Living Through the Mess: Construction Dust Survival

Living Through the Mess: Construction Dust Survival
By: Denise Bigelow Herzberg

Submitted: August 09, 2009
Home Improvement :: Cleaning Tips and Tools

Oy! When it comes to drywall dust, that's what most people say, or that's what some people say anyway, others say things we won't repeat here. Drywall dust is very fine and fly's around the air with the greatest of ease, hardwood flooring dust is a bit heavier yet light enough to find a way to other rooms in your home, and cement dust is the heaviest. It sticks to surfaces making it difficult to clean with just a dry vac the first time and you'll need to clean the filter often.

So lets talk about the builder or trade doing the work. There are several tools, supplies and equipment that trades can use to minimizes the spread of construction dust. Such as, Floor sanders with built in vacuum filters, wet sanding, plastic covers for all the doors in the work area thus sectioning off the area from the rest of the house. Tape down all cracks. Cabinets too, because if you don't, the dust is going to enter. Make sure all heat vents and air returns are covered in the work area, they are the air's door way to every room in your home. If work is being preformed near the furnace, it better be covered or Oy what a mess it can create. Once the construction is finally finished, you are ready for Construction Cleanup. You've made it this far, now its time to enjoy the new addition or upgrade, but first you need to do some deep clean Housekeeping.

Most of the supplies and tools you'll need are microfiber cloths, manufacture recommended products for appliances, surfaces, floors etc and finally you'll need a wet vac with attachments including a soft brush for hardwood and other flooring so you can remove any fine film or residue where applicable. If there are windows with paint on them, use new razors with a shield along with either Windex or soapy water. Never ever, scrape paint from a dry window. The microfiber cloth picks up dust with ease and shines as well. Just love those cloths! More on Construction Cleanup and Housekeeping in my next article.

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Denise Bigelow Herzberg Professional home care since 1992

Cleaning and Pet Hair

Housekeeping is labor intensive work and pet hair can quickly clog the vacuum, stick to your furniture and of course, clothing. There are tons of tools to clean off the pet hair but it can be a daunting task if you don't like deep cleaning. Don't want to do it? Call us! We have years of experience in deep clean Housekeeping.

Now back to telling you how to do it.

If you have a sticky roller to remove pet hair from furniture then get ready to roll but if not, use a damp microfiber cloth. They're inexpensive at Walgreen's and at last check they sold for three for $1.00 and work faster and better then sticky rollers.
Start at the top and work you're way down to the bottom making sure not to miss any part of the furniture while rolling the fur to the floor. Microfiber cloths capture and tend to roll the fur in clumps which is great for final cleaning.
If you have area rugs with thick fur, use the same microfiber cloth. They really do a great job. Even better then a vacuum.

Now that you've gotten the fur off your furniture bring out the vacuum.
If its hardwood your cleaning use the attachment without the brushes.
Be sure not to miss the baseboards and behind the furniture where the fur bunches hide.
Note: Fur gathers under and behind appliances causing lower efficiency. Use a wet vac there.

If you find the above task unappealing call us. We're Elbows & Derrieres Labor that Works. Deep Clean Housekeeping since 1992 with a smile. We love our work. 248-341-3726 and also offer Foreclosure Cleaning and Handyman services.