them. Wipe up excess water using a mop dipped in warm water and soap. Take the squeegee to avoid leaving water streaks on floors, walls, and other surfaces.
Dust cloths: Use dust cloths to clean windows, mirrors, and other flat surfaces. You can also use dust cloth on knick-knacks and other too delicate items to use a sponge or a mop on.
Rubber gloves: Wear rubber gloves when using cleaning agents to protect you from getting your hands irritated and make sure that no chemicals get into your skin.
Protective equipment: Protect your eyes from dust and other debris by wearing a pair of latex gloves, rubber boots, or goggles. You can also wear a dust mask and earplugs to block out a sound that might be too loud for your ears.
Do it Yourself
You don’t need fancy equipment; follow these steps to get your new construction site looking clean.
Check windows.
First, check your windows to ensure that they are adequately sealed, and none of them have any cracks. If there is a crack in the window glass or frame, you will need to replace it immediately because water can get inside and cause mold growth.
Also, if there is metal trim surrounding the outside of the windows such as sill plates or doorjambs around exterior doors, inspect them for rusting due to moisture damage. If necessary, remove this trim and repaint it with an appliance paint like Rust-Oleum Filler Primer.
It’s essential to clean these surfaces and protect against future corrosion caused by trapped moisture beneath the surface of objects such as wood sills/jambs, which may rot over time.
Inspect the doors.
Next, you’ll want to inspect the doors for any gaps or cracks around their edges where air can get in and cause energy loss over time. Also, check along the floor underneath the door to make sure there are no gaps between it and the threshold of your building entryway.
If necessary, use a caulk gun (or non-hardening weather sealant) to fill these areas with silicone-based putty. Inspect all entrances into your home/building, including exterior windows and interior sliding glass doors, as well as the front entranceway. Perform this same process on all window panes while you’re at it – both sides!
Finally, test out each doorway by closing them uptight; if you can still fit your pinkie finger in the crack, then you need to seal it up.
Check exterior painted surfaces.
Next, check with all exterior painted surfaces for any chips or nicks that might cause rust spots down the road. If necessary, use a putty knife (or non-hardening weather sealant) and apply some touch-up paint.
Also, make sure there are no seams where two pieces of sheetrock meet; these should be filled with joint compound before painting them with primer/paint. Then give every part of flooring – carpeted and tiled alike – a going over using an industrial vacuum cleaner such as a shop vac. Once they’re clean, inspect each for any damage like loose grout or nicked edges.
Use a putty knife to apply some spackle (or non-hardening weather sealant) on these areas and allow it to dry for 24 hours before applying the final coat of paint.
Inspect walls inside and out.
Next, inspect all walls inside and out for scuffs or smudges that might cause discoloration down the road. If necessary, use a wet rag to clean off dust particles, then wipe over entire surfaces with primer/paint using an angled brush.
Pay special attention not only along baseboards but also around doorknobs/fixtures, which are high-traffic areas where dirt tends to get stuck. You’ll want your primer paint color to match closely so you won’t notice it once the walls are painted.
Carpeted and tiled floors.
Next, inspect all carpeted and tiled floors for any damage or cracks that might cause loose tile over time. If necessary, use a putty knife to re-grout (or non-hardening weather sealant) along with cracked tiles, then allow it to dry overnight before painting with primer/paint using an angled brush.
Finally, clean out your vents by vacuuming them inside of the home and underneath outside of each one where they connect to the exterior on top of the building – this will help prevent insects from getting in and nesting.
Cover up with plastic sheeting.
Also, make sure you cover up your AC unit tightly with plastic sheeting until ready for final inspection; this is important because it might damage your unit if left uncovered prior.
It’s also a good idea to cover up the whole exterior of the building with plastic sheeting before final inspection. This can be done using large sheets taped together along seams then draped over the entire area is protected – don’t use duct tape since it may damage siding or brick surfaces!
When finished, place cones around the perimeter of your home/building and wait for the inspector’s verdict. Suppose any repairs need to be cut off excess sheeting material at the bottom where required so you’ll have access underneath once everything is complete.
Ensure no one enters before finishing work on windows or doors; otherwise, they could get injured by nails sticking out from scaffolding planks!
Tips on How to Clean Dust from New Construction
When you are faced with cleaning new construction, you must know the proper techniques. If you need help, here is a list of tips that should give you all the required information!
– Start by removing debris from every room. Sweep and mop hardwood floors and tile surfaces first before moving onto carpeted areas, so they don’t get too saturated when cleaning them later on in this process. Make sure your vacuum cleaner has a hose attachment for easier vacuuming up dust bunnies around walls and other tight spaces where dirt likes to build up over time.
– Next, move on to washing windowsills, sills above doors/windows, or any window panes that may appear to contain visible dust. This step is crucial for new construction cleaning because if you don’t get the windowsills and other surfaces that are close by, there will be a lot of dirt buildup over time.
– After completing these steps, move on to washing walls with an all-purpose cleaner and paper towels or microfiber rags for easy drying afterward. If necessary, use water in small sections throughout this process to not saturate carpets too much before vacuuming them clean later on in this process after your walls have been dried off entirely from any excess moisture dripping down them during the cleaning process itself.
– Once complete, take out the vacuum again and go around each room, sucking up debris from each carpeted area. If the floors are filthy, you may even want to go over them a second time for an added clean-up effect before moving on to the next step of this process which is going through and cleaning out window panes from any built-up dust.
– Once you have completed all the above steps, you will be ready for mopping your floors one more time to get them extra clean and ensure that there isn’t any residual dust leftover on top of floor surfaces.
– Make sure everything is dried off completely before moving onto clothes or personal items in each room so as not to ruin anything through contact with excess moisture that may still be lingering around carpets after this process has been completed. That would defeat the whole purpose of working hard during new construction cleaning!
– If you don’t have time to clean, then consider hiring a professional cleaning service because they are not only experienced but can also offer you their expertise. The best way to find a good company is by checking online for reviews. If possible, meet with the company and ask them questions about their services to see whether you are a good fit for each other or not.
For the best result, we recommend a shop-vac wet/dry vacuum with attachments so you can surely clean all parts of your new construction space.
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