In part one of our topic Cleaning After Major Construction we looked at the reasons why you should clean thoroughly after any construction job, especially a major one. Here in part two we will show you specific reasons why you should do a thorough dusting and ways to make it easier.

After any type of construction job you will have dust coating pretty much everything in the area where the construction took place, if not in other parts of the house or building. It is important to thoroughly clean this dust as it can cause issues in the respiratory system and other areas if conditions are right.

Some helpful items to have before taking on the task of dusting after a major construction job are:

• Air filters
• Used dryer sheets
• Vacuum
• Mop and broom
• Filtered face masks
• Soft towels

It is important to begin at the highest point first, you want to bring all the dust down to the floor, this makes it easier to clean up and also ensures you are getting all of the dust. The last thing you want is to dust the floor first and then put all the dust from things like light fixtures back onto the floor, this causes you to work double time, and let’s face it no one wants to have to clean the same thing three and four times over.

I suggest making your soft cloth damp before you begin. A dry towel will simply move the dust around; it will not actually remove it. Just run your cloth under a little water and wring it out well before you try to wipe things. If you are removing dust from the walls, take your moistened towel and tape to the end of a broom, and then you can easily just sweep your walls to remove the dust. This saves on your arms and helps you reach higher places with ease.

You may have looked over the list above and asked “why a dryer sheet?” Used dryer sheets actually attract the dust making it easier to remove it. It works kind of like those popular dry push “brooms” like Swiffer, it not only attracts the dust but it hold on to it so you are not just pushing it around.

While you are dusting the floors and ceilings, be sure to take note of any vents present. It is important that you remove these vent covers and vacuum inside the vents as best you can. The dust will accumulate and “hide” in these vents and I find most people never think to clean these. If you have heating or air conditioning vents in your home or building you are cleaning, and this dust is not cleaned out it will be blown right back into the living space when the heat or AC kick on.

The most important thing to remember when dusting after a major construction project is to take your time and be thorough. Think outside the “normal range of cleaning” and you will be sure to get it all. Patience is key when doing a deep after construction clean.